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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2024 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: Ophthalmology. 2023 Feb 19;130(7):692–701. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.02.016

Table 2:

Demographics, co-morbidities, and ocular surface metrics of cases with persistent post-operative pain compared to controls without persistent pain. P values are indicated for univariable analyses of each factor.

Persistent pain (n=12) No persistent pain (n=68) P value

Demographics

Age, mean years±SD 33.3±7.7 33.6±7.6 0.90

Gender, % female (n) 67% (8) 59% (40) 0.75

Race, % White (n) 58% (7) 78% (53) 0.07
  % Black (n) 0% (0) 6% (4)
  % Asian (n) 17% (2) 12% (8)
  % Other (n) 25% (3) 4% (3)

Ethnicity, % Hispanic (n) 42% (5) 32% (22) 0.53

Smoker, % current (n) 8% (1) 15% (10) 1.00

Location, % Miami (n) 58% (7) 43% (30) 0.34

Co-morbidities

Hypertension, % (n) 0% (0) 6% (4) 1.00

Sleep apnea using CPAP, % (n) 0% (0) 6% (4) 1.00

Migraine or headache, % (n) 17% (2) 16% (11) 1.00

Non-ocular pain conditiona, % (n) 33% (4) 35% (24) 1.00

Depression, PHQ-9, mean±SD 4.5±4.9 2.4±2.9 0.14

Depression (PHQ-9≥5), % (n) 33% (4) 21% (14) 0.45

Self-reported non ocular allergies, % (n) 42% (5) 32% (22) 0.53

Oral medications

Antidepressant, % (n) 17% (2) 15% (10) 1.00

Anxiolytic, % (n) 17% (2) 12% (8) 0.64

Anti-allergy medication, % (n) 33% (4) 10% (7) 0.06

Pre-surgery considerations

DEQ5, mean±SD 4.9±2.6 2.9±2.9 0.03

OSDI, mean±SD 8.3±6.5 5.0±7.4 0.16

NRS worst pain over past week, mean±SD 1.0±1.2 0.4±0.8 0.01

NRS worst pain over past week ≥3, % (n) 17% (2) 3% (2) 0.11

NPSI-Eye, mean±SD 1.6±2.8 0.8±1.8 0.43

Schirmerc, mean mm at 5 minutes ±SD 16.5±10.3 15.8±10.3 0.92

Schirmerc <5 mm at 5 minutes, % (n) 17% (2) 12% (8) 0.64

Self-reported ocular allergies, % (n) 33% (4) 13% (9) 0.10

Contact lens wear, % (n) 75% (9) 75% (51) 1.00

Surgical considerations

LASIK, % (n) 92% (11) 90% (61) 1.00

Myopic ablation, % (n) 100% (12) 97% (66) 1.00

Spherical equivalent, more negative or positive value between eyes
 Myopic, mean±SD −3.5±1.3 −4.3±1.7 0.11
 Hyperopic, mean±SD N/A +2.8±0.8 NA

Flap depth, mean μm ±SD (in those who underwent LASIK) 119±8.3 117±9.0 0.52

NRS worst pain post-operative day 1, mean±SD 6.3±2.4 4.0±3.0 0.02

NRS≥3 post-operative day 1, % (n) 92% (11) 66% (45) 0.10

Ocular surface signs at 3 months

TBUTc, mean seconds ±SD 6.8±1.9 8.0±3.3 0.31

Corneal stainingb, mean ±SD 1.6±2.2 1.6±2.2 0.95

Schirmerc, mean mm at 5 minutes ±SD 15.2±11.2 15.9±10.8 0.84

Anterior blepharitisb, mean ±SD 0.3±0.5 0.4±0.7 0.66

Eyelid vascularityb, mean ±SD 0.9±0.7 1.0±0.9 0.73

Meibomian gland pluggingb, mean ±SD 0.9±0.3 0.8±0.7 0.63

Ocular surface signs at 6 months

TBUTc, mean seconds ±SD 8.6±3.7 8.1±3.1 0.57

Corneal stainingb, mean ±SD 0.9±1.2 1.9±2.6 0.22

Schirmerc, mean mm at 5 minutes ±SD 15.7±10.2 14.5±9.9 0.71

Anterior blepharitisb, mean ±SD 0.6±0.7 0.4±0.7 0.38

Eyelid vascularityb, mean ±SD 0.8±0.6 0.9±0.9 0.71

Meibomian gland pluggingb, mean ±SD 1.0±0.6 1.0±0.6 0.48

Persistent post-operative pain defined as a Numerical Rating Scale score of worst pain intensity over a 1-week recall ≥3 at both 3- and 6-months post-surgery

SD=standard deviation; LASIK= laser assisted in situ keratomileusis; NRS=Numerical Rating Scale; DEQ5=5 item Dry Eye Questionnaires; OSDI=Ocular Surface Disease Index; NPSI-Eye=Neuropathic Pain Symptoms Inventory-Modified for the Eye; PHQ=Patient Health Questionnaire; CPAP=continuous positive airway pressure; N/A not applicable

a

Includes a yes response to ever having any of the following conditions for >3 months: Headache, arthritis, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular disorder, trigeminal neuralgia, low back pain, muscle pain, sciatica, shingles, post-surgical pain, tendonitis, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis

b

Higher value between the two eyes

c

Lower value between the two eyes