Study: When physicians (medical doctors) have LASIK on their own eyes, satisfaction rates are very high. Physicians, or medical doctors (M.D.’s) represent the a very knowledgeable and even skeptical group of patients. Physicians also have a particularly high demand for outstanding vision. I personally have performed LASIK and PRK (“flapless LASIK”) on quite a few local Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo County physicians and have found satisfaction rates to be very high. It was with great interest, therefore, that I read a recent study from the Cleveland Clinic Laser Eye Surgery Center on their results over the years when performing LASIK or PRK on Cleveland Clinic physicians of all specialties.
This study looked at LASIK and PRK performed at the Cleveland Clinic on 226 Cleveland Clinic physicians between 2000 and 2011 (representing 429 eyes that had laser eye surgery). Because this study was conducted over an 11 year period, it included various forms of LASIK and PRK as laser technology and technique evolved and included both conventional and well as customized wavefront LASIK and PRK. A variety of laser platforms and technology were used.
Of the Cleveland Clinic physicians who underwent laser vision correction over this 11 year period, 89% had LASIK and 11% had PRK. 63% of the physicians treated were male, 37% female, and the average age was 38 years old. Nine of the 429 eyes were farsighted. Of the 420 eyes that were nearsighted, the average degree of myopia (nearsightedness) was -4.50 diopters, with the most nearsighted eye having -11.50 diopters of nearsightedness.
The researchers at the Cleveland Clinic who carried out the study mailed a physician-specific survey to the physician-patients. Of the 226 physicians surveyed, 132 responded. 28% were surgeons, 43% were non-surgeons who performed procedures and therefore still had strong vocational needs for exceptionally good eyesight, and 29% did not perform surgery or non-surgical procedures. Physicians who responded about their experiences as laser eye surgery patients included cardiac surgeons, neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, and other specialists.
It is important to remember that this Cleveland study represented LASIK and PRK often not done with what is today the very best and latest technology.
Results showed that, of the Cleveland Clinic physicians surveyed, 95.3% said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with their surgery. 96% said they would repeat the surgery again based on their experience and knowledge of their outcome.
These very high patient satisfaction numbers are quite impressive given the fact that many of these patients did not have what would today be considered the very best laser vision correction technology and that, as physicians, these patients have very demanding visual needs and tend to be quite critical. Of course, LASIK and PRK both have an element of risk. Yet, this study confirms that, even in a very difficult patient population, LASIK and PRK provide results that produce outstanding patient satisfaction rates.
See Also
LASIK Surgery: Most in Our Survey Were Very Satisfied
Consumer Reports survey shows very high rates of satisfaction with LASIK eye surgery.
LASIK World Literature Review: Quality of Life and Patient Satisfaction
A review of the world literature on LASIK satisfaction rates shows an overall satisfaction rate of 95.4%, nearly identical to the physician-patient satisfaction rate seen in the Cleveland Clinic study.
Comprehensive Review Confirms High LASIK Patient Satisfaction
A large review showed over 95% of LASIK patients are satisfied with their outcomes.
LASIK Risks and Complications
All About Vision discussion of the risks and potential complications of LASIK laser eye surgery.
LASIK Past, Present, and Future
An American Academy of Ophthalmology look at LASIK.
Post-LASIK Quality of Life Study Reported Patient’s Satisfaction High
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery discussion of high patient satisfaction rates after LASIK.