PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect on vision of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) based on preoperative optical quality. SETTING: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Terrassa, and Barcelona Institute of Ocular Microsurgery, Barcelona, Spain. DESIGN: Comparative case series. METHODS: The relative change in optical quality and visual acuity were evaluated in eyes that had LASIK for myopia. The optical quality was assessed before and 3 months after surgery using parameters provided by a double-pass system. Patients were classified into 4 groups by preoperative optical quality: low (Group 1), moderate (Group 2), high (Group 3), and very high (Group 4). RESULTS: The study evaluated 25 patients (50 eyes). The optical quality parameters improved postoperatively in Group 1 and Group 2, with the improvement ranging from 15% to 21% and from 13% to 17%, respectively. The preoperative and postoperative optical quality in Group 3 was similar. The optical quality in Group 4 worsened significantly by percentages ranging from -20% to -26%. Although visual acuity had the same trend, there were no statistically significant changes. CONCLUSION: The changes in optical quality after LASIK surgery depended on the patient's preoperative optical quality; visual acuity showed the same trend, although no change was significant.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect on vision of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) based on preoperative optical quality. SETTING: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Terrassa, and Barcelona Institute of Ocular Microsurgery, Barcelona, Spain. DESIGN: Comparative case series. METHODS: The relative change in optical quality and visual acuity were evaluated in eyes that had LASIK for myopia. The optical quality was assessed before and 3 months after surgery using parameters provided by a double-pass system. Patients were classified into 4 groups by preoperative optical quality: low (Group 1), moderate (Group 2), high (Group 3), and very high (Group 4). RESULTS: The study evaluated 25 patients (50 eyes). The optical quality parameters improved postoperatively in Group 1 and Group 2, with the improvement ranging from 15% to 21% and from 13% to 17%, respectively. The preoperative and postoperative optical quality in Group 3 was similar. The optical quality in Group 4 worsened significantly by percentages ranging from -20% to -26%. Although visual acuity had the same trend, there were no statistically significant changes. CONCLUSION: The changes in optical quality after LASIK surgery depended on the patient's preoperative optical quality; visual acuity showed the same trend, although no change was significant.