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High myopes had worse dilated low-contrast acuity after LASIK in study
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Low-contrast dilated visual acuity was significantly worse in patients after LASIK for high myopia than before surgery, according to a recently published study. In patients who underwent LASIK for low myopia, the low-contrast dilated acuity scores did not change significantly, the study found.
Melissa D. Bailey, OD, MS, FAAO, and colleagues studied all patients who underwent LASIK or LASIK with concurrent astigmatic keratectomy for myopia between 1996 and 1997 in a university refractive surgery practice. The main outcome measures were best corrected high- and low-contrast visual acuity.
A significant effect of surgery was seen in nondilated low-contrast visual acuity for all patients. Preoperative low-contrast VA scores were significantly different from 3-month and 6-month scores.
Under dilated conditions, there was a significant effect of surgery in both high- and low-contrast acuity, but only the low-contrast changes were clinically meaningful, the study authors said.
When high myopes and low myopes were considered separately, the level of preoperative myopia had a significant effect on the visual acuity after surgery. Low contrast dilated VA scores for high myopes were significantly different from both 3- and 6-month postop results. No differences had been noted for low myopes.
The study is published in the May issue of Optometry and Vision Science.