Refractive lensectomy for hyperopia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate refractive lensectomy as a surgical procedure for the treatment of hyperopia. DESIGN: A retrospective noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-nine patients were included in the study. Fifty eyes underwent extraction of the crystalline lens and intraocular lens implantation. METHODS: Operations were performed by the same surgeon with the patient under general anesthetic. All lenses were removed by phacoemulsification with insertion of lens implants singly or as piggyback lenses. The Holladay2 formula was used to calculate lens powers. Results are compared with other methods of treating hyperopia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main parameters assessed were safety, efficacy, predictability, stability, and complications. RESULTS: Eyes were divided into group A (n = 26), with an average preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) of +2.26 +/- 0.94, and group B (n = 24), with an average preoperative SE of +6.32 +/- 1.32. In group A, after refractive lensectomy, 80.7% had no change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) or gained a line, whereas 11.5% lost one line; 88.5% had an uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 20/40 or better, and 88.5% were within 1 diopter (D) of intended postoperative SE. In group B, 70.9% of eyes had no change or gained a line in BCVA, whereas 29.2% lost a line of BCVA; 62.5% had UCVA of 20/40 or better postoperatively, and 58.3% were within 1 D of the intended SE. In one eye the posterior capsule was breached intraoperatively. One eye had a symptomatic episode of cystoid macula edema that settled spontaneously. To date, seven eyes have required secondary refractive procedures, and three eyes have required yttrium-aluminum-garnet capsulotomy. CONCLUSIONS: In the presbyopic age group refractive lensectomy may be a realistic alternative to photorefractive keratectomy or laser in situ keratomileusis, with certain potential advantages.