Laser in situ keratomileusis for hyeropia and hyperopic astigmatism.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy, stability, and safety of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism using a prospective clinical trial.

METHODS: LASIK was performed using the Automatic Corneal Shaper and the Keracor 117C excimer laser on 192 hyperopic eyes with astigmatism of less than 1.00 D (spherical group) and 164 hyperopic eyes with corneal astigmatism of 1.00 to 7.50 D (toric group).

RESULTS: At 12 months after LASIK, 110 eyes were available for follow-up examination. In low spherical hyperopia (+1.00 to +3.00 D), 13 eyes (55%) were within +/-0.50 D of emmetropia and none lost 2 or more lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity. In low toric hyperopia (+1.00 to +3.00 D), 14 eyes (61%) were within +/-0.50 D and none lost 2 or more lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity. In moderate spherical hyperopia (+3.10 to +5.00 D) 9 eyes (44%) were within +/-0.50 D and none lost 2 or more lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity and in moderate toric hyperopia (+3.10 to +5.00 D) 5 eyes (36%) were within +/-0.50 D and 2 eyes (14%) lost 2 or more lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity. In high spherical hyperopia (+5.10 to +9.00 D), 6 eyes (38%) were within +/-0.50 D and 2 eyes (13%) lost 2 or more lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity, and in high toric hyperopia (+5.10 to +9.50 D) 4 eyes (31%) were within +/-0.50 D and 2 eyes (15%) lost 2 or more lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity.

CONCLUSIONS: LASIK seems to be reasonably effective and safe in spherical hyperopia of +1.00 to +5.00 D but less effective for hyperopic astigmatism. For hyperopia greater than +5.00 D, loss of spectacle-corrected visual acuity occurred in a significant number of eyes and accuracy was sufficiently poor to advise against LASIK in these eyes.