Latest Research Asks Patients About a After LASIK (NAPS)—With more than 20 years of technological advancement, 16 mil- lion procedures and a higher than 95 percent patient satisfaction rate, finding room for improvement in LASIK vision correction is like hunting for a needle in a haystack. But recent news out of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers a new frontier in LASIK research, patient-reported data, with the potential to uncover new approaches to patient counseling, screening and_ research. Importantly, the researchers confirmed that the procedure is a safe and effective option for vision correction. Published in JAMA Ophthalmology, “Satisfaction of Patients in the Pa- tient-Reported Outcomes with LASIK New research uses patient-reported data to better understand the LASIK surgery experience. ‘The latest LASIK study mirrors the findings of other recently published clinical work. A recent review of more than 4,400 LASIK clinical studies conducted (PROWL)Studies” gave LASIK patient between 2008 and 2015 found patients tionnaire before and after their LASIK surgery to see if more and more accu- than ever before. This vast data poolalso LASIK surgery experience and results could be obtained. “What PROWLdelivers is a new systematic way of gathering the patient's subjective perceptions, which may have valuable implications to improving nology and techniques, is among the safest and mosteffective surgical procedures. ‘The LASIKscientific literature review also reports the global patient satisfaction rate participants a newly developed ques- rate information aboutpatient’s vision, the delivery of vision correction care,’ said Kerry Solomon, M.D., president of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. “The potential to expand our clinical understanding of LASIK with patient-reported data is very exciting. We anticipate the ongoing use of the questionnaire will provide important insights that can improve what is already a fantastic vision correction option,” Not surprisingly, patient satisfaction with LASIK remains extraordinarily high, with up to 98 percent ofstudy par- ticipants reporting being satisfied with the procedure. The study also found ap- proximately 40 percentof a small subset of participants—those who reported having no symptomsprior to LASIK (25 percent ofall study participants)—reported new visual symptomsincluding dry eye, glare, halos, starbursts or ghosting following LASIK. However, most participants saw a decrease in symp- toms and fewer than 1 percent of par- ticipants reported symptomisinterfered with their daily activities. are experiencing better visual outcomes showed the procedure has improved over time and, with the advent of modern tech- has increased to more than 98 percent. In addition, a recent three-year study showed that people who had LASIK were moresatisfied with their vision than con- tact lens users, and that their satisfaction stayed high over time, while the satisfaction rate of contact lens users declined. “For people weighing their vision correction options, these studies are fantastic news. Theseresults really prove there has never been a better time to have LASIK. With the modern technology and techniques,the visual outcomes with LASIK are superb?’ said Dr. Solomon. “As with any procedure, there is a healing process with LASIK that can take upto a year. Becoming an informed patient and having a frank conversation with your surgeon about whatto expect during and after LASIK are essential to having a good experience andresult.” LASIKis a clinically proven safe and effective option for vision correction for those who are good candidates for the procedure. Resources for people looking into their vision correction options include the American Refractive Surgery Council (www.americanrefractive surgerycouncil.org/blog).
