Correlation of Hand Dominancy and Eye Dominancy with Visual Acuity and Refractive Errors

To determine the correlation between hand dominancy and eye dominancy with visual acuity and refraction in subjects with refractive errors. This cross-sectional study includes 620 patients undergoing LASIK. Their refractive error (dry and cycloplegic), hand dominancy, eye dominancy (by hole-in-the-hand method) and visual acuity were determined. Exclusion criteria were monocularity, patient's inability to perform hole-in-the-hand test, and amblyopia. Overall, 585 patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. Age range was 21-43 years (mean= 33.7 years), 58% were female and 42% were male. The right hand was dominant in 90.9% and the right eye was dominant in 77.9% of the subjects. Right eye dominancy was observed in 79.1% of right handed individuals and in 66.1% of left handed patients. Cross eye-hand dominancy was observed in 38.3% and uncrossed eye-hand dominancy in 61.7%. Visual acuity was better in dominant eyes in 68.2% (P=0.03, t=0.89). The non dominant eyes had higher refractive errors than dominant eyes (P=0.01, t=0.88). In both groups of right handed and left handed individuals, the right eye was more often dominant and uncrossed dominancy was more prevalent than crossed dominancy. Better visual acuity or smaller refractive error may influence eye dominancy.