The Effect of Hyperopic Laser in Situ Keratomileusis on Refractive Accommodative Esotropia

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for discarding spectacles and simultaneously correcting ocular alignment in patients with refractive accommodative esotropia. METHODS: LASIK was performed on 20 eyes of 10 patients (mean age, 24.3 years; range, 11 to 43 years) using a Technolas 217C excimer laser. The target refraction was emmetropia. Visual acuity (uncorrected and best-corrected), refractive error, and ocular alignment were recorded before and after LASIK. Minimum follow-up was 12 months. RESULTS: The mean preoperative uncorrected and corrected angle of deviation was 37.1 prism diopters (PD) (range, 17 to 80; standard deviation (SD), 19.8)) and 14.74 PD (range, 0 to 50; SD, 12.9) of esotropia, respectively, which changed to 7.2 PD (range, 0 to 50; SD, 15.78) without correction postoperatively (p=0.005). Of 20 eyes, 15% lost one line of best-corrected visual acuity, 10% gained two lines, and 75% showed no change. CONCLUSIONS: LASIK could be considered an alternative treatment for patients with refractive accommodative esotropia with intolerance to glasses and contact lenses.