Elhardt Carolin, Aamoon Ahmad Zia, Hartmann Lennart Maximilian, Grün Clara Marie Sophie, Wolf Armin, Wertheimer Christian Maximilian
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, Ulm, 89075, Germany.
BMC Ophthalmol. 2025 Jun 19;25(1):341. doi: 10.1186/s12886-025-04200-x.
Corneal dystrophies are a group of rare eye diseases that can cause visual impairment and affect social well-being, independence, and active participation in society. This study presents data on the impact of corneal dystrophies on quality of life compared to a healthy control group.
This prospective case control study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital Ulm in Germany. The study included 45 patients with corneal dystrophy (excluding Fuchs endothelial dystrophy) between 2021 and 2024, and a control group of 45 healthy patients. All patients completed two questionnaires on quality of life (NEI-VFQ and VF-14). The quality of life was correlated with visual acuity and Scheimpflug imaging parameters, such as higher order aberrations as well as corneal astigmatism, densitometry and pachymetry.
Thirteen different corneal dystrophies were included; genetic testing confirmed the dystrophies in thirteen patients (13/36 tested; 13/45 total). Mean age was 57 ± 16 years, 60% were female. Compared to the control group, patients with corneal dystrophies reported a significantly worse overall quality of life in the VF-14 (p < 0.001) and in all categories of the NEI-VFQ (p < 0.02). There was a high correlation of the quality of life in patients with corneal dystrophy with visual acuity, higher order aberrations and corneal astigmatism, and no correlation with corneal densitometry and pachymetry.
Our data indicate that corneal dystrophies have a significant impact on an individual's quality of life in many ways. These findings highlight the importance of identifying and treating these diseases to enhance overall well-being and active participation in daily life.
角膜营养不良是一组罕见的眼部疾病，可导致视力损害，并影响社会福祉、独立性和积极参与社会生活。本研究呈现了与健康对照组相比，角膜营养不良对生活质量影响的数据。
这项前瞻性病例对照研究在德国乌尔姆大学医院眼科进行。该研究纳入了2021年至2024年间45例角膜营养不良患者（不包括Fuchs内皮营养不良）以及45例健康患者作为对照组。所有患者均完成了两份关于生活质量的问卷（NEI-VFQ和VF-14）。生活质量与视力以及眼前节分析成像参数相关，如高阶像差、角膜散光、密度测定和角膜厚度测量。
纳入了13种不同的角膜营养不良；基因检测确诊了13例患者的营养不良（36例检测患者中的13例；共45例患者中的13例）。平均年龄为57±16岁，60%为女性。与对照组相比，角膜营养不良患者在VF-14问卷中报告的总体生活质量显著更差（p<0.001），在NEI-VFQ问卷的所有类别中也是如此（p<0.02）。角膜营养不良患者的生活质量与视力、高阶像差和角膜散光高度相关，与角膜密度测定和角膜厚度测量无关。
我们的数据表明，角膜营养不良在许多方面对个体的生活质量有重大影响。这些发现凸显了识别和治疗这些疾病以提高整体幸福感和积极参与日常生活的重要性。
