What Is The State Of Knowledge Of Post-Smile Patients About Their Eyes?

Published 2023 - 41st Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PO0961 | DOI: 10.82333/2w4p-pj09

Authors: Ann-Isabel Mattern* ¹ , Machteld Devenijn ¹ , Detlef Breyer ¹ , Markus Pölzl ² , Kai Neller ³ , Hakan Kaymak ³

¹Internationale Innovative Ophthalmochirurgie GbR ,Duesseldorf,Germany, ²Nordblick Eye Clinic Bellevue,Kiel,Germany, ³Internationale Innovative Ophthalmochirurgie GbR ,Duesseldorf,Germany;Institute of Experimental Ophthalmology,Saarland University,Homburg/Saar,Germany

Refractive surgery,e.g. Small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is popular among young myopic adults for long-term correction of refractive error. Postop., patients may think that all factors leading to refractive error have been surgically corrected and myopia has been fully removed. Yet, the most common cause for myopia, the axial elongation, still remains after surgery, as well as the associated risks for the development of pathology due to the eyes excessive elongation. The odds for developing serious ocular diseases rise with the level of preoperative refractive error, respectively the axial length and are especially high in patients with pathological myopia. This study aims to assess patients' knowledge of myopia-associated risks.

Multicentric survey at Breyer Kaymak Klabe Augenchirurgie, Duesseldorf, Germany and nordBLICK Augenklinik Bellevue, Kiel, Germany

In two different clinical settings in Germany, myopic young adults who underwent binocular SMILE in the past could participate in a survey to evaluate the understanding of these patients about their general eye health and risk factors for certain disease associated with their underlying myopia.

57 patients (age 30.73 ±3.93 years) participated in the survey; with SMILE surgery occurring at least 1 year ago: 98.2 % of patients reported exceptional satisfaction with the surgery and the outcome. 40.35 % have annual ophthalmological check-ups, 24.56 % biannual and 35.08 % every three years or in longer time intervals. Only 28.07 % would seek immediate ophthalmological attention when experiencing sudden onset of flashes, floaters, or vision loss, 57.89 % within one week, 10.53 % within one month and 3.50 % would not seek medical attention at all. 38.60 % are aware that myopia is associated with greater risk to develop certain eye diseases, 22.73 % of those patients thought that SMILE reduced their personal risk for those diseases.

Overall satisfaction with SMILE is high among patients, even years after surgery. However, the patients' statements in the survey point out that some patients are not aware of the risk of serious eye diseases (retinal detachment, cataract) associated with their underlying myopia. Therefore, repeated risk education and close postoperative care are needed, especially in highly myopic patients.