Subjective Quality of Vision Outcomes of Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy
Purpose
To assess questionnaire-based subjective quality of vision results of trans-epithelial photorefractive keratectomy (TransPRK).
Methods
Fifty four patients (102 eyes) with different type of refractive errors were recruited in a prospective study at Bina Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from July 2011 to September 2014. All of the cases underwent Trans-PRK by same expert refractive surgeon (S.A.M.) using SCHWIND AMARIS 500 laser (SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH, Kleinostheim, Germany). In follow up visits, in addition to optical assessments, patients were asked to answer questions about various items of their quality of vision.
Results
Thirty five patients were male and nineteen were male with a mean age of 30.28±7.84. Mean follow up time was 27.9 months. Preoperative spherical equivalent and UDVA improved from -3.5±0.07 and 0.53±10 to 0±0.01 and 1.31±0.04 respectively. Mesopic and photopic contrast sensitivities improved numerically but not statistically significant. Postoperatively, 18.52%, 22.64%, 29.63%, 24.44% 16.98% and 52.83% of patients complained in order from night vision disturbances, hallo, glare, blurred vision, double vision and focusing difficulties among whom 70%, 50%, 56%, 61%, 100% and 82% improved by surgery respectively. By final visit, 88.46% declared overall visual quality improvement and 94.3% were satisfied.
Conclusion
This study shows TransPRK using SCHWIND AMARIS to enhance subjective and objective visual quality of patients with various refractive errors in addition to refraction and visual acuity correction. This improvement was more pronounced in double vision correction as well as night vision and focusing function.