Value of considering psychological strengths in patients with eye pain

PURPOSE: To characterize the possibility of strength intervention to improve eye-related quality of life and satisfaction with life of a patient who experienced eye pain and dissatisfaction with the outcomes of ocular surgery. OBSERVATION: A young female patient who underwent LASIK surgery and experienced dissatisfaction with the outcome claimed that she had eye pain and had lost her strengths and self-confidence, having lower quality of life despite the successful surgery. We performed strength intervention in an attempt to improve her psychological condition. After the intervention, her quality of life and satisfaction with life improved, although her near vision remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: This case report emphasized the importance of considering positive psychological aspects when dealing with patients who are dissatisfied with the outcomes of ocular surgery. Ophthalmologists should proactively consider their patients' psychological strengths as part of the diagnosis in order to improve their patients’ quality of life.