[Quality of life after corneal transplantation: a retrospective study]

To assess how clinical and social characteristics influence health-related quality of life among patients who have undergone corneal transplantation.

Sixty-eight patients followed up for at least 1 year after corneal transplantation participated in this study. Data were collected on social status, systemic co-morbidities, ocular history, best corrected visual acuity, and a detailed ocular examination. Questionnaires that allowed calculation of VF14 and the SF36 scores were filled out for each participant interview. The associations between questionnaire outcomes and social status, ophthalmic status, and general health were evaluated using one-way analysis of variance and multiple stepwise linear regression.

The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was significantly better in the operated eye for keratoconus and dystrophies than for bullous keratopathy. There is a strong relationship between BCVA in the operated eye and the VF14 score (beta=8.45, p=0.005) and also between BCVA of the contralateral eye and the VF14 score (beta=19.91, p<0.0001). Correlations between VF14 and SF36 were all positive (range r=0.29-0.49, p<0.01).

This retrospective analysis provided strong evidence for the validity and reliability of the VF14 as an instrument for testing visual disabilities or satisfaction in patients who had corneal transplantation. Astigmatism or anisometropia did not affect VF14 and SF36 scores. The most important factors associated with the VF14 score and SF36 measures were the visual acuity of the operated eye as well as the contralateral one, including their physical function, vitality, and the patient's perception of mental and general health.