Retreatment of residual error after femtosecond laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis in correcting high hyperopia

Abstract

Purpose The aim of the present study was to evaluate the results of femtosecond laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in correcting high hyperopia. Patients and methods The study was carried out at El-Gowhara Eye Center, Ismailia, Egypt. A prospective case series study was carried out. Hyperopic eyes with a spherical equivalent (SE) greater than or equal to +3.00 D were corrected by LASIK. The flaps were created with the VisuMax femtosecond laser. The refractive ablations were performed with the 500-kHz Amaris excimer laser. Full cycloplegic refraction was the target refraction. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A included patients with residual refractive errors less than or equal to +0.50 D of the target refractions and had no further LASIK retreatment, and group B included patients with residual refractive errors greater than +0.50 D of the target refractions along with retreatment 1 month after the primary LASIK. The refractive predictability and stability of the treated and retreated eyes were followed-up for 6 months after LASIK. Results Sixty-four patients (115 eyes) received primary hyperopic femtosecond LASIK. The mean±SD age of all patients was 40.30±13.4 years with a range of 21–64 years. The preoperative mean±SD cycloplegic SE refraction was +4.29±1.5 D with a range from +3.00 to +9.00 D. One month after the primary LASIK treatment, 79.1% (91 eyes) of the treated patients had a mean cycloplegic SE refraction of +0.36±0.13 D (group A). After 6 months of follow-up, 62.6% of eyes (n=72) had an uncorrected distance visual acuity of 0.3±0.21 log MAR. Four (3.5%) eyes lost one line of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) (Snellen). Five (4.3%) eyes lost two lines of CDVA (Snellen). Seven (6.1%) eyes gained one line of CDVA (Snellen). Twenty-one (18.3%) eyes gained two lines of CDVA (Snellen). The mean±SD cycloplegic SE refraction was +0.41±0.32 D. In group B (20.9%) (24 eyes), patients had a mean±SD cycloplegic SE refraction of +2.41±0.96 D at the first month after primary LASIK. These patients required a second-stage LASIK retreatment by lifting the original flap. After 6 months of follow-up, 83.3% of eyes (n=20) had an uncorrected distance visual acuity of 0.6±0.13 log MAR. Seven (29.2%) eyes gained one line of CDVA (Snellen). Two (8.3%) eyes lost one line of CDVA, and two (8.3%) eyes lost two lines of CDVA (Snellen). The mean±SD cycloplegic SE refraction was +0.25±0.21 D. No epithelial ingrowth was recorded in both groups. Conclusion Femtosecond LASIK for the correction of high hyperopia is predictable and safe; 79.1% of the patients underwent correction during the primary treatments, and 20.9% were totally corrected after retreatments. No cases of epithelial ingrowth were recorded over the 6-month follow-up period.