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A reduction in BCVA should not be confused with, generally speaking, changes to vision that are not correctible with glasses, because acuity measures only certain aspects of one's vision. For example, a patient may have vision quality problems resulting from surgery (such as night vision disturbance or reduced contrast sensitivity or ghosting) which cannot be corrected with glasses but which do not actually reduce his acuity (or not significantly).
BCVA is a basic test of safety and efficacy of an excimer laser; all studies done to show safety and efficacy will necessarily scrutinise the ability of the procedure to maintain BCVA and will typically report how many patients gained, lost 1, 2 or 3 or more lines, or had no change. Any loss may be a matter of concern but losses of 3 or more lines would give rise to very close scrutiny as to the reasons.
It is a not infrequent complaint of laser eye surgery complications patients that if the BCVA has not been reduced by 3 or more lines their visual complaints are not given serious attention, in spite of the extent to which they may be interfering with daily activities. |
