A study on quality of life and contrast sensitivity pre and post laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) between subjects with low, moderate and high myopia: A prospective, NEI-RQL 42 questionnaire based study

Purpose: To assess the quality of life and contrast sensitivity (CS) pre- and post-laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) among subjects with low, moderate and high myopia. Materials: A total of 95 ubjects undergoing myopic LASIK during the study period from 2018 to 2019 among different grades of myopia were included. It was a prospective, non-randomised study. Quality of life was measured by NEI-RQL 42 (national eye institute refractive error quality of life) questionnaire. The Pelli-Robson chart measured contrast sensitivity and the visual outcomes before LASIK and at one week, one month and six months after LASIK. Results: One hundred and ninety eyes of 95 subjects were included in the study. Out of these, 93.5% of low myopia (n = 29/31), 85.7% of moderate myopia (n = 36/42) and 72.7% of high myopia (n = 16/22) improved to 6/6 at six month follow up. All 13 subscales of the NEI-RQL 42 questionnaire observed an increasing trend except glare (GL) which showed a decreasing trend over time, and the results were statistically significant at a 5% level. Concerning contrast sensitivity, low myopias had a better postoperative CS when compared to high myopia, and this finding was statistically significant (P = 0.012). Conclusion: Despite being a safe and effective procedure of refractive correction, LASIK has its setbacks, especially when compared with the quality of vision, and this can be minimized by careful preoperative assessment and in-depth patient counseling by the treating physicians.