Satisfaction level of physicians who have undergone corneal refractive surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the levels of satisfaction among physicians who have undergone corneal refractive surgery.


METHODS
This study included 212 eyes of 107 consecutive patients who underwent laser in situ keratomileusis or laser sub-epithelial keratomileusis surgery. Patients were divided into two groups: one group of physicians and one group of other healthcare workers (HCWs). The physicians' group was also subdivided into two different groups: surgeons or doctors using microscopes and medical physicians. The main outcome measures were scale scores obtained by using the Visual Function Index-14 questionnaires; uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), residual spherical equivalent (SE), optical zone diameter, and residual corneal thickness were also compared between the groups.


RESULTS
No significant differences in preoperative parameters, with the exception of the ratio of types of refractive surgery, were noted between the physicians and the HCWs group. Additionally, no differences between the groups were noted in the postoperative UDVA, residual SE, optical zone diameter, residual corneal thickness, and level of satisfaction. When comparing the two subgroups of physicians, the differences in satisfaction rates were not statistically significant, even in terms of the performance of delicate manual work.


CONCLUSIONS
No statistically significant differences in the clinical outcomes and satisfaction scores were detected after surgery between the physicians and HCWs groups, nor were any significant differences detected between the surgeons and medical physicians groups. Corneal refractive surgery can conceivably be recommended even for physicians who perform intensive near vision-dependent activities and delicate operations.
Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Eun Kyoung
EK
Lee
Ji-Won
JW
Kwon
Joon Young
JY
Hyon
Young Keun
YK
Han
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome