Multifocal ablation safely treats presbyopic hyperopes

LAS VEGAS — Multifocal corneal ablation, also known as presby-LASIK, appears to effectively correct presbyopia and hyperopia simultaneously, according to a surgeon speaking here.

Marguerite B. McDonald, MD, discussed the outcomes of two recent studies of the procedure at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

A study performed by Canadian investigators included 75 eyes of 43 hyperopic presbyopic patients. The patients had preoperative sphere ranging from +1.7 D to +3.5 D and preoperative cylinder ranging from +0.43 D to +1.5 D. At 12 months after undergoing multifocal ablations, 100% of patients had achieved 20/20 or better binocular uncorrected distance vision, Dr. McDonald said.

A second study, performed by investigators in the United States, included 20 patients. Preoperatively, sphere ranged from +1.5 D to +2.5 D and cylinder ranged from +0.3 D to +1 D. At 3 months' follow-up, 73% of patients had achieved 20/20 or better and all patients had achieved 20/25 or better in the corrected eye, she said.

No eyes lost two or more lines of best corrected visual acuity at 3 or 6 months follow-up, Dr. McDonald noted.

The results are "very reassuring because this is definitely a high wire act to create a multifocal surface over the visual axis," she said.