Ocular pain and discomfort after advanced surface ablation: an ignored complaint

Figures & data

Figure 1 Ad hoc questionnaire used in the telephonic interview.

Table 1 Pain intensities (during ASA procedure and postoperative period), photophobia, burning, tearing, and foreign body sensation results

Pain and other symptoms	Overall population (n=73)	Men (n=34)	Women (n=39)
Pain during ASA procedure
Yes#, number of patients (%, [95% CI])	32 (44 [32–56])	18 (53 [35–70])	14 (36 [21–53])
Postoperative pain
Yes#, number of patients (%, [95% CI])	71 (97 [90–100])	34 (100 [89–100])	37 (95 [83–99])
VRS, median (range)*	7 (2–10)	6 (2–10)	7 (2–10)
Worst postoperative pain
Pain intensity: 2–6, number of patients (%, [95% CI])	33 (45 [34–57])	18 (53 [35–70])	15 (38 [23–55])
Pain intensity: 7–10, number of patients (%, [95% CI])	38 (52 [40–64])	16 (47 [30–65])	22 (56 [40–72])
Photophobia
Yes, number of patients (%, [95% CI])	62 (85 [75–92])	30 (88 [73–97])	32 (82 [66–92])
VRS, median (range)*	9 (2–10)	8 (2–10)	9 (2–10)
Burning sensation
Yes, number of patients (%, [95% CI])	45 (62 [50–73])	21 (62 [44–78])	24 (62 [45–77])
VRS, median (range)*	7 (1–10)	7 (2–10)	7 (1–10)
Tearing
Yes, number of patients (%, [95% CI])	43 (59 [47–70])	20 (59 [41–75])	23 (59 [42–74])
VRS, median (range)*	8 (2–10)	8 (4–10)	8 (2–10)
Foreign body sensation
Yes, number of patients (%, [95% CI])	35 (48 [36–60])	19 (56 [38–73])	16 (41 [26–58])
VRS, median (range)*	6 (2–10)	5 (2–10)	7 (2–10)

Notes: VRS: verbal rating scale (0: no pain; 10: worst imaginable pain).

# Pain intensity score of 2 or greater.

* The median (range: minimum–maximum) is based only on patients with the symptom.

Abbreviations: ASA, advanced surface ablation; CI, confidence interval.