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. 2024 Jul 17;9(1):e001624.
doi: 10.1136/bmjophth-2023-001624.

Prospective cohort study investigating frequency and risk factors for acute pain 1 day after refractive surgery

Jason Betz  1   2 , Elyana Vittoria Tessa Locatelli  1   2 , Brooke M Harkness  3 , Maricarmen Perez-Blanco  1 , Steven J Everist  4 , Siting Chen  5 , Richard Stutzman  3 , Winston Chamberlain  3 , Afshan Nanji  3 , Jodi Lapidus  5 , Sue A Aicher  4 , Anat Galor  6   2
Affiliations

Prospective cohort study investigating frequency and risk factors for acute pain 1 day after refractive surgery

Jason Betz et al. BMJ Open Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Background/aims: To examine demographic and clinical factors associated with ocular pain 1 day after refractive surgery.

Methods: Prospective study of individuals undergoing refractive surgery. Participants rated their ocular pain on a 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS) presurgery and 1 day after surgery. Presurgery, participants completed questionnaires on demographics, comorbidities, medications and dry eye and ocular pain symptoms; and an anaesthetised Schirmer test was performed. Acute ocular pain 1 day after surgery was defined as an NRS score of worst pain since surgery ≥3 and this group was compared with individuals with NRS scores<3.

Results: 251 individuals underwent refractive surgery (89% laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, n=222; 11% PRK, n=29). Mean age was 35±8 years (range 19 to 60); 60% (n=150) self-identified as female, 80% (n=203) as White, and 36% (n=89) as Hispanic. Thirteen (5%) individuals reported ocular pain (NRS ≥3) prior to surgery and 67% (n=168) reported ocular pain 1 day after surgery (nine individuals had pain at both time points). Factors that were associated with pain 1 day after surgery included Hispanic ethnicity (adjusted relative risk (aRR) 1.42, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.68, p<0.001) and the presence of eye pain presurgery (aRR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.18, p=0.02).

Conclusion: A majority of individuals report moderate or greater pain within 24 hours of refractive surgery. Hispanic ethnicity and eye pain prior to surgery were associated with self-reported acute postsurgical pain.

Keywords: Cornea; Epidemiology; Treatment Lasers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: AG is an editor of BMJ Open Ophthalmology. There are no other competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Histogram of ocular pain ratings 1 day after refractive surgery.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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