ATTITUDES OF SUCCESSFUL CONTACT-LENS WEARERS TOWARD REFRACTIVE SURGERY

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, spectacle wearers and contact lens failures have been the patient population targeted for refractive surgery. We surveyed successful contact lens wearers to determine their attitudes toward refractive surgery. METHODS: One hundred thirty-three consecuti ve successful myopic contact lens wearers older than 21 years were req uested to read information regarding both radial keratotomy and excime r photorefractive keratectomy and complete a questionnaire. We report on the relationship between interest in undergoing radial keratotomy o r photorefractive keratectomy and various patient parameters. RESULTS: More than 75% of those surveyed indicated that they would consider ei ther procedure at any time in the future. The only statistically signi ficant correlation found was that patients younger than 40 more freque ntly expressed an interest in undergoing radial keratotomy than patien ts older than 40. Nearly 70% of those surveyed would not spend more th an $500 per eye for either procedure, and most patients grossly undere stimated the costs associated with contact lens wear. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to spectacle wearers and contact lens failures, successful co ntact lens wearers can also be considered potential candidates for ref ractive surgery, provided it can be offered at a cost acceptable to th em and if concerns regarding surgical side effects are addressed to sa tisfaction. This group does not appear to represent ''early adapters'' to new refractive technologies. The greatest interest was expressed b y those younger than 40 years.