Public Interest for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction, and Implantable Collamer Lens in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore: A Google Trends Study

Purpose: To analyze public interest trends in three major refractive procedures—laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE), and implantable collamer lens (ICL)—in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and globally. Methods: A longitudinal Google Trends analysis from January 2011 to August 2024 assessed monthly search queries for LASIK, SMILE, and ICL across Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and globally. Temporal trends in relative search volume (RSV) were assessed using spline regression models. Monthly and seasonal variations were examined via the Kruskal–Wallis test, with post-hoc Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for significant findings. Rising related queries over the past 5 years were also categorized by frequency. Results: RSV for SMILE and ICL increased significantly across all regions ( P < 0.001). In contrast, RSV for LASIK remained stable in Taiwan ( P = 0.412) but declined significantly in Hong Kong, Singapore, and globally ( P < 0.001). Seasonal analysis showed significant LASIK variations in Singapore ( P = 0.009) and globally ( P = 0.011), with autumn RSV notably lower than in winter and summer. No significant monthly or seasonal variations were noted for SMILE and ICL. Moreover, rising queries revealed strong interest in alternative surgical options, costs, and procedure comparisons, with complication concerns notably higher for ICL in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Conclusions: This study is the first to use Google Trends to track refractive surgery interest over time in Chinese-speaking regions, highlighting growing interest in SMILE and ICL. Transparent, accessible cost and comparative/alternative choice information should be addressed to meet patient needs.