Laser in situ keratomileusis to correct hyperopic shift after radial keratotomy

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of excimer laser in situ keratom ileusis (LASIK) to correct hyperopic shift following radial keratotomy (RK) . Setting: Ophthalmic Health Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. Methods: The study comprised 15 eyes of 12 patients who had uneventful RK a nd subsequently developed a hyperopic shift. laser in situ keratomileusis w as performed using the Chiron Automated Corneal Shaper and the Nidek EC-500 0 excimer laser with 5.5 mm central and 7.5 mm peripheral ablation zones. T he corneal flap was 160 mum in thickness and 8.5 mm in diameter. The refrac tive correction corresponded to the patients' refractive errors. Results: The mean time after RK was 10.46 years +/- 2.21 (SD) and the mean follow-up after LASIK, 7.3 months (range 1 to 42 months). The mean spherica l equivalent refraction was corrected from +3.08 +/- 1.02 diopters (D) to - 0.16 +/- 0.73 D after LASIK. At the last examination, 12 eyes (80%) had a r efractive error within +/-1.00 D of emmetropia and an uncorrected visual ac uity of 20/40 or better. No wound dehiscence, epithelial ingrowth, or other significant complication developed in any eye. Conclusions: Early postoperative results of the correction by LASIK of a hy peropic shift after RK are encouraging, but long-term studies of a larger p opulation group are required to evaluate the method's clinical value. J Cat aract Refract Surg 2001; 27. 273-276 (C) 2001 ASCRS and ESCRS.