Profile and Visual Outcome of Patients Following Keratorefractive Surgery at Tertiary Eye Hospital, Nepal: A Hospital-based Study

Abstract

Background: Keratorefractive surgeries (KRS) are widely performed globally to correct refractive errors. Common options
include photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK), small-incision lenticule extraction, and intraocular lens based procedures. This study aimed to analyze the profile and visual outcomes of patients following keratorefractive surgery.

Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Biratnagar Eye Hospital, Nepal, from January 2019 to December 2021. Data were collected retrospectively from medical records. Patient selection for KRS was based on predefined corneal assessment criteria. Eligible patients underwent re-evaluation by experienced optometrists trained in refractive surgery. All procedures were performed by a single experienced keratorefractive surgeon. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Results: A total of 81 eyes from 43 patients were included. LASIK was performed in 33 eyes, while TransPRK was performed in 48 eyes. The mean age of the patients was 23.05 ± 3.72 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1. Compound myopic astigmatism was the most common refractive error, accounting for 47 eyes (58%). In the LASIK group, mean preoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) improved from 1.16 ± 0.19 logMAR to 0.00 ± 0.01 logMAR on postoperative day 1 and remained stable at one month. Contrast sensitivity (CS) also remained stable. In the TransPRK group, mean preoperative UCVA improved from 0.90 ± 0.37 logMAR to 0.19 ± 0.15 logMAR on day 1 and 0.01 ± 0.03 logMAR at one month, while CS showed gradual improvement over time.

Conclusion: Both LASIK and TransPRK demonstrated excellent visual outcomes and preserved contrast sensitivity, making them effective options for surgical correction of refractive errors and achieving spectacle independence.