Quality of Life in Keratoconus Patients; A Comparison Between Spectacle, Rigid Gas-Permeable Lens, and Corneal Stromal Ring Segment Implantation

OBJECTIVES: To compare vision-related quality of life (QoL) in keratoconus patients managed by spectacles, rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, and intra-corneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation.
METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 67 patients (39 females) with moderate-to-severe keratoconus (mean age: 28.50±7.30 years) were included. Patients were divided into three groups: Spectacles, RGP lenses, and ICRS, based on their treatment modalities. Binocular visual acuity and vision-related QoL were assessed using the Persian version of the Vision Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25). Group comparisons were performed using appropriate statistical tests.
RESULTS: The VFQ-25 mean±standard deviation total scores were 80.69±13.89 for the spectacle group, 78.06±14.71 for the RGP lens group, and 72.60±13.95 for the ICRS group (p>0.05). The ICRS group demonstrated significantly higher social function (91.17±15.44) and dependency scores (92.64±17.14) compared to the RGP group (p<0.05). No significant differences were observed in other VFQ-25 domains or total scores among the three groups.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Spectacles, RGP lenses, and ICRS implantation provide comparable overall vision-related QoL in kerato-conus patients. While no significant difference was found in total QoL scores, the ICRS group exhibited superior social function and dependency scores, suggesting a potential advantage in these specific QoL domains.