title: Long-term results of photorefractive keratectomy for hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of using the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser for photorefractive keratectomy to correct hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 67 eyes of 44 patients for hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism with the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser. The algorithm provided an ablation zone of 5.5 mm diameter with the addition of a tapered transition zone of 3.5 mm diameter, for a total ablation of 9 mm diameter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uncorrected visual acuity (geometrical mean) changed from 0.16 to 0.37 at 12 months; corrected visual acuity (geometrical mean) changed from 0.8 to 0.89; mean sphere decreased by 2.08 D from 3.76 to 1.40 D (range, 1.70 to 1.68 D) and cylinder by 1.40 D from 2.20 to 1.00 D. Refractive results for < or = 3.00 D were reasonably accurate and stable, but for > +3.00 D, undercorrection and regression over l year were the rule.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperopic PRK proved to be a safe technique in regard to the risk of loss of visual acuity with no central corneal opacities and with a generally rapid recovery of baseline spectacle-corrected visual acuity, but the predictability of correction greater than +3.00 needs improvement.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Oculistica, Ospedale San Gerardo di Monza, (MI), Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vinciguerra
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Radice
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azzolini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000601:surgery*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity