Optometry Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Optometry, including details on myopia, optometric practice, therapy.

The effect of overnight contact lens corneal reshaping on refractive error-specific quality of life.

Berntsen DA, Mitchell GL, Barr JT

The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. dbernsten@optometry.osu.edu

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of corneal refractive therapy (CRT) on refractive error-specific quality of life. METHODS: The National Eye Institute Refractive Error Quality of Life Instrument (NEI RQL-42) was administered to 20 myopic patients (mean spherical equivalent -3.11 D +/- 0.96 D) between the ages of 21 and 37 years both before and 1 month after being successfully fit with Paragon CRT lenses. High- and low-contrast best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and higher-order aberrations were also measured. Scores for the 13 NEI RQL-42 subscales were calculated and a Wilcoxon sign rank test was used to determine whether there was a significant change in each of the subscale scores. Post hoc power analyses were also performed. RESULTS: Statistically significant changes were found in three of the 13 NEI RQL-42 subscales. Significant improvements in subscale score were found for the symptoms (mean +/- standard deviation, 10.18 +/- 10.57, p = 0.0007) and dependence on correction (43.13 +/- 27.42, p < 0.0001) subscales. A significant reduction was found in the glare subscale (-32.50 +/- 35.22, p = 0.001). No significant changes were found in the clarity of vision, expectations, near vision, far vision, diurnal fluctuations, activity limitations, worry, suboptimal correction, appearance, or satisfaction with correction subscales. CONCLUSIONS: CRT may improve a patient's perception of their visual independence, decrease the amount of ocular symptoms they report, and increase symptoms of glare. A larger, well-controlled clinical trial is necessary to verify these results. An increase in patient-reported glare is likely the result of measured increases in higher-order aberrations after CRT, especially spherical aberration under mesopic and scotopic conditions.

Published 14 June 2006 in Optom Vis Sci, 83(6): 354-9.
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