Visual quality of life (QOL) is significantly adversely affected in migraine sufferers, according to a recent study. In fact, patients with chronic migraine may have visual QOL impacts that are as significant as those associated with other common neuro‐ophthalmic disorders. In this cross‐sectional quantitative survey, visual QOL in individuals with chronic and episodic migraine was assessed using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire‐25, and the 10‐item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire‐25 Neuro‐Ophthalmic Supplement. Overall headache severity and impact was assessed using the Migraine‐specific Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Headache Impact Test‐6. Researchers found:
- Among 29 participants with chronic migraine, vision‐specific QOL scores were all statistically significantly decreased compared to disease‐free controls.
- Among 37 participants with episodic migraine, vision‐specific QOL scores were also decreased compared to disease‐free controls.
- Chronic migraineurs had decreased visual QOL scores compared to those with episodic migraines.
- Participants with chronic migraine had visual QOL scores that were as poor as those previously published for patients with other neuro‐ophthalmic disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and ischemic optic neuropathy.
Patients with migraine have substantial reductions in measures of visual quality of life. [Published online ahead of print June 7, 2018]. Headache. doi:10.1111/head.13330.