The sense of self-concept change in patients after radial keratotomy.
OBJECTIVE
The study focuses on the problem of self-concept change in patients after radial keratotomy.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients (17 female, 8 male) were studied from 6 to 18 months after radial keratotomy using the Adjective Check List by Gough and Heilbrun with the application of double instruction. It concerned self-concept change over a period of observation after surgery, as compared to retrospective (preoperative) self-concept.


RESULTS
For current self-concept, patients obtained significantly higher results in the following measures: the number of positive words used for self-description (P < .05); need scales, like affiliation (P < .005), heterosexuality (P < .01), and intraception or insight (P < .05); self-confidence (P < .01); military leadership (P < .05), logical decision making (P < .05); two measures concerning logical-analytical thinking (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that after radial keratotomy, patients perceived themselves in a more positive way than before surgery, especially as more self-confident in interpersonal functioning.
Toczolowski
J
J
II Ophthalmology Department of the Medical Academy, Lublin, Poland.
Oles
P
P
Zagórski
Z
Z
Szymona
K U
KU
Baltaziak
L
L
Rymgayllo-Jankowska
B
B
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires