PRK effective in treating hyperopia associated with accommodative esotropia

Researchers conducted a retrospective chart review of 40 consecutive patients (mean age = 27.9 years) who underwent photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for the treatment of hyperopia (mean SEQ = +3.06 D) associated with purely refractive accommodative esotropia. Patients had one to six years of follow-up.

The mean final postoperative SEQ was +0.06 D. Preoperative BSCVA was 0.04 logMAR and did not change postoperatively. Mean UCVA significantly improved from 0.30 logMAR preoperatively to 0.08 logMAR postoperatively. Mean preoperative esotropia at distance and near was 18.6 prism D, and at the one-month, one-year and final postoperative evaluations all patients were orthophoric without correction. Visual acuity, refractive error and alignment remained stable after the one-year postoperative examination. Stereoacuity was unchanged in 80 percent of patients postoperatively, and there were no complications.

The authors concluded that PRK is an effective means to correct low to moderate hyperopia and esotropia in patients with purely refractive accommodative esotropia and can eliminate the need for spectacle correction.