LASIK for the Correction of High Hyperopic Astigmatism With Epithelial Thickness Monitoring

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcomes of high hyperopic LASIK using the MEL 80 excimer laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 830 consecutive high hyperopic LASIK procedures using the MEL 80 excimer laser and either the VisuMax femtosecond laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec) orzero compression Hansatome microkeratome (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY). Inclusion criteria were attempted hyperopic correction of +4.00 diopters [D] or higher in one axis and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) of 20/20 or better. Patients were observed for a minimum of 1 year. Epithelial thickness monitoring by Artemis very high-frequency (VHF) digital ultrasound (ArcScan Inc., Morrison, CO) was used to evaluate potential for further steepening as a re-treatment. RESULTS: One-year data were available for 785 eyes. Mean attempted spherical equivalent refraction (SEQ) was +4.52 + 0.84 D (range: + 2.00 to + 6.96 D) for the primary treatment and mean cylinder was 1.05 +/- 0.86 D (range: 0.00 to 5.25 D). Mean age was 50 +/- 12 years (range: 18 to 70 years) and 61% were women. Postoperative SEQ was +/- 0.50 D in 50% and +/- 1.00 D in 77% of eyes after primary treatment. After re-treatment, 67% of eyes were within +/- 0.50 D and 89% were within +/- 1.00 D. Uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 76% of eyes after final treatment. One line of CDVA was lost in 25% of eyes and two lines were lost in 0.4%. There was a clinically insignificant but statistically significant decrease (P < .05) in contrast sensitivity (CSV-1000) by less than 1 log unit at 3 and 6 cycles per degree (cpd) and by 1 log unit at 12 and 18 cpd. Diurnal fluctuation in refraction was identified in 2 eyes, proven by VHF digital ultrasound to be due to diurnal epithelial remodeling overnight and unrelated to maximum postoperative keratometry induced. CONCLUSIONS: LASIK for hyperopia by cumulative treatment of up to + 8.33 D with the MEL 80 excimer laser was found to satisfy accepted criteria for safety, efficacy, and stability when applying specialized protocols, including epithelial monitoring.