gms | German Medical Science

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of keratoconus and its treatment on quality of life.

76 patients affected with keratoconus (mean age: 34,6 years, ±11,8). The results were compared with the control group of 100 age-matched normal subjects (mean age 35,7 years, ±12,1). Best corrected visual acuity in keratoconus was from 0,1 to 1,0 (mean 0,56±0,38). A special questionnaire was prepared to ask subjects to rate by themselves how difficult they found each of 43 situations and daily activities in the scale from 1-no problem to 5-extreme difficulty, which practically disables performing the activity on their own.

The statistically significant differences of difficulty rates between the group of patients with keratoconus and the control group were found. The patients with keratoconus reported the activities connected with high glare effect as well as low illumination to be most difficult for them. The most striking differences were found in the number of the unemployed in the group of keratoconus patients and the control group (21,1% vs. 10%). The obvious outcome of the disease is the number of young pensioners (15,8%). Another outcome of the questionnaire is that there is a significant group of keratoconus patients (60,5%) who happen to ignore the medical recommendation.

Since keratoconus affects young active adults, the impact of the disease on patients’ quality of life is extreme. The disease hinders their ability to lead normal both private and professional lives. The research showed dramatic number of young pensioners as well as the unemployed among people suffering from keratoconus.