Study to compare LASIK, contacts

Indianapolis, IN-The Cornea Research Foundation of America is conducting a national clinical study comparing visual results, patient satisfaction, and quality of life issues as they relate to LASIK and contact lenses. It will be the first prospective study to follow these two popular methods of vision correction for nearsightedness, astigmatism, and farsightedness simultaneously.

Qualified candidates for the LASIK portion of the study must be aged more than 21 years; have naturally occurring nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism; and have had no prior eye surgery. To participate in the contact lens portion of the study, qualified candidates must meet the aforementioned criteria and have worn contact lenses at least 5 years.

The goal of the study is to enroll both patients undergoing LASIK and patients who will continue to wear contact lenses. The end point will be to determine whether participant-reported visual satisfaction, visual complaints, and safety are similar or different between the two groups.

“This pivotal landmark study has the potential to give timely and valuable information relative to these two widely used means of vision correction,” said Michael Gordon, MD, and Jack L. Weiss, MD, of the Gordon and Weiss Vision Institute. They will be the San Diego principal investigators in this international multicenter study.

Patient consents and surveys will be conducted over the Internet using a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant Web portal that will automatically coordinate future patient surveys at the 1-, 2-, and 3-year anniversaries of the study date of entry.

Qualified enrollees in the study will receive compensation for their participation in and completion of the study.

For more information about the study, or to see whether they qualify, potential participants can call 800/NEW-VISION.