Long-Term Efficacy of Photorefractive Keratectomy In Hyperopia Patients

Objective: To review the long-term efficacy, stability and reliability of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) treatment in hyperopia patients and to assess the complications that may arise during the follow-up period. Materials and Methods: 76 eyes of 42 patients who underwent PRK treatment for hyperopia were included in this retrospective study. Patients were separated into two groups according to their spherical equivalent (SE) values. Both groups were analyzed and compared in terms of post-operative refraction and vision acuity, post-operative complications, keratometry values, stabilization period and the results of interventions for treatment. Results: Mean age of the patients was 33.97 ± 10.26 (18-51) years and the mean follow-up period was 27.16 ± 8.43 (6-39) months. Preoperative mean SE value was 1.64 ± 0.76D in group 1 and +4.45 ± 1.18D in group 2. In the last follow-up examination, those values were measured as +0.20 ± 1.01D and +1.56 ± 1.37D respectively. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of both groups were significantly higher in the last control in comparison with pre-PRK period (p=0.002 in group 1, p=0.001 in group 2). After 6 months, 92.5% of the eyes in group 1 and 85.6% of the eyes in group 2 were within ± 1.00 D range. Forty-seven (61.8%) eyes had no corneal haze meanwhile 15 (19.7%) had grade 1, 11(14.4%) had grade 2 and 3(3.9%) had grade 3 corneal haze. There was no difference in terms of haze formation between the groups (p=0.183). Conclusion: In long term, PRK treatment is an efficient, reliable and predictable method that can be used in correcting hyperopia.