Patient-Reported Vision-Related Quality of Life After Boston Type I Keratoprosthesis

To determine patient-reported vision-related quality of life (VR-QoL) after Boston type I keratoprosthesis (BKPro) and its determinants.

A cross-sectional study including consecutive consenting BKPro patients was conducted. The French National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 measured postoperative VR-QoL. Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for demographics, ocular comorbidities, indication for surgery, postoperative visual acuity (VA), and complications. Univariate analyses were used to identify VR-QoL determinants. Multivariate linear regression was additionally performed for patients operated unilaterally, using VR-QoL as the dependent variable and age, sex, and postoperative VA as covariates. P < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.

Sixty-three patients, aged 63 ± 13 years, with a mean follow-up of 54 ± 19 months, were included. VR-QoL was measured 53 ± 18 months postoperatively. "Composite" VR-QoL scores in patients with unilateral (n = 51) and bilateral (n = 12) BKPro were 65 ± 23 and 63 ± 19, respectively, and did not significantly differ between the 2 groups (P = 0.71). In patients with unilateral BKPro, VR-QoL was determined by postoperative VA in the better eye, which was the contralateral nonoperated eye in most cases. Achieved vision in the operated eye contributed to VR-QoL when vision in the contralateral nonoperated eye was poorer. In the bilateral BKPro group, VR-QoL was determined by postoperative VA in the better eye and the number of ongoing complications.

Five-year VR-QoL scores were lower in BKPro patients compared with healthy cohorts reported in the literature and were similar after unilateral and bilateral BKPro surgery. The main determinant of postoperative VR-QoL was postoperative vision in the better eye.