Patient-Reported Outcomes With Wavefront-Guided Laser in Situ Keratomileusis (PROWL) Study Outcomes From a Single Institution.

PURPOSE: To determine patient-reported outcomes after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using wavefront-guided technology at a single institution.

METHODS: In this prospective observational study, 62 participants underwent examination and questionnaire at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. The questionnaire included questions from validated questionnaires and new items to assess patient satisfaction with current vision and LASIK surgery, and existence/degree of visual symptoms.

RESULTS: At month 1, patients reported an improvement in far vision ( P = .01), activity limitations ( P ≤ .001), and less worry about vision ( P ≤ .001), as well as new visual symptoms, including halos ( P ≤ .001) and double images ( P = .03). At month 3, patients still noted an improvement in near vision ( P = .05), far vision ( P ≤ .001), activity limitation ( P ≤ .001), and worry ( P ≤ .001) along with halos ( P = .05), double images ( P = .01), and dry eye ( P = .01). A total of 3.3% of patients at month 1 and 0% at month 3 had difficulty performing any activity due to symptoms, and 34.6% and 25.0% of patients reported decreased quality of life at months 1 and 3, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: After LASIK, patients experience new visual symptoms. Patients have high rates of satisfaction overall but with some patients reporting a decrease in quality of life 1 month after surgery; quality of life improves by postoperative month 3, with 25% patients reporting a decrease in visual well-being after surgery. [ J Refract Surg . 2023;39(3):198-204.] .