To evaluate the clinical effects of excimer laser refractive surgery on eyes with residual refractive error after implantation of ReSTOR® multifocal intraocular lenses.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 10 eyes of 6 patients who had undergone cataract surgery with implantation of multifocal intraocular lenses. Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) (5 eyes) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) (5 eyes) was performed on 10 eyes with residual refractive error.

After cataract surgery and before laser surgery, the mean spherical equivalent (SE) was -0.34 ± 0.89 D and the mean astigmatism was 2.08 ± 0.55 D. Six months after laser surgery, the mean SE was -0.33 ± 0.30 D ( p = 0.354) and the mean astigmatism was 0.23 ± 0.28 D. The changes in astigmatism between paired preoperative and postoperative values were statistically significant ( p < 0.0001). At 6 months after surgery, uncorrected distance visual acuity significantly improved to 0.11 ± 0.10 (log MAR) ( p < 0.0001) There were no significant changes in the best corrected distance visual acuity and uncorrected near visual acuity ( p = 0.073, p = 0.100).

On the basis of predictability and stability, excimer laser surgery appears to be a clinically useful procedure to correct residual refractive error after implantation of ReSTOR® multifocal intraocular lenses.