Myopic LASIK in Psychiatric Patients

Purpose: To evaluate the surgical results obtained in patients with psychiatric disorders who underwent myopic laser in situ keratomileusis. (LASIK). Methods: Retrospective study of 156 eyes of 82 patients who underwent LASIK to correct a myopic spherical equivalent (SE) at Cl´onica Baviera-Instituto Oftalmologico Europeo, Bilbao, Spain. All procedures were performed with the Technolas Keracor 217 Z excimer laser. Patients had a preoperative diagnosis of bipolar disorder (79 eyes of 42 patients), schizophrenia (61 eyes of 32 patients), or obsessive-compulsive disorder (16 eyes of 8 patients). Before surgery, the average sphere of the series was 23.92 6 2.24 D in the first group, 23.45 6 2.03 D in the second group, and 23.39 6 1.97 D in the third group. We surveyed the patients to analyze subjective assessment from the patient's perspective. Results: At the last available visit after treatment, we obtained an SE of 60.50 D in 85.71% of eyes with bipolar disorder, 88.52% of eyes with schizophrenia, and 93.75% of eyes with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The efficacy index was 1.00 6 0.20 in the first group, 1.03 6 0.21 in the second group, and 1.00 6 0.07 in the third group. No eye lost 2 lines or more of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity. Conclusions: We found that patients with compensated psychiatric disorders, of which the surgeon was aware, achieved excellent results after surgery, with no remarkable complications. Patients tolerated the procedures well and were satisfied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of surgery in patients with psychiatric disorders who underwent LASIK. The hypothesis was that patients with psychological illnesses would report lower levels of VA, poorer outcome, and more perioperative complications. The results are intended to provide general guidance for the refractive surgeon treating patients with psychiatric disorders.