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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Refractive Surgical Correction for Presbyopia and Exploring Postoperative Visual Acuity
Published on: September 20, 2024
Hypnosis in photoablative refractive surgery: monocentric prospective study
Oscar Kallay1, Anna Zein-El-Din, Therry Vilet
1From the Centre Medical de l'Alliance, Braine l'Alleud, Belgium (Kallay, Vilet); Department of Ophthalmology, Erasme Hospital, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium (Kallay, Zein-El-Din); Université de Namur, Faculty of Medicine, Namur, Belgium (Vilet).
Purpose:
To evaluate the efficacy of hypnosis in anxiety, fear control, and surgical ease in refractive surgery.
Setting:
1 single outpatient ophthalmological clinic in Belgium.
Design:
Monocentric randomized prospective study conducted from September 2024 to March 2025.
Methods:
34 patients aged 18 to 60 were randomized into 2 groups: standard care (photorefractive keratectomy or laser in situ keratomileusis) (control) and standard care plus hypnosis (experimental) where patients underwent real-time hypnosis during surgery. Anxiety levels were measured preoperatively and postoperatively using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale, along with heart rate monitoring and surgeon-rated intraoperative parameters. Patient satisfaction and communication quality were also assessed.
Results:
Anxiety scores were similar across groups, with no significant hemodynamic differences. However, the hypnosis group showed significantly better co-operation ( P = .004) and surgical comfort ( P < .0001). They also reported higher intraoperative comfort, satisfaction, and communication quality ( P < .05).
Conclusions:
To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that conversational hypnosis significantly enhances patient experience and surgical co-operation during refractive laser surgery, despite no effect on physiological markers. It represents a promising adjunct relaxing technique useful in outpatient settings.
