Association of Big Five Inventory Personality Traits With Postoperative Satisfaction and Visual Quality Following Corneal Refractive Surgery.

PURPOSE: To correlate personality traits (Big Five Inventory) of patients undergoing refractive surgery with postoperative patient satisfaction and visual quality.

METHODS

This was a prospective interventional study of 46 patients undergoing corneal refractive surgeries (laser in situ keratomileusis/keratorefractive lenticule extraction) at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Personality traits were evaluated using the Big Five Inventory questionnaire preoperatively. Three questionnaires (Quality of Life Impact of Refractive Correction [QIRC], Quality of Vision [QoV], and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire [QLESQ]) were administered to assess the quality of life and vision preoperatively and at 3 months. The primary outcome was to correlate the personality type with quality of life and quality of vision in patients undergoing refractive surgery. Secondary outcomes were to assess the change in the quality of life and visual quality after refractive surgery.

RESULTS

Agreeableness (36.90%, 17/46) was the most common personality trait, and neuroticism (8.70%, 4/46) was the least common. At 3 months, there was a significant improvement in the mean QIRC score (P < .001), QLESQ score for physical health (P < .001), and QoV scores for blurred vision (P = .004) and distortion (P = .023). At 3 months, conscientiousness and extraversion traits correlated positively with the QLESQ and QIRC and negatively with the QoV (P < .05). Neuroticism trait had negative correlation with the QLESQ and QIRC and positive correlation with the QoV (P < .05). Agreeableness and openness to experience traits had no correlation with quality of life measures. Visual acuity was comparable between all personality subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative visual quality and patient satisfaction were least in neurotic personalities and higher with conscientiousness and extraversion traits. Targeted personality-specific counseling may help achieve optimal patient satisfaction.