Patient motivation for laser in situ keratomileusis in the State of Bihar.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the main reasons for seeking laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and patient satisfaction after surgery in the socioeconomically underdeveloped eastern state of Bihar, India.


METHODS
This retrospective study evaluated results of the first 100 consecutive patients (169 eyes) who had LASIK at our center from July 2002 to September 2003.


RESULTS
Of the 100 patients, 65% were male and 35% were female. Ninety percent of male patients were between 18 and 24 years old; they sought LASIK to achieve an uncorrected visual acuity of 6/6 to 6/9-the basic qualifying criterion for jobs in the railway and defense services. Eighty-six percent of female patients were of marrying age. At 1 month after LASIK, 93% of patients achieved an UCVA of 6/6, 4% had UCVA between 6/9 to 6/12, and only 1% had <6/60.


CONCLUSIONS
In the socioeconomically poor state of Bihar, the main reason for males in our study to seek LASIK was to enhance their job prospects. In females, the main reason was to improve facial appearance in order to enhance marriage prospects.
Akhaury
Ranjan Kr
RK
Drishti Eye Care & Research Centre, Patna, Bihar, India. ranjanakhaury@hotmail.com
Verma
N P
NP
Kumar
Ranjana
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003906:Developing Countries; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000523:psychology; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology