EPITHELIAL DEBRIDEMENT FOR SECONDARY HYPEROPIA FOLLOWING MYOPIC EXCIMER-LASER PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY

Background: To evaluate epithelial debridement for the treatment of pe rsistent hyperopia in eyes that had photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Setting: Optimax Laser Eye Clinics, Manchester, London, Bristol, Engl and. Methods: Epithelial debridement was performed on 46 eyes to reduc e the hypermetropia following excimer laser PRK. Results: Mean age of the patients was 43 years +/- 9.7 (SD). Mean refractive change was -0. 51 diopter (D) +/- 0.76 (range +0.75 to -2.50 D). Mean change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.00 Logmar units (range +0.40 -0.2 0 units), although 33% of eyes lost one line or more of Logmar BCVA. M ean follow-up after debridement was 61.0 +/- 26.9 weeks (range 26 to 1 40 weeks). Conclusions: Epithelial debridement is an unpredictable pro cedure to treat secondary hyperopia after PRK, producing a small mean change in spherical equivalent with a wide range of results. A signifi cant number of eyes lost one line or more of Logmar BCVA. We therefore do not advocate epithelial debridement alter PRK.