Comparison of LASIK and contact lenses for myopia correction

Myopia affects billions of people worldwide. LASIK surgery offers long-term vision correction by reshaping the cornea, while contact lenses provide a flexible, reversible option but need daily care. Previous studies rarely compared these two methods directly. This review followed PRISMA guidelines and searched four databases. Four studies with 2,141 participants (1,275 LASIK users, 866 contact lens users) were included. The main outcome was quality of life, with secondary outcomes being patient satisfaction and dry eye.

LASIK showed moderate improvement in quality of life, but results varied across studies. After removing one all-female study, the remaining studies consistently favored LASIK. Patient satisfaction strongly favored LASIK (88% vs. 54%), and 97% of former contact lens users preferred LASIK after switching. Complication rates were lower for LASIK (6.7%–9.5% vs. 19.9%). However, LASIK caused more acute dry eye (50%–58%), while contact lenses caused more chronic dry eye (71%).

LASIK is better for satisfaction and safety, but quality of life results are not clear enough due to different measurement tools. For individuals with dry eye symptoms or other ocular surface issues, the appropriate correction method should be determined by a professional physician after a thorough assessment of the ocular surface condition and a comprehensive evaluation.

The work titled “Quality of Life in Myopia: Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis Versus Contact Lenses”, was published on Eye & ENT Research (published on June 24, 2026).