Impact of epiphora on vision-related quality of life

BACKGROUND The study aimed to evaluate vision-related quality of life (QOL) in epiphora (excessive tear production) patients. METHODS A total of 342 epiphora patients who visited ophthalmology clinics at 21 general hospitals during a 1-week period were enrolled; 245 females and 97 males with a mean age of 52±13 years. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on the extent to which epiphora limited their daily activities. Questions on frequency of discomfort with daily activities were answered on scale of a 0-4. Daily activities that were assessed included reading, daytime and nighttime driving, working at a computer, watching TV, work-related activities, household activities, outdoor activities, interpersonal relations, and general happiness. A correlation analysis was performed between the scores and patient ages. Scores were compared with the clinical factors of gender, bilaterality, and lacrimal irrigation pattern. Presurgical and postsurgical scores in a subset of epiphora patients who underwent surgery were compared. RESULTS Outdoor activities were among those that epiphora most significantly hindered. Age had a negative correlation with interpersonal relations scores. Female patients tended to have more discomfort than males in conducting household activities, outdoor activities, and interpersonal relations. Bilaterality showed no differences in QOL. Patients with complete obstruction of lacrimal irrigation recorded higher scores in all daily activities than those with partial or no obstruction. For vision-related QOL, post-surgical scores were improved significantly compared with pre-surgical scores. CONCLUSION Epiphora can affect a broad array of daily activities. Corrective measures for epiphora can improve vision-related QOL, and this may provide guidance for physicians in managing epiphora patients.