AIM: To investigate the vision-related quality of life after corneal refraction surgery of the new recruits in a navy unit.

METHODS:New recruits in a navy unit during 2014-2016 were interviewed druing recheck ophthalmic examination through a questionnaire, including basic data and the Visual Function Questionnaire-25(VFQ), and also checking the visual acuity, contrast sensitivity(CS), optometry.

RESULTS: Among 2 760 new recruits, 340 persons(12.32%)had undergone corneal refractive surgeries, which included corneal stroma surgery(89.71%)and corneal surface surgery(10.29%). According to the preoperative myopia spherical equivalent, the subjects were divided into three groups: mild myopia group(≤-3.00D, 134 cases), moderate myopia group(>-3.00 D to < -6.00D, 159 cases), and high myopia group(≥-6.00D, 47 cases). The postoperation spherical equivalent range ±1.0D is 128 cases(95.52%), 153 cases(96.23%), 38 cases(80.85%)in mild myopia group, moderate myopia group and high myopia group respectively. The contrast sensitivity(CS)were statistically significant among three different diopter groups under natural light and glare conditions(P<0.05), the CS of the low myopia group and moderate myopia group were higher than in high myopia group(P<0.05). The visual-related quality of life scores were statistically significant among three group(P<0.05). The scores of low(6.25±8.61)points and moderate myopia groups(6.87±8.51)points were significantly better than that of high myopia group(9.84±9.76)points(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:The vision-related quality of life in new recruits after corneal refractive surgery in the unit is related with preoperative diopter of refractive error. The vision-related quality of life in recruit with lower diopter are better than in recruit with higher dioper.