Patient Perspectives on Keratoconus Treatment: A Subjective Sentiment Analysis From Reddit

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Patient-Reported Outcomes
• Digital Health

Background:

• Keratoconus management involves various treatments, and understanding patient perspectives is crucial for improving care.
• Online platforms like Reddit offer insights into subjective patient experiences with medical treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient sentiments regarding keratoconus treatments discussed on Reddit.
• To identify factors influencing the subjective patient experience in keratoconus care.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 717 posts from the r/keratoconus subreddit, categorized by flairs: contact lenses, crosslinking, corneal transplant, corneal implants, and other laser procedures.
• Sentiment analysis using Valence Aware Dictionary and Sentiment Reasoner (VADER) to generate compound post-sentiment scores.
• Word frequency analysis to identify common themes and concerns.

Main Results:

• Overall positive sentiment (60.5%) was observed across keratoconus treatment discussions.
• "Other Laser Procedures" had the highest mean sentiment score (0.47), while "Corneal Implant" had the lowest (0.06).
• Posts discussing lifestyle and preoperative questions were most positive, whereas noncompliance and treatment anxiety posts were most negative. Common terms included "pain," "insurance," and "years."

Conclusions:

• Patient sentiment towards keratoconus treatments is predominantly positive.
• Frequent discussions around pain, insurance, and treatment timelines highlight areas for potential improvement.
• Addressing patient anxieties and pain management can enhance satisfaction in keratoconus care.