AIM: To analyze personality traits in preoperative patients who undergolaser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK)and to provide psychological basis for the selection of refractive surgery.

METHODS: Eligible patientswere seeking customized LASIK(group A n=53), conventional LASIK(group B n=75)and non-operation patients with ametropia(group C n=71), who completed 16 personality factor questionnaires(16PF). Statistical analyses were performed with one-way ANOVA by SPSS11.0 software package.

RESULTS: Compared to group C, patients in group A scored high on dominance and tension levels, and low on emotional stability level(P<0.05), while patients in group B were more venturesome and more experimenting, but were less vigilant(P<0.05). Additionally, there were statistical differences between group A and group B on dominance, gallantry and vigilance respectively(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The data indicates that personality profiles of LASIK patients with refractive error influence their decision for correction. Patients need suitable psychological assessment before surgery who actively chose customized LASIK seem to be more assertive and suspicious.