Patient-Reported LASIK Outcomes on RealSelf: a Social Media Review Platform.

PURPOSE

Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), the most commonly performed elective refractive surgery, has reported patient satisfaction rates of 95%-99%. RealSelf, a social media review platform, is a source of patient-reported narrative reviews. The goal of this retrospective study was to characterize patient reviews for LASIK on RealSelf and determine factors influencing patient satisfaction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Reviews for LASIK posted 2007-2022 on RealSelf were extracted using a web scraper. Written reviews were categorized as positive or negative. Content was further categorized into primary themes: adverse effect, bedside manner, comfort, cost, office environment, and refractive result. Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact tests with Bonferroni correction were performed using the Python SciPy library, with p < 0.05 considered significant unless otherwise stated.

RESULTS

Of 464 written reviews, 76.7% were positive. Refractive result was more likely than all other factors to be the primary theme of positive reviews, while cost was least likely (p < 0.001). Adverse effect and refractive result were more likely than other factors to be the primary theme of negative reviews (p ≤ 0.002). Positive reviews were more likely than negative reviews to cite refractive result as a primary theme (p < 0.001). The most common adverse effect mentioned was dry eye.

CONCLUSION

Refractive result was most likely to be a primary determinant of patient satisfaction; cost was least likely. Studying factors contributing to patient postoperative satisfaction can inform ophthalmologists seeking to improve patient care.