Comparing Quality of Life Post Myopic Astigmatic Refractive Surgeries: FS-LASIK vs ICL

Abstract— Background: This study aims to compare the postoperative outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) and implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation in improving visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with myopia or myopic astigmatism.Methods: A prospective, interventional, and observational study was conducted at a tertiary eye care center in Surat, India, involving 120 eyes of 60 patients (30 in each group). Preoperative and postoperative assessments included demographic data, visual acuity measurements (both uncorrected and best corrected), contrast sensitivity, and QoL evaluations using the Quality-ofLife Impact of Refractive Correction (QIRC) questionnaire.Results: Both FS-LASIK and ICL significantly improved visual acuity postoperatively, with average uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) improving from 1.4 ± 0.22 logMAR to 0.1 ± 0.13 logMAR in both groups. The mean spherical equivalent reduced significantly, with FS-LASIK achieving -0.52 ± 0.32 D and ICL achieving -0.87 ± 0.40 D after surgery. Contrast sensitivity also improved in both groups, although no significant differences were observed between them. QoL assessments indicated that both groups experienced significant postoperative improvements, with the ICL group reporting slightly higher QIRC scores (59.34 ± 9.477) compared to FS-LASIK (56.39 ± 8.42).Conclusion: Both FS-LASIK and ICL are effective surgical options for correcting myopia, resulting in substantial improvements in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and QoL. While both procedures significantly enhance patient satisfaction and visual independence, the ICL group exhibited marginally superior QoL outcomes. Further long-term studies are warranted to evaluate the durability of these benefits and to better understand the influence of patient-specific factors on treatment outcomes.