title: Measurement of visual function among patients undergoing corneal transplantation using the VF-14 index in Morocco.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To validate the Moroccan version of the VF-14 in candidates for keratoplasty and to assess their quality of life using this tool before and after transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a longitudinal prospective study that assessed 57 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty, recruited in the ophthalmology service in Marrakech over 5 years. The original VF-14 questionnaire was adapted into Moroccan dialect. The questionnaire was administered before and 2 years after transplantation. The VF-12 questionnaire was also used, deleting the last two items. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16.0 software. Comparisons of VF-14 scores before and after transplantation used the Wilcoxon test for paired samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 57 patients participated in the study. The most frequent indication for surgery was keratoconus (44%). All patients underwent penetrating keratoplasty. Chronbach's alpha value was 0.989 for VF-14 and 0.990 for VF-12. The two scores were negatively correlated with logMAR visual acuity. The strongest correlation was found with VA in the fellow eye. The average best-corrected visual acuity of the eye scheduled for keratoplasty was 1.1±0.16 logMAR. The average of VF-14 was 53±3. After keratoplasty, the average best-corrected visual acuity of operated eye was 0.34±0.31. The average postoperative astigmatism was 3 D. After keratoplasty, an increase in VF-14 score was observed from 53.5 to 81.92 (P<0.001). In postoperative follow-up, graft rejection was noted in two patients and maculopathy in a single patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Graft transparency, absence of complications, minimal astigmatism, and good visual acuity have long been indicators of a successful corneal transplant. However, this does not provide information on visual quality and its impact on everyday life. It is in this sense that the VF-14 was adapted into several languages, as reliable, valid and sensitive as the original Anglo-American version, to assess objectively and subjectively the quality of life of patients after keratoplasty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With advances in techniques and availability of better materials, surgical success in performing keratoplasty is increasing. At the same time, vision-related quality of life of corneal graft recipients deserves more attention from ophthalmologists.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology department, Mohammed VI university hospital, BP 1456 hay mohammadi, 40000 Marrakesh, Morocco. Electronic address: sarahhhbelgh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belghmaidi
authors.affiliation: Community medicine, epidemiology and public health department, Mohammed VI university hospital, research laboratory, school of medicine, Caddi Ayyad university, Marrakesh, Morocco.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adarmouch
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology department, Mohammed VI university hospital, BP 1456 hay mohammadi, 40000 Marrakesh, Morocco.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baali
authors.affiliation: Community medicine, epidemiology and public health department, Mohammed VI university hospital, research laboratory, school of medicine, Caddi Ayyad university, Marrakesh, Morocco.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sebbani
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology department, Mohammed VI university hospital, BP 1456 hay mohammadi, 40000 Marrakesh, Morocco.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hajji
authors.affiliation: Community medicine, epidemiology and public health department, Mohammed VI university hospital, research laboratory, school of medicine, Caddi Ayyad university, Marrakesh, Morocco.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amine
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology department, Mohammed VI university hospital, BP 1456 hay mohammadi, 40000 Marrakesh, Morocco.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moutaouakil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cornea; Cornée; Keratoplasty; Kératoplastie; Quality of life; Qualité de vie; VF-14