Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25)

What is the VFQ?

The VFQ-25 is a reliable and valid 25-item version of the 51-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ). It is especially useful in settings such as clinical trials, where interview length is a critical consideration.

Do I have to pay to use the VFQ?

The VFQ-25 is a public document available without charge to all researchers provided that they identify the measure as such in all publications. Users should also cite the following article:

Mangione, C. M., Lee, P. P., Gutierrez, P. R., Spritzer, K., Berry, S., & Hays, R. D. (2001). Development of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25). Archives of Ophthalmology, 119, 1050-1058.

Specific permissions for using the VFQ-25 are detailed on the cover page of the questionnaire itself.

What if I have other questions?

You may find the answer to your question in our FAQs (PDF file), or contact us at RAND_Health@rand.org.

Available documents:

About the VFQ-25 and scoring instructions

A detailed description of the survey and scoring instructions.

VFQ-25 manual

Survey instruments in English

Interviewer-administered survey Self-administered survey

Survey instruments in other languages

The Greek version of the VFQ-25 was made possible by the Laboratory of Experimental Ophtamology of Aristotle University Thessaloniki in Greece.

Spanish survey Greek survey

Related reading:

Mangione, C. M., Lee, P. P., Gutierrez, P. R., Spritzer, K., Berry, S., & Hays, R. D. (2001). Development of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25). Archives of Ophthalmology, 119, 1050-1058.

Mangione, C. M., Lee, P. P., Pitts, J., Gutierrez, P., Berry S., & Hays, R. D. (1998). Psychometric properties of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire, the NEI-VFQ. Archives of Ophthalmology, 116, 1496-1504.