Customized topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy with the MEL-70 platform and mitomycin C to correct hyperopia after radial keratotomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for correcting hyperopia and astigmatism after radial keratotomy (RK). METHODS: Prospective study of 12 consecutive patients (19 eyes) who were treated with topography-guided PRK with 0.02% mitomycin C using an Asclepion-Meditec MEL-70 excimer laser with a 9.5-mm ablation zone. All eyes were operated by the same surgeon and followed for 1 year. RESULTS: Thirteen eyes had complete epithelialization by day 7 and all eyes by day 10. At 1 year, uncorrected visual acuity was 20/25 or better in 42.1% of eyes and 20/40 or better in 68.4%. Preoperative mean spherical equivalent refraction was +3.80±2.47 diopters (D) and +0.24±2.36 D (P<.001) 1 year postoperative, with 47.4% of eyes being within ±1.00 D and 73.7% within ±2.00 D. Preoperative mean cylinder was -2.30±1.41 D and -0.62±0.73 D (P<.001) 1 year postoperative. At 1 year, 68.4% of eyes gained at least 1 line of best-spectacle corrected visual acuity, 36.8% gained more than 1 line, and only 2 eyes lost 1 line (one due to corneal haze). Three eyes developed central haze. Mean regression from 6 to 12 months in these 3 eyes was +1.83 D and in the remaining 16 eyes was -0.50 D. CONCLUSIONS: Topography-guided PRK with mitomycin C was safe and reasonably effective for the treatment of hyperopia after RK.