title: Photorefractive keratectomy for hyperopia in 800 eyes with the Meditec MEL 60 laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the refractive results of 800 hyperopic eyes undergoing PRK treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight hundred hyperopic eyes were treated with PRK. An Aesculap-Meditec MEL 60 scanning ArF excimer laser used. Treatment Group 1 consisted of eyes with a preoperative refractive error of +3.50 D or less (n = 482) and Group 2, of +3.75 D or more (n = 318).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperatively, Group 1 required an average correction of +2.88+/-1.34 D and Group 2 required +5.64+/-2.96 D. One year after PRK, average residual correction was +1.26+/-1.24 D in Group 1, and in Group 2, +2.46+/-1.84 D. In Group 1, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 20/40 or better in 88.4% (426/482); 20/20 or better in 75.7% (365); 2.1% (10/482) of eyes lost 2 lines, 2.1% (10/482) gained 2 lines; 3.1% (15/482) gained 2 or more lines of BSCVA; 74.4% (359/482) of eyes were within +/-0.50 D of target correction and 84.8% (408/482) were within +/-1.00 D. In Group 2, 47.5% (151/318) had UCVA of 20/40 or better; 34.2% (109/318) saw 20/20 or better uncorrected; 19.1% (61/318) lost 2 lines; 11.6% (37/318) lost 3 lines; none of the eyes gained 2 or more lines of BSCVA; 22.3% (71/318) were within +/-0.50 D and 46.8% (149/318) were within +/-1.00 D of target correction. Refractive stability was achieved after 6 months; a slight regression after 6 months was still observed. In Group 1, 10.5% (42/482) and in Group 2, 21.6% (69/318) complained of problems with daytime vision (glare and ghost image); during night-driving in Group 1, 17.6% (85/482) and in Group 2, 40.5% (129/318) had problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PRK with the Aesculap-Meditec MEL 60 scanning ArF excimer laser offered the best long-term results with +3.50 D or less preoperative refractive error. With higher corrections, regression, decrease in BSCVA, and daytime visual problems were encountered.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis Medical University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Z Z
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamberg-Nyström
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Füst
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelemen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Süveges
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000601:surgery*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity