Vision related quality of life in keratoconus patients with intra stromal corneal ring segments implantation.

Background: To evaluate the vision-related quality of life in keratoconus patients who had undergone intrastromal-corneal-ring-segment (ICRS) implantation using the Persian version of Vision-Function-Questionnaire-25.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 20 keratoconus patients, mean age 33.50 ± 5.50 years old, managed with bilateral ICRS implantation were included. Thirty age- and sex-matched normal individuals mean age of 30.00 ± 6.20 years old were included in the control group. The binocular visual acuity and vision-related quality of life were compared between the ICRS and control groups. The Persian version of Vision-Function Questionnaire-25 was applied.

Results: The mean binocular best corrected visual acuity in the keratoconus group was 0.06 ± 0.08 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR), and in normal individuals was 0.00 ± 0.00 LogMAR, (P = 0.001). The mean total score of Vision-Function-Questionnaire-25 in the ICRS group was 81.00 ± 14.00, and in the control group was 90.50 ± 8.00 (P = 0.004). The ICRS group showed significantly lower scores in distance vision, near vision, peripheral vision, role limitation, and night-time driving, P < 0.05. The differences in the mean values of social function, dependency, day driving, ocular pain, and color vision were insignificant compared to normal individuals (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: ICRS implantation can improve some social functions of keratoconus patients to the level of normal individuals; however, visual functions and night driving remain affected compared to normal individuals.