Changes in measured intraocular pressure after hyperopic photorefractive keratectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of hyperopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) on intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements.


METHODS
University of Ottawa Eye Institute, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada.


METHODS
In this retrospective cohort study, IOP and central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured preoperatively and at 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months in 191 eyes that had hyperopic PRK with the VISX Star excimer laser. All corrections applied were between +1.00 and +6.50 diopters (D) of sphere and less than 3.75 D of cylinder.


RESULTS
At all postoperative examinations, the mean IOP in the hyperopic PRK group was 1.0 to 1.8 mm Hg lower than the preoperative IOP (P <.001). A large range of IOP changes was found across the population; eg, at 6 months, 49% of the eyes had a change in IOP from baseline of at least +/-3 mm Hg. A mean reduction of 19 microm of CCT was found with pachymetry after surgery (P < .001). The change in IOP readings postoperatively was not correlated with age, sex, keratometric readings, or applied correction. Changes in IOP were strongly correlated with preoperative IOP at all time points and with preoperative CCT at 18 and 24 months (P < .001). After hyperopic PRK, the measured IOP was more likely to increase in patients with preoperative IOPs less than 14.5 mm Hg and more likely to decrease in patients with preoperative IOPs above 14.5 mm Hg.


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in IOP after hyperopic PRK were similar to changes after myopic PRK, despite only minimal changes in the CCT. This suggests that hyperopic PRK results in biomechanical effects that modify the elastic properties of the cornea beyond the changes in rigidity expected from central corneal thinning. There was a strong negative correlation between the measured preoperative IOP and the change in IOP postoperatively that was likely the result of regression of the mean effect.
Munger
R
R
University of Ottawa Eye Institute, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. rmunger@ohri.ca
Dohadwala
A A
AA
Hodge
W G
WG
Jackson
W B
WB
Mintsioulis
G
G
Damji
K F
KF
D015331:Cohort Studies; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000601:surgery*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity