Visual experience and patient satisfaction with wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Refractive Surgery

Background:

• Wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is a common procedure for correcting myopia and astigmatism.
• Assessing patient perception alongside clinical outcomes is crucial for evaluating surgical success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To correlate patient satisfaction with objective clinical measurements after wavefront-guided LASIK.
• To identify factors influencing patient perception of visual outcomes post-LASIK.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 274 eyes undergoing wavefront-guided LASIK for myopic astigmatism.
• Comprehensive preoperative and 6-month postoperative visual and ocular health evaluations.
• Comparison of patient-reported questionnaire responses with measured visual acuity and contrast sensitivity.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in patient satisfaction was observed post-LASIK.
• Patient perception of visual changes correlated with mesopic contrast sensitivity, particularly under glare.
• Residual refractive error was a significant predictor of satisfaction; contact lens wearers reported higher satisfaction than spectacle wearers.

Conclusions:

• Most patients were satisfied or more satisfied with uncorrected postoperative vision compared to best corrected preoperative vision.
• Minimizing postoperative refractive error and managing patient expectations can reduce visual complaints like night glare.
• Subjective patient experience significantly impacts satisfaction with LASIK outcomes.