EXCIMER-LASER PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY FOR HYPEROPIA

Purpose: To achieve less variation in the refractive outcome of hypero pic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) by enlarging the treatment zone to 9.0 mm. Setting: Marienhospital, Amberg, Germany, and Klinika Ocni A Esteticke Chirurgie, Zlin, Czech Republic. Methods: This prospective clinical study was based on the results of PRK in 68 hyperopic eyes ( 62 patients) using an MEL 60 excimer laser. Mean attempted correction was +4.85 diopters (D) +/-1.45 (SD) (range +2.00 to +8.25 D). Maximum follow-up was 12 months (68 eyes). Results: One year after PRK, 55 eye s (81%) were within 1.00 D and 40 eyes (59%) were within 0.50 D of the intended correction (predictability). Best corrected visual acuity wa s unchanged or improved in 62 eyes (92%) (safety). Four eyes (6%) lost one line, 1 eye (1%), two lines, and 1 eye (1%), three lines. Sixty-s ix eyes (97%) had an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better (eff icacy) and 27 (40%), 20/20 or better. Conclusion: Photorefractive kera tectomy with a 9.0 mm treatment zone was an efficient and relatively s afe procedure for correcting hyperopia of up to 8.25 D. The predictabi lity was good. Great care must be taken ro improve the centration of t he optical zone.