Vision Related Quality of Life in Patients with Keratoconus

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the vision related quality of life in patients with keratoconus by using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25). Methods. Thirty patients presented with keratoconus (keratoconus group) and 30 healthy patients (control group) were included in this study. Twenty patients were using rigid gas permeable and 10 patients were not using contact lenses in keratoconus group. High and low contrast visual acuity and mean K values of the patients were recorded. Each subject completed the 25-item NEI-VFQ-25. Results. All subscales of NEI-VFQ-25 were lower in the keratoconus patients. The difference was more evident in the subscales of general vision, ocular pain, near vision, vision-specific mental health, vision-specific role difficulties, and peripheral vision (P < 0.05). Overall composite score was 75.2 ± 17.2 in the keratoconus group and 93.2 ± 5.6 in the control group (P = 0.00). Contact lens wearers had higher best corrected visual acuity in comparison with noncontact lens wearers (P = 0.028). Patients with low visual acuity (logMAR > 0.4) in the better eye had lower distance vision, social functioning, mental health, and role difficulties. Meanwhile, patients with low visual acuity (logMAR > 0.4) in the worse eye had lower general health scores (P < 0.05). Conclusions. Vision related quality of life was worse in keratoconus patients. Success in the contact lens usage and maintaining higher visual acuity may improve vision related quality of life.

Changes in vision related quality of life in patients with diabetic macular edema: Ranibizumab or laser treatment?

“…The VFQ-25 has been used to measure VR-QoL in several chronic ocular diseases, such as glaucoma, keratoconus, adult macular degeneration, uveitis and DME (Aydin Kurna et al, 2014;Cahill, Banks, Stinnett, & Toth, 2005;Freedman et al, 2014;Jivraj, Jivraj, Tennant, & Rudnisky, 2013;Kaleemunnisha et al, 2014;Lightman et al, 2013;Miskala et al, 2004;Sakai et al, 2013). The RESTORE trial (Mitchell et al, 2013) is the first to assess the impact of ranibizumab treatment on health related quality of life (HR-QoL) using the VFQ-25.…”

“…The survey measures the influence of visual disability and visual symptoms on health-related quality of life such as emotional well-being and social functioning in patients with severe eye conditions (Aydin Kurna, Altun, Gencaga, Akkaya, & Sengor, 2014;Freedman, Jones, Lin, Stinnett, & Muir, 2014;Kaleemunnisha, Sudharshan, & Biswas, 2014;Lightman et al, 2013;Miskala, Bressler, & Meinert, 2004;Sakai et al, 2013). The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in vision related quality of life (VR-QoL) in patients with DME undergoing IVR injection or focal/grid laser.…”

Impact of Ocular Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease on Quality of Life

“…The QOL in patients with ocular disorders can be affected by ocular symptoms, such as blurred vision, severe photophobia, or having difficulties in keeping eyes open due to discomfort. 12–14 Affected patients might not be able to drive, read, watch television, or perform other common activities in their routine daily life. In this study we describe the epidemiology of ocular GVHD symptoms in patients with chronic GVHD, perform a risk factor analyses, and describe the impact of ocular involvement on QOL.…”

Corneal Evaluation in Healthy Brazilian Children Using a Scheimpflug Topography System

“…With reports that the onset of keratoconus typically occurs during puberty [14] and that vision-related quality of life is worse among these patients [27], the detection of abnormal corneas in children has gained significant importance. It may be difficult to distinguish subclinical keratoconus from regular myopic astigmatism during a routine eye exam.…”