Kornea Çapraz Bağlama Tedavisinin Büllöz Keratopatili Hastalarda Yaşam Kalitesi Üzerine Etkisi

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of corneal cross-linking (CXL) on quality of life in patients with bullous keratopathy. Material and Methods: The study was designed as prospective, comparative, single-center and nonrandomized cohort. Ten patients with painful bullous keratopathy to whom CXL was applied were included in the study group. Ten consecutive patients with painful bullous keratopathy who didn't accept CXL were admitted as the control group. Besides routine ophthalmic examinations, SF-36 (Short Form-36) questionnaire was also performed to all patients at baseline. All examinations were repeated at first, 3rd, 6th and 12th months. Results: A significant improvement in ''Physical Functioning'' and ''Vitality'' subscales starting from the first month after CXL, continuing up to the postoperative 6th month (p=0.04, p=0.01, respectively) was achieved. An improvement in ''Bodily Pain'' subscale was achieved starting at the 3rd month after CXL, and continued until the 6th month (p=0.01, p=0.01, respectively). Unfortunately, there was a deterioration in ''Physical Functioning'', ''Bodily Pain'', and ''Vitality'' subscales starting from the 6th month, with statistically significant variations between the 6th and the 12th months (p=0.02, p=0.02, p=0.02, respectively). In the control group, there was a significant deterioration in ''Physical Functioning'', ''Bodily Pain'', ''General Health'', and ''Social Functioning'' subscales between baseline and the 12th month (p=0.02, p=0.04, p=0.02, p=0.03, respectively). Conclusion: CXL may be useful in the treatment of bullous keratopathy when waiting for keratoplasty, particularly in patients with intense pain by temporarily improving the quality of life.