# Association Between Preoperative Negative Emotional States and Eye Movement During Photorefractive Keratectomy

## TL;DR

This study found no significant link between preoperative negative emotions and eye movement during PRK surgery, but longer ablation times were associated with more variable eye movement.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel analysis of how preoperative emotional states may or may not influence eye movement during PRK procedures.

## Key findings

- No significant correlation was found between negative emotions and eye movement during PRK.
- Longer ablation times correlated with greater variability in eye movement.
- Weak correlations were observed between preoperative spherical equivalent and stress/anxiety scores.

## Abstract

To describe the link between negative emotions—depression, anxiety, and stress—and eye movement during photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

This comparative case series was conducted on 53 PRK candidates and involved completing the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) before surgery. Eye movement, measured as the radial distance between the pupil and laser center during each shot, was analyzed. Average distance indicated centralization accuracy, while standard deviation (SD) indicated precision. Stress, depression, anxiety, and their relationship with eye movement during PRK were studied.

The mean and SD of eye movements were not significantly correlated with depression, anxiety, stress, or the total DASS-21 score. A weak negative correlation was observed between the preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) and stress (r = –0.305, P = 0.004), anxiety (r = –0.401, P

<
0.001), and total DASS-21 scores (r = –0.324, P = 0.002). Lastly, a weak positive correlation was found between ablation time and the SD of eye movement (r = 0.473, P

<
0.001).

The DASS-21 questionnaire showed no link between negative emotions and eye movement. Additionally, longer ablation times correlated with greater SD of eye movement.