Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the effect of Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) on refractive error–specific quality of life.
Methods: :
The National Eye Institute Refractive Error Quality of Life Instrument (NEI RQL–42) was administered to 20 myopic patients (mean spherical equivalent –3.11 D ± 0.96 D) between the ages of 18 and 39 years both before and 1 month after being successfully fitted with Paragon CRT lenses. High– and low–contrast best–corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and higher–order aberrations were also measured. Scores for the 13 NEI RQL–42 subscales were calculated and a Wilcoxon Sign Rank test was used to determine whether there was a significant change in each of the subscale scores.
Results: :
Statistically significant changes were found in 3 of the 13 NEI RQL–42 subscales. Significant improvements in subscale score were found for the symptoms (mean ± SD; 10.18 ± 10.57, p = 0.0007) and dependence on correction (43.13 ± 27.42, p < 0.0001) subscales. A significant reduction was found in the glare subscale (–32.50 ± 35.22, p = 0.001). No significant changes were found in the clarity of vision, expectations, near vision, far vision, diurnal fluctuations, activity limitations, worry, suboptimal correction, appearance and satisfaction with correction subscales.
Conclusions: :
CRT may improve a patient’s perception of their visual independence, decrease the amount of ocular symptoms they report, and increase symptoms of glare. The increase in patient reported glare is likely due to measured increases in higher–order aberrations after CRT, especially spherical aberration under mesopic and scotopic conditions.
Keywords: contact lens • quality of life