Neurotrophic keratopathy reduces quality of life beyond vision loss

Individuals with neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) experience a significant reduction in quality of life, independent of vision loss, according to a study.

In the cross-sectional study, 22 patients with NK were surveyed using the Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) and had health utility assessed through time trade-off and standard gamble methods.

Utility scores for NK ranged from 0.69 to 0.86, depending on the method and reference point used. It was noted that these values did not correlate with patient age, gender, visual acuity, or disease severity. However, difficulties in daily roles and increased dependence were linked to lower utility scores.

The researchers concluded that NK significantly diminishes quality of life beyond measurable vision loss.

Reference
Sargsyan S, Fung SE, Lee TS, et al. Impact of neurotrophic keratopathy on quality of life: a utility analysis. Can J Ophthalmol. 2025;S0008-4182(25)00158-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2025.04.011. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40339603.