Association between visual acuity and medical and non-medical costs in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration in France, Germany and Italy.

Introduction: Exudative ('wet') age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the major cause of blindness in Western developed countries. Treatments aimed at preserving vision are already available and new compounds are under development. Micro-economics information will be pivotal to justifying forthcoming investment.

Health-related quality of life and utility in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Objective: To assess the impact of best-eye and worst-eye visual acuity (BEVA and WEVA, respectively) on health-related quality of life and utility in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration.

Design: This cross-sectional, prospective, observational, multicenter study was performed in France, Germany, and Italy. Patients were stratified into 4 severity groups (BEVA, 20/40; WEVA, 20/200).

Prevalence of visual impairment in relation to the number of ophthalmologists in a given area: a nationwide approach.

Background: Sociological and economic risk factors of visual impairment have never been described in France at a national level as the association between the number of ophthalmologists per inhabitant and visual impairment prevalence.

Methods: Two national surveys were pooled. First, 2075 institutions were selected at random from the French Health Ministry files.

Vision-related quality of life in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To evaluate the relative impact of best and worst eye on vision-related quality of life in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Design: Quality of life and visual acuity data were collected at baseline during a randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Multicenter (11 centers), international study.