This procedure, which is currently in phase II trials in Minnesota, has the potential advantage of being reversible in the event that a patient is not happy with the results. Options for correcting extremely high degrees of hyperopia or myopia include lens extraction combined with intraocular lens implantation. Another procedure under investigation involves the use of the Holmium laser to correct low degrees of hyperopia or astigmatism. The laser acts as a thermocoagulator, shrinking collagen in the area of treatment and steepening the cornea. This procedure has yielded mixed results in phase II trials in that regression of the effect often occurs.
Refractive surgery is here to stay.
It will be a useful option for many patients who feel handicapped by their dependence on spectacles or contact lenses. As Drs Kanter and Launer pointed out, proper patient selection, counseling, and choice of the appropriate procedure will allow eye surgeons to achieve the best results for patients who choose to undergo refractive surgery. Nizam A, et al. Study five years after surgery. The PERK Study Group.