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Laser Vision Correction Outcomes: Surveys Show Chief Complaints and Primary Benefits

Because of its stature and the acknowledged expertise of its refractive surgeons, the Wilmer Eye Institute of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine attracts numerous patients from around the world seeking help to correct real or perceived complications from laser vision correction surgery performed elsewhere.

In a study whose results were recently published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, the Wilmer Institute reviewed the complaints of 101 dissatisfied refractive surgery patients who sought a consultation between June 1999 and January 2003. While the great majority of these patients had undergone LASIK, a small number of patients who had PRK, RK and LTK were also represented.

Medical therapies recommended by Wilmer for various complications included such treatments as lubrication, punctal plugs, topical and systemic pharmaceutical agents to modulate the ocular surface, spectacles and contact lenses. Lamellar or penetrating keratoplasty was recommended in four patients and nine patients required nonkeratoplasty surgery. In other patients, waiting for advances in technology, including wavefront-guided customized treatment (now available for some corrective procedures), was recommended.

A second survey, this one including responses from 434 LASIK patients who were asked to provide reasons for recommending the procedure to others, was also published in the same issue of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. Patients gave the following reasons for recommending the surgery:

Of the 35 patients who were dissatisfied with the outcome of their own LASIK procedure, 20 said they would recommend LASIK to a friend because "LASIK can help others." OMAbout this data: The Wilmer survey reviewed charts of consecutive dissatisfied patients who sought a consultation between June 1999 and January 2003 after having their refractive surgery performed elsewhere. One hundred sixty-one eyes in 101 patients with ocular complaints were identified. The second survey cited was conducted at the Northeastern Eye Institute, Scranton, Pa., the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of California at Los Angeles. Questionnaires were sent to 2,100 patients who had undergone LASIK, with an open-ended question for patients to give their reasons for recommending LASIK to others.