Psychosocial Characteristics in Candidates of Photorefractive Keratectomy

Kim, Seung Hyun; Jung, Hai Ryun; Kim, Hyo Myung

Abstract

We evaluate the psychosocial characteristics and primary reason for electing operation in myopic patients who were candidates for photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). The questionnaire data were collected on PRK patients and compared them with similar group of myopia. Most of the PHK patients were unmarried female in their twenties. The most striking demographic chracteristic of PRK sample was that the high proportion of them was highly educated office worker with high socioeconomic status. They were in possession of extroversive character rather than introversive one. They thought that their visual acuity was very serious, and preferred wearing contact lens for visual correction. The most important reason for undergoing PRK was avoiding inconveniences of contact lens or glasses. The other reasons were improving vision, improving appearance, and hoping to change life style with better vision. They were afraid of unpredictability of visual recovery and occurrence of complications, after operation, The results of this study may help analyze the factors that influence the success of PRK and patient's satisfaction.