Topography-Guided LASIK: A Prospective Study Evaluating Patient-Reported Outcomes

PURPOSE: To evaluate patient-reported outcomes with a validated patient questionnaire following topography-guided LASIK (TG-LASIK). METHODS: Patients undergoing TG-LASIK using Phorcides analytic software were prospectively enrolled to receive an adapted Patient-Reported Outcomes with LASIK Symptoms and Satisfaction (PROWL) questionnaire before and 26-weeks after treatment. The main study outcome was the change in the Global Vision Satisfaction Index from the PROWL questionnaire. RESULTS: Forty-six patients underwent treatment and completed the modified PROWL questionnaire before and 26-weeks after TG-LASIK. The Global Vision Satisfaction Index from the modified PROWL questionnaire improved from 4.07 (3.87–4.26) to 5.00 (4.81–5.19) after the TG-LASIK treatment (p < 0.0001). The study population’s binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/16, 20/12.5, and 20/10 or better in 100%, 87.0%, and 15.2% at 26 weeks post TG-LASIK, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patient satisfaction as assessed with the modified PROWL questionnaire is very high after undergoing TG-LASIK using Phorcides analytic software. Patient-reported outcomes add another dimension when assessing treatment efficacy beyond change in visual acuity and corneal architecture, and specialists may consider incorporating such assessments into the consenting process and patient education at large.