Laser treatment results for hyperopia favorable at 1 year in clinical trial

CHICAGO — A hyperopia treatment profile using the Technolas 217z excimer laser has shown favorable visual and safety results at 1-year follow up, one of the investigators reported here.

Stephen G. Slade, MD, reported 1-year results from the four-site, prospective bilateral study using Bausch & Lomb's Zyoptix personalized hyperopia LASIK treatment at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.

According to Dr. Slade, 80 patients (160 eyes) have been enrolled in the study, and results from 79 eyes of 40 patients were included in this interim report. Study participants were limited to a treatment range of up to +4 D of sphere and –4 D of cylinder.

Dr. Slade reported that patients had a mean age of 49.4 ± 10.1 years, ranging from 27 to 70 years of age.

"Importantly, a fair number of patients were over the age of 40 [years]," he said.

Dr. Slade said that all eyes achieved an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better, 82% achieved 20/20 or better, and 51% of eyes were 20/16 or better.

"Refractive predictability was very good, with 95% of eyes within 1 D of their targeted [manifest refraction spherical equivalent], and 75% of eyes within 0.5 D of their target," he said.

"As far as safety, we did have more lines gained than lost ... of visual acuity and of course in a hyperopic trial you would expect the reverse," Dr. Slade said.

"We feel these are excellent results with good predictability, and we will be submitting them to the FDA," he said.