title: Noncontact holmium:YAG laser thermal keratoplasty for hyperopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe our experience with noncontact holmium:YAG laser thermal keratoplasty (Ho:YAG LTK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Refractive Surgery and Cornea Department, Clinica de Ojos Dr. Nano, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, 182 hyperopic eyes from 116 patients were treated with noncontact Ho:YAG LTK. Mean age was 50 years +/- 7 (SD), and the spherical equivalent (SE) of the subjective mean refraction (SMR) was +2.50 +/- 0.87 diopters (D). Eyes with corneal power of more than 45 D, corneal pachymetry thicker than 550 microns, and previous corneal surgery or disease were excluded. Holmium:YAG laser parameters include one to three rings of eight spots arranged in a radial and symmetrical array. Pulse energy was 240 mJ, with five pulses per spot. Patients were followed for 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean uncorrected visual acuity from 3 to 12 months was 20/40 (20/200 to 20/25), improving an average of three Snellen lines. Mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 20/25 at all postoperative examinations, the same as preoperatively. Mean SE of the SMR was +1.50 +/- 0.98 D (range -0.75 to +4.50 D) at 6 months and +1.25 +/- 0.96 D (+0.25 to +3.25 D) at 1 year. After 9 months, 17% of operated eyes were retreated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, Ho:YAG LTK was safe and effective, provided satisfactory correction of low hyperopia, and had a low complication rate. Good patient selection is the key to obtaining good results.
authors.affiliation: Clinica de Ojos Dr. Nano, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Nano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muzzin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000601:surgery*; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity