Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:The VF-14 index is a strong predictor of patients’ self-reported satisfaction with vision. Scores provide a more sensitive and reliable measure of visual function than visual acuity for patients with cataract. Similarly, visual acuity after LASIK is often an unreliable predictor of patient satisfaction after surgery. Surveys of visual function often perform erratically when applied to refractive surgery patients. In this study we evaluated the influence of LASIK on VF-14 scores, and patient reported «trouble» and «satisfaction» with vision. Methods:We evaluated a consecutive series of 107 LASIK patients. Data were collected preoperatively, and postoperatively at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Patients completed the VF-14 and 12 additional visual analog questions rating visual symptoms, trouble and satisfaction with vision that were developed by the Johns Hopkins Patient Outcomes Research Team for cataract assessment. Results: Preoperatively, the VF-14 indicated a high index of visual function as expected (mean= 93 +8) on a 0-100 scale. On a 1-10 scale, satisfaction was low (mean= 3.9 + 2.7), trouble was moderate (mean= 5.6 +2.6), and visual symptoms were low (mean= 1.1 +1.8). All measures except satisfaction worsened at 1 day, and improved beyond baseline at 3 months. Compared to baseline, there were statistically significant improvements in trouble and satisfaction scores at 3 months (p < .003). VF-14 scores improved less significantly (p= .05). Conclusion:We are able to demonstrate change in patient reported visual symptoms, trouble, and satisfaction throughout the postoperative course of recovery from LASIK using the VF-14 and visual analog scales. Patients with a high degree of visual function, whose VF-14 scores change very little in response to treatment, report significant changes in trouble and satisfaction with vision on a visual analog scale. Indicating that visual function, patient satisfaction and trouble with vision are not the same. Visual analog scales of trouble and satisfaction appear to be more sensitive and may prove useful for assessment of patients with highly functional vision.
Keywords: 548 refractive surgery: LASIK • 353 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications • 356 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: systems/equipment/techniques