Apparent progression of presbyopia after laser in situ keratomileusis in patients with early presbyopia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on near visual function in presbyopic patients.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Fifty-three eyes of 40 patients 45 years of age and older who had undergone LASIK for high myopia (-6 diopters [D] and over) were included. The minimal add powers for obtaining the best-corrected near visual acuity (add powers) were measured preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively, and the correlations with the powers corrected by LASIK, corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs), ocular HOAs, and patient ages were evaluated using univariate analysis. Factors correlated with the changes in add powers were evaluated further by multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
The mean ± standard deviation patient age was 50.0 ± 4.1 years; the power corrected by LASIK was -7.56 ± 1.06 D. The mean add power was 1.80 ± 0.60 D preoperatively, which increased significantly (P < .001) to 2.18 ± 0.69 D postoperatively. Significant correlations with the increased add powers were detected with age (P = .01) and the power corrected by LASIK (P = .04) but not with corneal and ocular HOAs (P > .05). Multivariate analysis showed that only age was correlated significantly (P = .01). The percentage of eyes with increased add powers of 0.5 D or more was 60.4%, which was significantly (P = .02) higher in younger patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This study verified the apparent progression of presbyopia after LASIK and the importance of obtaining informed consent from patients, especially those with early presbyopia.
Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Yukari
Y
Tsuneyoshi
Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: fwic7788@mb.infoweb.ne.jp.
Kazuno
K
Negishi
Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Megumi
M
Saiki
Minamiaoyama Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan.
Ikuko
I
Toda
Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Minamiaoyama Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan.
Kazuo
K
Tsubota
D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011305:Presbyopia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity