VFQs

VFQs, short for Visual Function Questionnaires, are patient-reported outcome measures designed to quantify the impact of visual impairment on daily functioning and quality of life. They are widely used in ophthalmology and vision research to assess how eye diseases affect activities such as reading, driving, mobility, and social functioning, and to monitor changes over time or after treatment.

The most widely used version is the NEI VFQ-25, a 25-item instrument developed by the National Eye Institute. It was derived from a longer instrument and includes items addressing general health, general vision, and specific daily activities. The questionnaire produces a composite score and scores for several subscales; higher scores indicate better functioning.

Subscales cover domains such as general health, general vision, near and distance activities, social functioning, role difficulties, dependency, driving, color vision, peripheral vision, and ocular pain.

Administration can be self-administered or interviewer-administered and typically takes 5 to 10 minutes.

Responses are transformed to a 0–100 scale, with higher scores indicating better functioning. The instrument yields an overall composite score and domain-specific scores.

VFQs are translated and validated in many languages and used in clinical trials, observational studies, and routine practice to evaluate disease impact, compare treatments, and track changes over time.

Limitations include reliance on patient self-report, potential influence of non-visual health status, and cultural differences across translations. Some versions are subject to licensing restrictions.

Variants exist beyond the NEI VFQ-25, including shorter and longer forms, and researchers may adapt items for specific populations.