Correction of presbyopia in hyperopia with a center-distance, paracentral-near technique using the Technolas 217z platform

PURPOSE: To analyze the results of hyperopic patients treated with a peripheral presbyLASIK algorithm for the correction of presbyopia.
METHODS: The study included 44 eyes of 22 hyperopic patients treated with a peripheral presbyLASIK technique using a Technolas 217z excimer laser. Mean patient age was 56 years (range: 47 to 72 years), mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was 1.21 0.77 diopters (D) (range: 0.50 to 4.00 D), and mean spectacle near addition was 1.76 0.42 D (range: 1.00 to 2.75 D). The Peripheral Multifocal LASIK (PML) ablation pattern creates a multifocal corneal profi le over a 6.5-mm diameter, performing the distance correction fi rst in a 6-mm optical zone and then near correction in a 6.5-mm zone. Main outcome measures were uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) for near and distance, spherical equivalent refraction, contrast sensitivity, and corneal aberrations.
RESULTS: Six months postoperatively, mean binocular UCVA was 1.06 0.13 for distance and 0.84 0.14 for near. Mean postoperative spherical equivalent refraction was 0.42 D (range: 1.12 to 0.87 D). Two (4.5%) eyes lost 1 line of BSCVA for distance and near vision, and 20 (45%) eyes gained 1 line of distance BSCVA. Contrast sensitivity decreased for 3, 6, 12, and 18 cycles/degree.
Corneal aberration analysis showed a slight increase in coma and decrease in spherical aberration.
CONCLUSIONS: The peripheral presbyLASIK technique used in this study is a safe and effi cient treatment that may improve functional near vision in presbyopic patients with low and moderate hyperopia (from 0.50 to 3.00 D). [J Refract Surg. 2008;24:494-500.]