We administered the 25-item National Eye Institute Vision Function Questionaire plus Supplement (NEI-VFQ).19 This version of the NEI VFQ consists of 39 items that assess self-reported vision function and vision-related QoL. The latter yields a multidimensional index of vision-related health composed of social functioning (social interactions), mental health (worry, frustration), role difficulties (accomplishing less), and dependency (relying more on others) due to vision loss. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better function.

Total of all reporting groups

At baseline subjects completed the Activities Inventory, a structured vision function questionnaire that asks patients to rate the value and difficulty of 48 vision function goal and the tasks that are required to achieve them. If a goal is important, the subject rates its "difficulty". The average TVF score is the sum of the difficulty ratings of the (up to) 4 self-selected goals divided by the number of goals (from 1 to 4). Higher average scores indicate greater disability.

We administered the 25-item National Eye Institute Vision Function Questionaire plus Supplement (NEI-VFQ).19 This version of the NEI VFQ consists of 39 items that assess self-reported vision function and vision-related QoL. The latter yields a multidimensional index of vision-related health composed of social functioning (social interactions), mental health (worry, frustration), role difficulties (accomplishing less), and dependency (relying more on others) due to vision loss. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better function.

To assess depression, we used the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, which yields a continuous measure of depression severity. Scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating worse depression.

Supportive Therapy (ST)

ST: ST will be delivered in subjects' homes over the course of 6 weeks.

We administered the 25-item National Eye Institute Vision Function Questionaire plus Supplement (NEI-VFQ).19 This version of the NEI VFQ consists of 39 items that assess self-reported vision function and vision-related QoL. The latter yields a multidimensional index of vision-related health composed of social functioning (social interactions), mental health (worry, frustration), role difficulties (accomplishing less), and dependency (relying more on others) due to vision loss. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better function.

106 PST and 112 ST participants provided data at 3 months.

We identified and quantified the TVF goals that subjects valued but found difficult to achieve. To derive the TVF measure, at baseline subjects completed the Activities Inventory, a structured vision function questionnaire that asks patients to rate the value and difficulty of 48 vision function goals (e.g., daily meal preparation) and the tasks (e.g., seeing stove settings) that are required to achieve them. If a goal is important (range of 0 [not important]to 4 [very important]), the subject rates its "difficulty" (on a scale of 0 [not difficult] to 4 [impossible]). The average TVF score is the sum of the difficulty ratings of the (up to) 4 self-selected goals divided by the number of goals (from 1 to 4). Higher average scores indicate greater disability. At each outcome assessment subjects again rated the difficulty of the same targeted goals and the average TVF score was calculated.

105 PST and 110 ST participants provided data at 6 months.

We administered the 25-item National Eye Institute Vision Function Questionaire plus Supplement (NEI-VFQ).19 This version of the NEI VFQ consists of 39 items that assess self-reported vision function and vision-related QoL. The latter yields a multidimensional index of vision-related health composed of social functioning (social interactions), mental health (worry, frustration), role difficulties (accomplishing less), and dependency (relying more on others) due to vision loss. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better function.

105 PST and 110 ST participants provided data at 6 months.

Supportive therapy is a structured, standardized, psychological treatment that controls for nonspecific treatment effects. Supportive therapy resembles PST in all ways but for PST's problem-solving skills training. Both interventions are based on written treatment manuals and similar in dose and intensity of attention (number and duration of sessions). Supportive therapy is nondirective and supportive, facilitates personal expression, and conveys empathy, respect, and optimism (i.e., a general sense that things can get better). The ST therapist informs subjects that ST's purpose is to explore the impact of vision loss on their lives.