The use of improved aspheric ablation profiles and larger optical zones
means that LAsiK can now be proposed as a safe and predictable method to
correct hyperopia in patients with or without astigmatism up to 6.0 D,
reports Diego de Ortueta MD, FEBO.
"Up to around 2004 the
recommendation was that patients with greater than 4.0 D of hyperopia
should not be treated with LASIK due to problems of regression and
induced aberrations. since then the situation has evolved considerably
thanks to the latest aspheric ablation profiles and optical zones in the
range of 6.5mm which take the preoperative K reading into account.
Better centration techniques using iris recognition and pupil centroid
shift compensation have played a part in improving outcomes," he said.
Dr
de Ortueta, in private practice at the Aurelios Augenzentrum,
Recklinghausen, Germany, told delegates attending the World
Ophthalmology Congress that the broad goal of hyperopic LASIK is to
increase the curvature of the cornea without inducing aberrations and
ensuring that the change remains stable over time.
He noted that
regression was one of the main problems associated with firstgeneration
hyperopic LASIK treatments, but is far less of an issue today. "This
was often due to paracentral epithelial hyperplasia during wound healing
or fibrosis and was associated with the use of small optical zones. The
recommendation now is to use an optical zone of 6.5mm in order to cover
the mesopic pupil, and with smoother transition zones, as an abrupt
step may cause compensatory healing responses after surgery and lead to
regression," he said.
The improved stability of hyperopic LAsiK
treatments using larger optical zones and improved ablation profiles is
reflected in the scientific literature, said Dr de Ortueta. he cited a
study by Kezirian et al in 2008 that looked at the long-term outcomes of
127 patients treated for up to 6.0 D of hyperopia with the Allegretto
Wave (Alcon).
"The four-year results with the Allegretto Wave for
hyperopia showed stability of the manifest refraction spherical
equivalent within 1.00 D in 94 per cent of eyes. Regression of effect of
more than 1.0 D was seen in just six out of 127 eyes or 4.7 per cent
and progression of effect was seen in two out of 127 or 1.6 per cent,"
he said. Another study by Waring et al. in 2008 looking at hyperopic
LASIK with the NiDEK EC-5000 excimer laser also showed impressive
stability in 293 eyes up to six months postoperatively, said Dr de
Ortueta.
Furthermore, Dr de Ortueta's own results in 2010 of 66
consecutive eyes of 37 patients treated for hyperopic astigmatism with
the schwind Esiris excimer laser showed that postoperatively 92 per cent
of eyes were within 0.50 D after three months, 83 per cent after 12
months, and 72 per cent after 36 months. in order to reduce induced
aberrations associated with hyperopic LASIK, Dr de Ortueta said it was
important to ensure that the ablation centre is shifted to the cornea
vertex normal rather than the traditional pupil centre.
Summing
up, Dr de Ortueta said that the latest aspheric ablation profiles
generated by optimised algorithms, allied to better registration and
centration techniques, are all helping to deliver more precise and
effective results.
