The Cataract Symptom Score can be used to measure the impact of the most common symptoms from cataracts, as reported by the patient.
Symptoms:
(1) double or distorted vision
(2) seeing glare, halo or rings around light
(3) blurry vision
(4) colors looking different than they used to, in a way disturbing to the patient
(5) worsening of vision within the past month
(6) disturbing brightness
where:
• Steinberg (1994) uses the first 5 symptoms only
• Schein (1995) included the sixth symptom
|
Symptom Severity
|
Score
|
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patient does not have symptom, OR, patient not bothered by it
|
0
|
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patient a little bothered by symptom
|
1
|
|
patient somewhat bothered by symptom
|
2
|
|
patient very bothered by symptom
|
3
|
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0 (not bothered by any of the symptoms)
• maximum score (6 questions): 18 (very bothered by all of the symptoms)
• The higher the score, the greater the impact of the cataract(s) on the patient's life.
