Near visual acuity following hyperopic photorefractive keratectomy in a presbyopic age group

Purpose. To assess near visual acuity in a presbyopic age group following hyperopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Setting. Private practice in Siena, Italy. Methods. In this retrospective single-surgeon comparative study, PRK with mitomycin C was performed to correct hyperopia using Bausch & Lomb 217z laser for 120 eyes of 60 patients in the presbyopic age group (mean spherical equivalent SE +2.38 D ± 0.71 D and mean age 52 ± 5.09). 120 eyes of 60 age-matched controls (mean age 54 ± 5.09) had their unaided near vision measured. Results. At 12 months mean SE was -0.10 D ± 0.27 D in the PRK group. Mean best corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was 0.005 ± 0.022  log MAR; 2 eyes lost ≥0.1 log MAR. Mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0.04 ± 0.077  log MAR. Mean distance corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA) in the PRK group was J3.73 ± 1.06. This was statistically better (P < 0.05) than the mean unaided near visual acuity in the control group J4.07 ± 1.08. Conclusion. PRK was found to be safe, predictable, and an effective way of correcting hyperopia in this age group. It was also found to give better than expected near vision.