title: Vision Related Quality of Life in Myopia; Photorefractive Keratectomy versus Nonsurgical Optical Correction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare quality of life (QOL) in myopic patients who underwent photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with that of myopic spectacle or contact lens users.
  
  
  METHODS
  This observational comparative study was performed on 102 low to moderate myopic patients who had undergone PRK at least 6 months ago and 106 myopic spectacle or contact lens wearers. Vision related QOL and its correlation with demographic variables, visual acuity and refractive status were compared between the two groups. QOL was measured using a validated translated version of the Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) which contains 25 questions in 12 subscales with a total score of zero to 100.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean total QOL score was 97.0±4.4 and 86.1±10.7 in PRK and nonsurgical groups respectively [mean difference (d)=11, P<0.001]. The difference was independent of age, sex, education or marital status (P>0.05). Overall, 10 out of 12 QOL subscales were significantly higher in the PRK group (P<0.001) especially general vision (d=23.8), general health (d=22.2), driving (d=19.3), role difficulties (d=14.6), distance activities (d=13.8) and mental health (d=13.7). Only color vision (d=1.6, P>0.9) and ocular pain (d=3.1, P=0.3) were not significantly different between the study groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Correction of myopia using PRK is associated with higher QOL scores in most subscales as compared to spectacle or contact lens wear.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ziaei
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katibeh
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabbaghi
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaseri
authors.forename: Armen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eskandari