Two-year follow-up of conductive keratoplasty for the treatment of hyperopic astigmatism.

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety, efficacy, predictability, and stability of conductive keratoplasty (CK) for the treatment of hyperopic astigmatism. SETTING University of Crete Medical School, Vardinoyannion Eye Institute of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. METHODS In this prospective nonrandomized noncontrolled single-center study, 47 eyes of 34 patients (15 women and 19 men) were treated for hyperopic astigmatism (up to + 3.50 diopters [D]) with a Refractec ViewPoint CK system and followed for 24 months +/- 0.6 (SD). The treatment consisted of 4 to 36 spots applied to the periphery of the cornea. Mean age was 48.5 years +/- 9.7 years, range 25 to 68 years. All the treated eyes were analyzed for safety, efficacy, predictability, and stability. RESULTS The mean patient age was 48.5 +/- 9.7 years (range 25 to 68 years). Preoperatively, the mean manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) was +2.11 +/- 0.88 D (range -0.50 to + 4.13 D); at 12 months, it was -0.52 +/- 0.73 D and at 24 months, -0.50 +/- 0.77 D. At 24 months, the mean MRSE was within +/-0.50 D in 61% of eyes, within +/-1.00 D in 83%, and within +/-2.00 D in all eyes. At 24 months, the uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 37% of eyes and 20/40 or better in 97%. By the end of the follow-up period, no eye had lost > or =2 Snellen lines or had an induced cylinder > or =1.50 D. CONCLUSIONS Conductive keratoplasty for low hyperopic astigmatism was a safe, effective, and stable procedure. Nomogram adjustments and careful patient selection should contribute to higher levels of predictability when treating hyperopic astigmatism.