Optical Profile Following High Hyperopia Correction With a 500-Hz Excimer Laser System

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Refractive Surgery
• Corneal Aberrometry

Background:

• High hyperopia correction presents challenges in refractive surgery.
• Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is a common procedure for refractive errors.
• Understanding post-LASIK corneal aberrations is crucial for visual quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of LASIK on corneal higher order aberrations (HOAs) in patients with high hyperopia.
• To evaluate changes in corneal asphericity following LASIK for high hyperopia.
• To investigate the efficacy of a 500-Hz excimer laser with an optimized ablation profile.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of 51 eyes from 28 patients with high hyperopia (≥ 5.00 D).
• LASIK was performed using a sixth-generation Amaris excimer laser and femtosecond laser for flap creation.
• Corneal HOAs and asphericity were measured at 6-month follow-up for various pupil and corneal diameters.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in corneal root mean square higher order, spherical, and coma aberrations were observed 6 months post-surgery (P < .01).
• Corneal asphericity (Q45 and Q8) also showed significant changes postoperatively (P < .01).
• No statistically significant change was noted in the Strehl ratio (P = .77).

Conclusions:

• LASIK for high hyperopia significantly induces corneal higher order aberrations.
• These aberrations occur irrespective of pupil size under photopic and mesopic conditions.
• The findings highlight the need to consider HOA induction in refractive surgery planning for high hyperopia.