PREFERRED POSTOPERATIVE REFRACTION AFTER CATARACT-SURGERY FOR HIGH MYOPIA

Eighty-four patients (121 eyes) with high myopia who had cataract surg ery and intraocular lens implantation completed a survey on preferred postoperative refraction. Forty-two percent of the sample reported tha t they were accustomed to removing their glasses to read a newspaper o r book. These respondents were fitted with soft contact lenses and the ir refraction changed to 0 D, -3.00 D, and -5.00 D. Of the patients wh ose best corrected postoperative visual acuity was 20/40 or better (n = 63), 48% preferred the -3.00 D correction; 38%, the 0 D correction; and 14%, - 5.00 D. Of those with a best corrected postoperative visual acuity worse than 20/200 (n = 8), 80% preferred the -5.00 D refractio n, which allowed them to read close up. Most patients with phakic eyes and good visual acuity (n = 13) preferred the 0 D and -3.00 D correct ions. Our results indicate that in patients with high myopia, it is im portant to take patient preference into account when selecting postope rative refraction.