Holmium:YAG laser thermokeratoplasty to correct hyperopia: two years follow-up.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Treatment of hyperopia is more of a challenge than PRK but the development of the holmium:YAG laser has provided a more controlled way of carrying out laser thermokeratoplasty (LTK).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty two eyes with hyperopia were treated with a Summit Technology OmniMed holmium laser by placing two rings of eight laser spots at 6.5 and 9 mm (centred on the visual axis) to produce a 4.00 diopters (D) correction.

RESULTS

An average +2.10 D refractive correction was achieved in the 17 eyes with no induced astigmatism with an accuracy of 25% within 1.00 D, 60% within 2.00 D and 100% within 3.00 D. However, significant astigmatism (+1.25 to +2.5 Dcyl) was produced in 23% of eyes from 6 months post-laser and these required astigmatic LTK correction.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall results were disappointing in that there was an approximate 50% regression at two years post-LTK. However, the rate of regression was very slow at 24 months, and most patients remarked how well they could see in the first few months following the treatment.