A new study indicates that LASIK laser eye surgery performed for the correction of hyperopia (farsightedness) provides safe, effective results throughout the 5-year follow-up period of the study.

The results of the study were presented by Stephan Kaminski, M.D. at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), held in Chicago on April 4-8, 2008.


What is farsightedness?

Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a common refractive error that affects about 25% of Americans. Symptoms of hyperopia include blurred near vision, headaches and eyestrain. After age 40, hyperopia can cause blurred vision at all distances.


Study results

The study included 29 eyes of 17 patients that had up to 6.00 diopters (D) of hyperopia, with an average of 2.60 D.

Prior to surgery, 82% of the eyes had best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/20 with eyeglasses.

LASIK surgery was performed on all eyes using the ALLEGRETTO WAVE (Alcon) excimer laser. At five years after surgery:

• 94% of the eyes had less than 1.00 D of refractive error, and 89% were within +/-0.50 D of a perfect result.


• 98% of the eyes had uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 20/40 or better, and 58% of the eyes had 20/20 UCVA.


• None of the eyes lost more than two lines of best corrected visual acuity after LASIK, compared to BCVA prior to surgery.

More study recommended

Dr. Kaminski noted that there was some regression of the LASIK vision correction over time, causing a slight increase in hyperopia in some eyes over the 5-year follow-up period of the study. However, the mean amount of hyperopia present five years after surgery for all eyes in the study was only 0.35 diopter.

Dr. Kaminski concluded that LASIK for the correction of up to 6.00 diopters of farsightedness "appears to be safe and effective and is predictable, but we do need longer follow-up to determine regression."


SOURCE: "Hyperopic LASIK still safe, effective and predictable a 5 years." Ocular Surgery News. www.osnsupersite.com. April 7, 2008.

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