Abstract
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) contributes to increased patient happiness one month after surgery; however, longer term effects are unknown. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study on 472 patients who underwent bilateral LASIK surgery to measure happiness and satisfaction with LASIK, and to identify affecting factors. Patients completed questionnaires on satisfaction with the surgery and the subjective happiness scale (SHS) before, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of SHS and satisfaction scores. Mean SHS increased at one month but was similar to baseline levels by six months. The SHS of older patients was greater than younger ones at baseline and at one and three months, while satisfaction among the older group was poorer at one and three months. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the decrease in SHS score from one month to three months correlated with baseline SHS, SHS at one month, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), and age. Regression analysis revealed SHS at six months correlated with preoperative SHS, SHS at one month, and satisfaction at six months. Satisfaction at final visit correlated with age, UDVA, anisometropia, and with SHS at each visit. We conclude that happiness and satisfaction were age- and UDVA-dependent, and anisometropic patients report poorer satisfaction scores.
Highlights
Surgical correction of refractive errors restores uncorrected visual acuity and quality of life (QOL)
Happiness or positive emotions are regarded as a critical component of health [15,16,17], and subjective happiness can be measured with a validated questionnaire—the subjective happiness scale (SHS) [18,19]
Postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) of ≥20/20 was achieved in 90.7% of participants, and a refractive error ≤ 0.5 D was achieved in 92.7% of participants
Summary
Surgical correction of refractive errors restores uncorrected visual acuity and quality of life (QOL). Cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure for the elderly to improve vision and its effects on cognitive function, sleep and motor function [1,2,3]. Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia correction is another established vision-restoring surgery, and beneficial for unaided vision and QOL in all generations [4,5,6,7]. Recent investigations described improved subjective happiness after LASIK [8] and cataract surgery [9] and a decline in dry eye symptoms [10]. Happiness is associated with health and disease, including longevity, QOL, cardiovascular diseases, and the neuroendocrine system [11,12,13,14]. Happiness or positive emotions are regarded as a critical component of health [15,16,17], and subjective happiness can be measured with a validated questionnaire—the subjective happiness scale (SHS) [18,19]
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