Evaluation of the relationship between ablation diameter, pupil size, and visual function with vision-specific quality-of-life measures after laser in situ keratomileusis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between ablation diameter, pupil size, and visual function as measured by a vision-specific quality-of-life instrument after undergoing laser in situ keratomileusis.


METHODS
Of 300 patients eligible for this study, 97 (32.3%) responded to a mailed study questionnaire, the National Eye Institute Refractive Error Quality of Life (RQL) Instrument. The RQL Instrument was administered in all 97 patients after laser in situ keratomileusis. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated for the association between RQL subscale scores and characteristics including pupil diameter and uncorrected visual acuity.


RESULTS
Positive correlations between larger mesopic and scotopic pupil diameter and higher RQL satisfaction scores (0.12 and 0.19, respectively) were not statistically significant at the P=.05 level. As uncorrected visual acuity in the better eye improved, patients reported significantly less worry (-0.22; P=.03), more satisfaction (-0.25; P=.01), clearer vision (-0.25; P=.01), and better far vision (-0.24; P=.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Larger pupil diameter is not significantly associated with postoperative satisfaction and visual function as measured with the RQL. Rather, postoperative uncorrected visual acuity is confirmed as a strong predictor of patient satisfaction after refractive surgery.
Schmidt
Gregory W
GW
Department of Ophthalmology, Francis I. Proctor Foundation for Research in Oppthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, 10 Koret Way, Room K-301, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Yoon
Michael
M
McGwin
Gerald
G
Lee
Paul P
PP
McLeod
Stephen D
SD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011680:Pupil / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*