Abstract

Visual performance after refractive surgery depends critically on the optical quality of the post-operative cornea. To understand subtle visual problems that cannot be corrected by optical means we must go beyond the paraxial refractive power of the cornea and fully characterize its optical properties. Research is also required into the relationship between the shape of the cornea and visual performance after PRK. As a first step towards a better description of the optical characteristics of PRK corneas we are developing ray tracing methods, which use corneal topography as the surface descriptor, to calculate their optical properties. The Eye Institute is also involved in a pilot study to evaluate the VISX “STAR” Excimer laser for PRK treatment of hyperopia. In this paper we present data on (a) corneal optical quality, (b) corneal topography (ablation profile), and (C) visual acuities for 2 patients followed for 6 months after a hyperopic Excimer PRK surgery.

© 1997 Optical Society of America