Patient satisfaction after LASIK for myopia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine satisfaction among patients treated with laser-in-situ-keratomileusis (LASIK) for various degrees of myopia (-0.75 D to -16.00 D) and myopic astigmatism (+0.50 D to +4.50 D) and assess factors which may affect satisfaction.


METHODS
One-hundred seventy-four consecutive patients treated with LASIK between November 1, 1997 and October 31, 1998 were surveyed. Charts were reviewed to collect refractive data.


RESULTS
Eighty-three patients (163 eyes) returned surveys for a response rate of 53%. Of the responders, 55% were female, the average age was 39.6 years (range 21-59), the mean preoperative sphere was -6.36 +/- 0.23 D, cylinder +0.94 +/- 0.07 D, and spherical equivalent-5.89 +/- 0.23 D. Ninety-six percent of eyes enjoyed freedom from corrective lenses following LASIK. Twenty-nine percent reported reduced night vision clarity following LASIK and 27% noted more eye dryness following LASIK. Overall, 84.8% were at least "very pleased" with the results of the procedure and 97% indicated that they would decide again to have LASIK. Uncorrected visual acuity and lower preoperative cylinder correlated positively with satisfaction, while increased postoperative dry eyes correlated negatively with satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates a very high level of patient satisfaction following excimer laser treatment for myopia and myopic astigmatism. A great deal of literature has evaluated objective outcomes of LASIK, but this is one of few studies to examine patient satisfaction.
Miller
A E
AE
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, USA.
McCulley
J P
JP
Bowman
R W
RW
Cavanagh
H D
HD
Wang
X H
XH
D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D019466:Glare; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014792:Visual Acuity