Quality of Life Change in Patients with Keratoconus. Literature Review

Abstract

In recent years, ophthalmologists have paid great attention to keratoconus, as the disease is socially significant and affects the young working-age population. According to the literature and in clinical practice, it was found that patients with keratoconus have similar character traits, which are manifested to a greater or lesser extent in each patient. According to a number of authors, these patients have less adaptability, passive aggression, and paranoia. In addition, there is a tendency to disorganization of thinking, substance abuse and anxiety. The article considers clinical cases of Association of keratoconus with mental disorders and diseases such as schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette’s syndrome. Examples of the occurrence of the disease after mechanical damage to the eyeball are given. This paper also describes changes in the quality of life of patients with this pathology, identified using different questionnaire options. The use of 18 different, most frequently used questionnaires to determine the impact of keratoconus on the patient’s quality of life is considered: specialized for keratoconus, General for eye pathology, and General medical for assessing mental functions. Using a specialized questionnaire for keratoconus, changes in the quality of life were evaluated in the following categories: visual acuity assessment, problems with near or far vision, restrictions on social interaction due to low vision, restriction of physical activity, dependence on others due to eye problems, deterioration of mental health associated with changes in the visual organ, driving problems, restrictions on visual fields, color perception and eye pain. General ophthalmological questionnaires were also used, in particular, to assess dry eye syndrome, visual impairment, contact lens use and their impact on quality of life, etc. In patients with keratoconus, other questionnaires were also used, for example, to assess the indicator of the state anxiety scale, selfassessment of depression. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the questionnaires, their applicability directly to patients with keratoconus.