Long-Term Results of Presbyopic Corneal Surface Ablation with Eximer Laser

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and subjective symptoms of patients who underwent presbyopic corneal surface ablation. METHODS: Excimer laser surgery with MEL80 for refractive errors and presbyopia was performed on 128 eyes of 67 patients. Uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity, distance-corrected near-visual acuity, spectacle near-addition for Jaeger 1, depth of focus, spherical aberration, and subjective symptoms were evaluated before surgery and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: This study consisted of a myopia group (56 eyes), an emmetropia group (spherical equivalent or =20/40) was found in 96 eyes (75%) and spectacle near addition for Jaeger 1 decreased. Our results showed a significant increase of spherical aberration (from -0.19 micrometer to 0.11 micrometer) and depth of focus (from 1.45D to 1.69D). A significant positive correlation was found between spherical aberration and uncorrected far and near visual acuity and depth of focus. Loss of two lines of best corrected visual acuity occurred in 11 eyes (8.5%) at far vision and in 7 eyes (5.5%) at near vision. In general, patient satisfaction was good. CONCLUSIONS: Presbyopic corneal ablation with MEL80 showed good distant and near visual results and a wide depth of focus induced by increased spherical aberration.