Patient and Surgeon experience during LASIK

Patient and surgeon experience during laser in situ keratomileusis using 2 femtosecond laser systems.

Journal Cataract & Refractive Surgery. March 2014, Volume 40, Number 3, Page 423-9.

Reece C Hall FRANZCO, et al.

PURPOSE:

To describe the subjective experience of patients and surgeons during laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using the IntraLase 60 kHz or the Visumax 500 kHz femtosecond laser.

DESIGN:

Prospective randomised clinical study.

METHODS:

In myopic patients, LASIK was performed with the corneal flap created using the 60 kHz laser in one eye and the 500 kHz laser in the contralateral eye. Postoperatively, patients completed a standardized validated questionnaire about their subjective intraoperative experiences (eg, light perception, pain, fear). Surgeons reported their intraoperative experiences and preferences.

RESULTS:

Loss of light perception occurred in 50.0% of 60 kHz laser cases and 0% of 500 kHz laser cases during docking and in 63.0% and 0% of cases, respectively, during laser flap creation (P < .0001). The mean pain score with the 60 kHz laser was significantly higher during docking (P < .0001) but not during laser flap cutting (P = .006). Subconjunctival haemorrhage occurred in 67.4% of eyes with the 60 kHz laser and in 2.2% of eyes with the 500 kHz laser (P < .0001). The 500 kHz laser was preferred by 78.3% of patients, while 21.7% preferred the 60 kHz laser (P < .0001). The surgeons preferred the 60 kHz laser in 50.0% of cases and the 500 kHz laser in 8.7% (P < .0001); 41.3% had no preference.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients preferred surgery with the 500 kHz laser but Surgeons preferred the IntraLase laser.

http://www.jcrsjournal.org/article/S0886-3350(13)01634-9/abstract