Quality of Life and Depression Level in Patients with Watery Eye.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess subjective, human aspect of the medical condition, evaluate the quality of life (QOL) and level of depressive symptoms in patients with watery eye and compare it with patients with two most common causes of visual deterioration: cataract and macular region pathology. The results of this study may serve to raise awareness of watery eye impact on a large number of patients and subsequently promote their treatment in order to restore full visual and life quality necessary for normal human functioning.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this prospective, randomised, questionnaire-based study, we have surveyed three groups of patients with a total of 210 patients: group with the watery eye of different etiology (n=69), group with one pseudophakic eye and one cataract eye (n=73) and group with the unilateral pathology of the macular region (n=68). All three groups underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination. To examine the overall quality of life we have used a modified vision-related quality of life questionnaire (VR-QOL) and to evaluate depression level "Beck Depression Inventory - 2". The results were analyzed with statistical program STATISTICA 13.

RESULTS: Compared to group with unilateral cataract eye and to group with unilateral pathology of the macular region, the results of this study show that patients with watery eye have significantly decreased quality of life in all daily activities, particularly in outdoor activities (F=125.80, df=2/143, p<0.01), during sports (F=36.67, df=2/143, p<0.01) and interpersonal relations (F=18.73, df=2/143, p<0.01). Results between three groups showed that group with watering eye expressed highest depression level and group with one pseudophakic eye and the other cataract eye the lowest (F=25.86, df=2/207, p<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Watery eye has a significant impact on vision-related quality of life. Our research showed that patients with watery eye had expressed more depressive symptoms than other groups, but still without statistically significant value. Since it affects a large and heterogenic group of patients it is important to be recognized on time and treated etiologically in attempt to restore full function and life quality. The results of this study may serve to raise awareness of watery eye impact on a large number of patients and subsequently promote their treatment in order to restore full visual and life quality necessary for normal functioning.