Clinical Effectiveness of Laser-Induced Increased Depth of Field for the Simultaneous Correction of Hyperopia and Presbyopia.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the visual outcomes of patients with presbyopic hyperopia, comparing the current standard of monovision treatment with a novel bilateral presbyopic LASIK (Custom-Q mode) technique.

METHODS

This prospective comparative study of consecutive eligible patients with presbyopic hyperopia undergoing a bilateral presbyopic laser in situ keratomileusis technique was conducted between January 2018 and February 2019. After contact lens-simulated monovision measurements were obtained, the non-dominant eyes had a negative aspheric ablation profile planned using the Custom-Q nomogram (Alcon Laboratories, Inc). The dominant eye was operated on with a positive aspheric ablation profile. Visual acuity testing, refraction, corneal asphericity (▵Q), higher order aberrations, and a satisfaction questionnaire (National Eye Institute Refractive Error Quality of Life) were evaluated after the monovision trial and postoperatively.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients, with a mean age of 56.03 ± 4.31 years, were included in the study. At 6 months, 100% of patients achieved 20/20 or better binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) versus 57% in the monovision group, 100% of patients achieved 20/25 or better binocular uncorrected intermediate visual acuity versus 32% in the monovision group, and 92.86% of patients achieved 20/25 or better binocular uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) in both groups. In contact lens monovision simulation, no patient reached a UDVA of 20/50 or better, with only 3.6% having a UNVA of 20/40 or better. The questionnaire demonstrated high patient satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcomes confirm the superiority of increased depth of focus using negative spherical aberration modulation in the non-dominant eye compared with contact lens monovision. They also demonstrate the effectiveness of positive spherical aberration induction to improve intermediate and near vision in the dominant eye. [J Refract Surg. 2021;37(1):16-24.].