Assessing the efficacy of vision therapy on quality of life by using COVD questionnaire

Purpose: The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of vision therapy on quality of life in patients with binocular anomalies by using COVD (College of Optometry in Vision Development) questionnaire. Methods: In a clinical trial study, 74 patients took apart in a course of 45-day active vision therapy. All the patients completed a 19-item form of COVD-QOL (College of Optometry in Vision Development- Quality of Life) before, during and after vision therapy. It was an abbreviated form of 30-item one, and its reliability was initially evaluated. In the questionnaire a numerical score of 0-4 was designed for pre- and post- vision training .The score of each question ranges from 0 to 4 , each value is defined as a frequency of symptoms that the patient experiences. Scores 0,1,2,3,4 represent Never , Seldom , Sometimes , Frequently and Always , respectively. The lower the score, the less severe the symptoms are. The data of vision therapy were statistically analyzed. Results: The mean scores were gradually reduced from visit 1 to final visit. Findings showed significant differences in optometric data obtained before, during and after the vision therapy. In the questionnaire, the lowerscore is associated with more favorable level of life quality. Conclusion: Vision therapy had a positive impact on the treatment of binocular vision anomalies by reducing thesymptoms and increasing the ability of accommodation and vergence systems. It can be used as a standard treatment and is effective not only for patients younger than 18 but also for older ages between 18 to 35.