Vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) measures for clinical trials and health economics analysis in vision science and for clinic use: a scoping review and development of the online BOPPP repository (Phase 1: PROMs)

Background
Increasingly, patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs), patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) and patient-reported outcome and experience measures (POEMs) are being incorporated into clinical trials in ophthalmology and vision science. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures are included in economic evaluations alongside these studies. These measures can inform shared decision-making and be used to evaluate interventions from the patient perspective.

Aim
To report on the establishment of the Bangor Ophthalmology and vision science repository of PROMs, PREMs and POEMs for clinical trials and health economic evaluation (the BOPPP repository). This paper focusses on PROMs (Phase 1).

Methods
A scoping review was undertaken to identify systematic reviews and published articles which included PROMs in the field of ophthalmology and vision science, including the care of patients living with sight loss. We searched Medline, PubMed, Cochrane and Google Scholar. Searches were restricted to full-text, English language SRs on vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) measures specifically, published between 2000 and 2023. We adopted a life-course perspective to identify and group VRQoL measures that are best suited to particular life stages.

Results
Sixty-four VRQoL measures were identified and six HRQoL measures of carers of people with visual impairment were indicated. A free online, open access repository listing these measures is hosted on the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation (CHEME) website. Our repository of measures documents key characteristics, reliability and validity status.

Conclusion
The BOPPP repository will help ophthalmologists, vision scientists and health economists choose appropriate measures given the contexts and aims of their studies.