Patient satisfaction after 5.0-mm photorefractive keratectomy for myopia

To examine patient satisfaction following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in a large number of subjects.

We used a questionnaire to examine overall patient satisfaction in 173 patients (173 first-operated eyes) at least 1 year after they had undergone PRK. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -7.05 +/- 3.73 D (range, -1.50 to -15.00 D). Fifty-one patients had unilateral surgery and 122 had bilateral surgery, 60 of whom had follow-up of 1 year for both eyes. Visual and refractive results, the use of corrective lenses, and subjective side effects were also studied.

Eighty percent of 173 patients reported they were satisfied or very satisfied with the surgical outcome, while 19.7% reported they were dissatisfied. The average satisfaction score was 7.92 +/- 2.22 out of a possible 10. After PRK, 77.5% reported improvement or great improvement in their general quality of life; 16.8% were very disturbed by subjective visual symptoms. Of the 51 bilateral patients, 85% required no corrective lenses after surgery. Patients who had bilateral operations were more satisfied than those who had unilateral ones. Statistically significant associations were found between patient satisfaction and initial refraction: as preoperative refraction increased, percentage of satisfied or very satisfied patients decreased.

Patient satisfaction after PRK was generally high, but subjective visual symptoms remain a problem.