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Global review finds that 95.4% of patients are satisfied with outcomes after LASIK

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FAIRFAX, Va. — On average, 95.4% of LASIK patients appear satisfied with their visual outcomes, according to a preliminary review of worldwide patient satisfaction literature, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery announced in a press release.

Similarly, more than 95.2% of LASIK patients in the United States appear satisfied with their visual outcomes, the release said.

These preliminary results follow the February publication of a syndicated newspaper article citing depression and suicide as possible complications of LASIK. Specifically, the article described one case of suicide and one case of attempted suicide allegedly stemming from dissatisfaction with visual outcomes after LASIK.

"While patient satisfaction is extremely high, we recognize that there are patients who have unsatisfactory outcomes. As surgeons, we have taken the Hippocratic Oath. The well being of all of our patients is central to what we do and what we are. As such, and as the history of medicine has shown, we are committed to advancing our technology, patient selection and surgical techniques so that we can continue to enhance the quality of our patients' lives," said ASCRS President and OSN Chief Medical Editor Richard L. Lindstrom, MD.

Led by Kerry D. Solomon, MD, the meta-analysis, which utilized the Ovid and PubMed databases to search for the keyword "LASIK" and related terminology, is currently evaluating approximately 3,000 peer-reviewed articles, including 308 studies of primary LASIK cases, published over the past decade in clinical journals from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, according to the release.

The main objective of the literature review is to present a global perspective on patient satisfaction after LASIK for further analysis by a joint task force formed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The task force includes members of the ASCRS, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the National Eye Institute, as well as other delegates from the medical community, the release said.

The meta-analysis incorporates results obtained from a total of 2,199 participants in 19 studies that specifically address patient satisfaction. The remaining 289 studies are currently under review to determine if and to what extent additional data may be obtained.

Dr. Solomon will present the final results of the review at the ASCRS meeting in April, the release said.