Laser in situ keratomileusis for primary hyperopia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy, predictability, stability, and safety of hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis (H-LASIK) over a 24-month period and analyze topographic changes after H-LASIK to assess topographic pseudokeratectasia (TPKE) following H-LASIK.

SETTING

Eye Institute of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

METHODS

This prospective study included 139 eyes of 77 patients having H-LASIK for primary hyperopia. The mean follow-up was 15.6 months +/- 7.6 (SD) (range 6 to 48 months). One hundred twenty-two eyes (88%) were followed at 1 year and 36 eyes (26%) at 24 months. Topographic pseudokeratectasia was defined as 1 or more positive keratoconus screening findings in an eye with topographic central or inferior steepening detected by the Topography Modeling System but without corneal thinning or progressive change.

RESULTS

The mean spherical equivalent manifest refraction was +2.39 +/- 0.99 diopter (D) preoperatively and -0.05 +/- 0.61 D at the last visit. Ninety-one percent of eyes were within +/-1.00 D of emmetropia and 71% of the eyes were within +/-0.50 D. Uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better was present in 42%, 20/25 in 63%, and 20/40 or better in 93% of eyes. Loss of 2 lines of BSCVA occurred in 2 eyes (1.4%). In 1 eye, ischemic optic neuropathy occurred, and in another, choroidal neovascularization developed postoperatively. Topographic pseudokeratectasia was detected in 28% to 56% of eyes postoperatively. No significant difference between postoperative visual and refractive outcome, regression, or irregularity was found between the eyes with or without TPKE.

CONCLUSION

Hyperopic LASIK appears to be an effective, predictable, and safe procedure to correct low to moderate primary hyperopia. Topographic pseudokeratectasia, which was observed after H-LASIK with a keratoconus-like topographic pattern in otherwise normal eyes, may represent a relatively static condition.