Pre-operative Quality of Life and psychological factors that influence patient decision making in LASIK

To assess pre-operative visual function, psychological factors, personality traits and satisfaction in myopic patients seeking laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Eligible patients seeking LASIK (n=183) and successful contact lens wearers (n=23) not interested in LASIK completed the Institute for Eye Research Quality of Life (QOL) Scale. Of the 183 patients seeking LASIK who completed the QOL instrument before LASIK, 30 declined the procedure and 153 underwent LASIK. One hundred and two patients who underwent LASIK attended their 3-month post-operative follow-up appointment and 51 patients failed to present for their post-operative follow-up appointment. Multiple comparisons (One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)) were conducted to determine differences in visual function, psychological factors, personality traits and satisfaction between patient groups.

Successful soft contact lens (SCL) wearers reported better functional vision (P=0.001), felt more attractive (P=0.007), had a lower frequency of disturbing visual and ocular symptoms (P=0.027) and higher overall satisfaction with their current optical correction (P<0.001) than patients seeking LASIK. LASIK patients lost to follow-up showed higher self-efficacy, adaptability and well-being than the patients who completed their appointments and those who declined surgery (P<0.05).

Psychological characteristics, the perception of visual and ocular symptoms and satisfaction with the current method of optical correction play an important role in the decision to undergo LASIK. The IER QOL Scale is a valid and reliable instrument able to discriminate between different groups seeking choices for myopic correction. Psychological factors may influence the level of satisfaction with LASIK.