Visual quality assessment after presbyopic laser keratomileusis.

Aim: To assess visual quality after presbyopia correction using an aspheric ablation profile and a micro-monovision protocol.

Methods: This is a retrospective interventional study. Fifty-four eyes of 27 patients (mean age, 50.2±7.5y) who underwent presbyopia correction with an aspheric micro-monovision protocol were enrolled. The values of modulation transfer function (MTF) cutoff frequency, Strehl ratio, objective scattering index (OSI) and accommodation range were quantitatively assessed using the HD analyzer. Preoperative and postoperative contrast sensitivity (CS) at far (2.5 m) and near (40 cm) distance and higher-order aberrations (HOAs) were analyzed. Subjective visual satisfaction was evaluated by self-reported questionnaire regarding optical visual symptoms.

Results: One year after presbyopia correction, no significant differences were found in the MTF cutoff frequency, Strehl ratio and OSI, however, the HD analyzer accommodation range significantly differed postoperatively (=0.004). Postoperative CS at 12 and 18 cpd at near showed statistically significant improvement (=0.020 and 0.008, respectively). Visual performance by self-reported questionnaire revealed satisfactory results in terms of subjective visual quality improvement.

Conclusion: Objective optical quality parameters show good visual outcomes. Subjective visual quality assessed by self-reported questionnaire in the presbyopia correction group show satisfactory results.