Table 1.

Nine-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-9)

NEI-VFQ-9 Questionnaire
Q1. General vision (6-level)
At the present time, would you say your eyesight (with glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them) is: 1) excellent, 2) good, 3) fair, 4) poor, 5) very poor, or 6) are you completely blind?
Q2. Well being/mental health (5-level)
How much of the time do you worry about your eyesight? 1) None of the time, 2) a little of time, 3) some of the time, 4) most of the time, or 5) all of the time.
Q3. Near vision, reading normal newsprint (6-level)
How much difficulty do you have reading ordinary print in newspapers? 1) No difficulty at all, 2) a little difficulty, 3) moderate difficulty, 4) extreme difficulty, 5) stopped doing because of your eyesight, or 6) stopped doing this for other reasons or not interested in doing this.
Q4. Near vision, seeing well up close (6-level)
How much difficulty do you have doing work or hobbies that require you to see well up close, such as cooking, sewing, fixing things around the house, or using hand tools? 1) No difficulty at all, 2) a little difficulty, 3) moderate difficulty, 4) extreme difficulty, 5) stopped doing because of your eyesight, or 6) stopped doing this for other reasons or not interested in doing this.
Q5. Distance vision, going down stairs at night (6-level)
Because of your eyesight, how much difficulty do you have going down steps, stairs, or curbs in dim light or at night? 1) No difficulty at all, 2) a little difficulty, 3) moderate difficulty, 4) extreme difficulty, 5) stopped doing because of your eyesight, or 6) stopped doing this for other reasons or not interested in doing this.
Q6. Driving (6-level)*
How much difficulty do you have driving during the daytime in familiar places? 1) No difficulty at all, 2) a little difficulty, 3) moderate difficulty, 4) extreme difficulty, stopped doing because of your eyesight, or 5) stopped doing this for other reasons or not interested in doing this.
Q7. Role limitation (5-level)
Are you limited in how long you can walk or do other activities such as housework, child care, school, or community activities because of your vision? 1) All of the time, 2) most of the time, 3) some of the time, 4) a little of time, or 5) none of the time.
Q8. Peripheral vision (6-level)
Because of your eyesight, how much difficulty do you have noticing objects off to the side while you are walking along? 1) No difficulty at all, 2) a little difficulty, 3) moderate difficulty, 4) extreme difficulty, 5) stopped doing because of your eyesight, or 6) stopped doing this for other reasons or not interested in doing this.
Q9. Near vision, finding objects on a crowded shelf (6-level)
Because of your eyesight, how much difficulty do you have finding something on a crowded shelf? 1) No difficulty at all, 2) a little difficulty, 3) moderate difficulty, 4) extreme difficulty, 5) stopped doing because of your eyesight, or 6) stopped doing this for other reasons or not interested in doing this.

^*For Q6, “not currently driving” was also an option, however, if selected, then the question was omitted and the remaining questions comprised the NEI-VFQ-8.