Epithelial debridement for secondary hyperopia following myopic excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy.

BACKGROUND

To evaluate epithelial debridement for the treatment of persistent hyperopia in eyes that had photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

SETTING

Optimax Laser Eye Clinics, Manchester, London, Bristol, England.

METHODS

Epithelial debridement was performed on 46 eyes to reduce 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 to -0.20 units), although 33% of eyes lost one line or more of Logmar BCVA. Mean follow-up after debridement was 61.0 +/- 26.9 weeks (range 26 to 140 weeks).

CONCLUSIONS

Epithelial debridement is an unpredictable procedure to treat secondary hyperopia after PRK, producing a small mean change in spherical equivalent with a wide range of results. A significant number of eyes lost one line or more of Logmar BCVA. We therefore do not advocate epithelial debridement after PRK.