To systematically identify and summarize studies reporting the values of health-related quality of life of patients with eye diseases from North America.

A systematic review of the literature identified North American studies that quantified health-related quality of life of eye disease patients. Database searches were conducted through MEDLINE, EMBASE, National Institute for Health Research Economic Evaluation Database, Cochrane Libraries, and Web of Science. Risk of Bias Assessment was performed using the assessment tools by CLARITY Group of McMaster University.

Of the 3481 articles identified, 39 articles met the inclusion criteria. The time trade-off technique was used in 9 of the included studies, while the SG technique was used in 2 studies. Fifteen studies used the SF-36, 5 studies used the SF-12, and 3 studies used the SF-6D. Two studies used the HUI2, and 3 studies used the HUI3. Fourteen studies used the EQ-5D. Utility values across collective patients with glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, uveitis, and dry eye disease ranged from 0.89 to 0.94, 0.74 to 0.81, 0.77 to 0.88, 0.66 to 0.85, 0.67 to 0.84, and 0.78 to 0.82, respectively.

Health-related quality of life across patients with glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, uveitis, and dry eye disease was similar using the SF-12 and SF-36. Utility values across patients with age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, and dry eye disease appear to be similar while the values in patients with glaucoma appear to be higher.