Open AccessPupil size and night vision disturbances after LASIK for myopia
Author(s) -
Helgesen Andreas,
Hjortdal Jesper,
Ehlers Niels
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1600-0420
pISSN - 1395-3907
DOI - 10.1111/j.1395-3907.2004.00278.x
Subject(s) - lasik , medicine , keratomileusis , scotopic vision , ophthalmology , pupil , visual acuity , night vision , mesopic vision , optometry , pupil size , refractive error , photopic vision , retinal , optics , physics
. Purpose: To examine whether standardized, preoperative evaluation of pupil sizes can predict the risk of night vision visual disturbances after bilateral laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia.Methods: A prospective study was carried out involving 46 patients who underwent bilateral LASIK for myopia. Pupil sizes were measured before surgery using an infrared pupillometer under standardized settings. Pre‐ and postoperative refraction and best spectacle‐corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) were registered. At the 3‐month follow‐up visit, the patients completed a questionnaire regarding night vision pre‐ and postoperatively.Results: The mean bilateral, spherical equivalent refraction (SE) was − 8.76 D (range 6.32 to − 12.0 D) preoperatively, and − 1.69 D (range 0 to − 4.38 D) postoperatively. The mean bilateral BSCVA was not changed by the operations. We found a significant correlation between large scotopic pupil sizes and the impression of worsened night vision (p < 0.01). A significant correlation between gender (males) and subjectively reduced night vision postoperatively was also found (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Large pupil size measured preoperatively is correlated with an increased frequency of subjectively experienced post‐LASIK visual disturbances during scotopic conditions. We recommend preoperative evaluation of pupil size in all patients prior to LASIK surgery.