Cognitive styles and personality characteristics strongly influence the decision to have photorefractive keratectomy.

Abstract

A substantial number of patients who elect to undergo photorefractive keratectomy do so without the motivation of occupational uncorrected vision requirements. We hypothesized that information processing preferences for the auditory (versus visual) modality in a global, associative (versus detailed, sensory-oriented) style with adaptability and risk-taking (versus predictability) personality characteristics would predominate in patients electing photorefractive keratectomy. Seventy-three prospective photorefractive keratectomy patients attended informational sessions. Sixteen occupationally driven patients and one refusal were excluded from the analysis. The 27 patients electing to proceed with surgery were compared with the 29 declining surgery. Personality characteristics and cognitive styles were determined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: Abbreviated Version and the Modality Strengths Indicator. Subjects electing surgery showed significantly greater preferences for processing information in the auditory modality and in a global, associative style, with adaptability and risk-taking personality characteristics. Combining the attributes statistically differentiated the two groups. Specific cognitive styles and personality characteristics strongly influence the choice to pursue photorefractive keratectomy when that choice is not occupationally driven.