Outcomes of wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis for hyperopia

To determine the impact of wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for hyperopia on corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), contrast sensitivity, and higher-order aberrations (HOAs).

Centre for Contact Lens Research, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Case series.

This study comprised patients who had LASIK for hyperopia. The HOAs up to the 4th order (5.0 mm pupil) in right eyes were analyzed.

The study enrolled 31 patients. The preoperative mean values were sphere, +2.60 diopters (D) ± 1.15 (SD) (range +1.00 to +5.00 D); astigmatism, -0.87 ± 0.74 D (range 0.00 to -3.75 D); and spherical equivalent (SE), +2.16 ± 1.00 D (range +0.63 to +4.50 D). The postoperative refractive SE was within ±0.50 D in 71.0% of eyes. The uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 87.2% of eyes. There was no significant change in CDVA or contrast sensitivity (all P>.05). There was a significant change in Zernike coefficients Z(0,4), Z(-1,3), Z(-3,3), and Z(3,3) (range of mean absolute change ± SEM: 0.092 ± 0.013 μm to 0.208 ± 0.018 μm; all P<.001). Coefficients Z(-1,3) and Z(3,3) increased and Z(0,4) and Z(-3,3) decreased in magnitude; each had a reversal of sign. The only significant postoperative association was between low-contrast CDVA and Z(0,4) (r=0.617, P<.001).

Low-contrast CDVA after LASIK surgery for hyperopia was correlated with Z(0,4). There were no significant changes in CDVA or contrast sensitivity. The relative risk for losing low-contrast CDVA increased if more than 1 Zernike term had a sign change.