Validation of the Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 Questionnaire in Serbian language

AIM：To translate the Glaucoma Quality of Life-15（GQL-15）to Serbian language and asses its validity and reliability in the population of Serbian patients.METHODS：The study included 177 glaucoma patients.Clinical parameters（visual acuity,mean defect and square root of loss variance of visual field）and socio-demographic data were collected.Patients were stratified according to the Nelson’s glaucoma staging system as mild,moderate and advanced glaucoma.All patients filled out the GQL-15 and National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire（NEI-VFQ 25）.The GQL-15 was translated following the internationally-accepted methodology,and its psychometric properties were assessed by using classical test theory and Rasch analysis.RESULTS：The mean total score for the GQL-15 was 20.68±7.31.The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the whole scale was 0.89（central and near vision,α=0.24;peripheral vision,α=0.85;glare and dark adaptation,α=0.83）.Factor analysis established 4 factors（70.3% of variance）：two corresponding to the original factors and two new factors specific for the Serbian population.The GQL-15 score correlated positively with almost all clinical parameters and NEI-VFQ 25 proving good criterion validity.Correlation of the GQL-15 total score on test-retest confirmed appropriate scale reproducibility（ρ=0.96,P〈0.001）.The GQL-15 discriminated well advanced from mild and moderate glaucoma.In Rasch analysis we obtained adequate item（0.95）reliability index.Almost all items had infit and outfit mean squares in the accepted range.CONCLUSION：Serbian version of the GQL-15 demonstrates adequate reliability and validity.This version of the GQL-15is a valid instrument for evaluation of quality of life among Serbian speaking patients with glaucoma and can be applied in daily clinical work.

A 10-Year Survey of Severe Eye Injuries in Sport in Belgrade,Serbia 2000-2009

Introduction: The eye injuries inflicted in different sport activities are relatively rare and depend upon the type of sport. They are more common in recreational sport activities. These injuries are generally minor but may be very severe and result in permanent vision impairment. One must be aware of the fact that these sport activities, either recreative or professional, are exercised by young people. Methods: All analyzed patients were hospitalized at the Clinic of Eye Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, for severe eye injuries which occurred in sport activities. The analyzed period included 10 years, from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2009. Results: In this period, a total of 117 patients with eye injuries sustained in some of sport activities were hospitalized. There were 114 (97.5%) injured males. Mean age of the injured was 25.8 years, and there were no individuals older than 50 years of age. Closed eyeball injures were reported in 96.6% and open injuries were seen in the remaining 3.4% of cases. During recreational sports, the eye injuries occurred in 76.1%, in the school—19.6%, and in professional sport—4.3% of the time. The injured individuals were as follows: pupils—35.0%, students—17.9%, workers—22.2%, clerks—20.6% and professional players—4.3% of cases. Upon completed treatment, visual acuity was normal in 77.8%, subnormal in 16.2%, impaired in 3.4% and amaurosis in 2.6% of cases.

GSTM1-null and GSTT1-active genotypes as risk determinants of primary open angle glaucoma among smokers

AIM： To evaluate glutathione transferase theta 1 and mu 1（GSTT1 and GSTM1） polymorphisms as determinants of primary open angle glaucoma（POAG） risk, independently or in combination with cigarette smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus.METHODS： A case-control study with 102 POAG patients and 202 age and gender-matched controls was carried out. Multiplex-polymerase chain reaction method was used for the analysis of GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms. The differences between two groups were tested by the t-test or χ~2 test. Logistic regression analysis was used for assessing the risk for disease development.RESULTS： The presence of GSTM1-null genotype did not contribute independently towards the risk of POAG. However, individuals with GSTT1-active genotype were at almost two-fold increased risk to develop glaucoma（P=0.044） which increased up to 4.36 when combined with GSTM1-null carriers（P=0.024）. When glutathione transferase（GST） genotypes were analyzed in association with cigarette smoking, hypertension and diabetes, only carriers of GSTT1-active genotype had significantly increased risk of POAG development in comparison with GSTT1-null genotype individuals with no history of smoking, hypertension and diabetes, respectively （OR=3.52, P=0.003; OR=10.02, P〈0.001; OR=4.53, P=0.002）. CONCLUSION： The results obtained indicate that both GSTM1-null and GSTT1-active genotypes are associated with increased POAG risk among smokers, suggesting potential gene-environment interaction in glaucoma development.