Excimer Laser Photorefractive Keratectomy in Hyperopia

A Stakheev
Cataract and Glaucoma Department, Fedorov Eye Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia

Purpose: To evaluate excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for the treatment of different degrees of hyperopia.

Patients and Methods: Hyperopic photorefractive keratectomy was performed for 98 eyes of 52 patients at the Ophthalmology Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia. Patients were included in 1 of 4 groups according to initial refraction group A (+ 1.00 D to + 2.75 D); group B (+ 3.00 D to + 4.75 D); group C (+ 5.00 D to + 5.75 D); and group D ( + 6.00 D). All eyes underwent photorefractive keratectomy using 5.5 mm ablation and 9.0 mm transition zones.

Results: 12 months after photorefractive keratectomy, 100% of eyes in group A, 63.6% in group B, 41.7% in group C, and 40.0% in group D were within ± 1.00 diopters of emmetropia. Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 94.3%, 80.5%, 86.7%, and 62.6% of eyes for groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. No eyes in group A lost more than 1 line of best corrected visual acuity, although 8 eyes (22.9%) in group B, 7 (53.8%) in group C, and 6 (40.0%) in group D lost 2 or more lines of best corrected visual acuity.

Conclusion: Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy was predictable and safe for the treatment of low and moderate hyperopia (1.00 - 4.00 diopters).

Key Words: complications, hyperopia, management, photorefractive keratectomy stability.

Asian Journal of Ophthalmology 2000;2(4):7-10.