U.S. trends in refractive surgery: 2001 International Society of Refractive Surgery Survey

To determine the trends in refractive surgery in the United States in 2001.

The 980 U.S. members of the International Society of Refractive Surgery were mailed the 2001 refractive surgery survey dealing with volumes, types, and preferences of refractive surgery performed. Questions regarding radial keratotomy, astigmatic keratotomy, photorefractive keratectomy, laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), laser subepithelial keratomileusis, intracorneal rings (Intacs), laser thermal keratoplasty, conductive keratoplasty, clear lens extraction, phakic intraocular lenses, and scleral expansion procedures for presbyopia were examined in the survey. Procedure preferences for low, moderate, and high myopia and hyperopia were compared with the results from the surveys of the previous 4 years. Preference for unilateral versus bilateral same-day surgery, laser type, and microkeratome choice were also compared with the survey data from previous years. Incidence and frequency of comanagement of refractive surgery patients were compared with 2000 data.

LASIK remains the dominant refractive surgery for refractive errors from -12.00 to +3.00 D; the VISX excimer laser and the Hansatome microkeratome are the most frequently used instruments for LASIK.