PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY FOR HYPEROPIA USING AN ERODIBLE DISC AND AXICON LENS - 2-YEAR RESULTS

BACKGROUND: This paper presents the results over a a-year follow-up of the first human trial of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for correc tion of hyperopia using an erodible disc excimer laser delivery system (Summit) coupled to an axicon lens. METHODS: We treated 25 eyes of 21 patients for a mean correction of +3.38 +/- 0.97 D (range, +1.00 to 4.80 D). The hyperopic correction was made using an erodible disc inse rted on the laser optical pathway; an axicon lens was then used to cre ate a blend transition zone. Eyes were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 mo nths after surgery. For a smaller series of 11 eyes, we also present 2 4-month results. RESULTS: Mean refractive error 1 month after treatmen t (25 eyes) was -2.35 +/- 1.55 D (range, +1.00 to -6.50 D). Eight eyes (32%) had a spectacle-corrected visual acuity loss greater than 1 lin e. Twelve months after treatment, mean spherical equivalent refraction was -0.47 +/- 0.80 D (range, +1.25 to -2.25 D). Nineteen eyes showed an improvement (range, 3 to 8 lines) in uncorrected distance visual ac uity and 23 showed improvement in uncorrected vision at reading distan ce (1 to 7 lines). CONCLUSION: This technique proved effective in redu cing hypepopia, but predictability must be demonstrated in a larger tr eatment group. Safety was confirmed by the absence of delayed reepithe lialization and the absence of spectacle-corrected visual acuity loss greater than 1 line at 1 year after surgery.