Patient preference--contact lens or radial keratotomy?

BACKGROUND

Past clinical experience has suggested that patients are more satisfied after radial keratotomy than when wearing contact lenses.

METHODS

One-hundred patients who had worn contact lenses prior to receiving radial keratotomy compared subjectively these two methods for correcting myopia. The postoperative follow up ranged from 3 months to 13 years.

RESULTS

The vast majority (93%) preferred radial keratotomy to the handling of contact lenses.

CONCLUSIONS

The desire to be independent of optical correction is a sufficient indication for refractive surgery.