Hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis with the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser

To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and predictability of hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis (H-LASIK) using modified software.

Retrospective, noncomparative case series.

The first 72 consecutive eyes of 44 patients with up to +5.00 diopters (D) hyperopia.

Hyperopic LASIK using the Automatic Corneal Shaper (ACS; Chiron Vision, Claremont, CA) and the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser (Nidek, Tokyo, Japan).

Uncorrected visual acuity, manifest spherical equivalent (MSE), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and complications were studied.

At 6 months, in the low hyperopia group (<3.00 D), mean MSE was +0.30 +/- 0.71 D, with 88.9% eyes within 1 D of emmetropia compared with +1.09 +/- 0.92 D and 51.8% within 1 D of emmetropia in the moderate hyperopia group (> or =3.00 D; P = 0.003). Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 43 of 45 eyes (95.6%) and in 21 of 27 (77.8%) eyes in the low and moderate hyperopia groups, respectively. Only one eye (1.4%) from the moderate hyperopia group lost two lines of BCVA. Eighteen eyes (25%) required retreatment to correct residual hyperopia, 9 eyes (20.0%) in the low hyperopia group and 9 eyes (33.3%) in the moderate hyperopia group. Retreatments resulted in an MSE of +0.02 +/- 0.45 D and +0.04 +/- 0.73 D in the low and moderate hyperopia groups, respectively. No flap-related complications were seen.

Hyperopic LASIK with the ACS and the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser using our modified software is a safe, effective, and predictable procedure for low hyperopia. Results are satisfactory up to moderate hyperopia. Significant regression can occur for low and moderate hyperopia. Retreatment can be performed safely and effectively to improve the visual and refractive results.