title: Comparison of excimer laser treatment of astigmatism and myopia. The Excimer Laser and Research Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety and efficacy of excimer laser treatment of myopic astigmatism and to compare this with the excimer laser treatment of myopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, open study of consecutive patients having excimer laser treatment of myopic astigmatism or myopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were recruited from 18 private ophthalmic practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four eyes received treatment for astigmatism and 66 eyes for myopia. One patient was lost to follow-up, and another underwent an ineffective ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A VISX Twenty/Twenty excimer laser was used to perform either photoastigmatic refractive keratectomy or photorefractive keratectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Refraction and visual acuity with and without correction were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 6 months, 17 (85%) of the 20 patients receiving photoastigmatic refractive keratectomy were within 1 diopter of plano refraction, and 19 (95%) of 20 had uncorrected visual acuity of 6/12 (20/40) or better. For patients receiving photorefractive keratectomy, these figures were 28 (88%) of 32 patients and 28 (88%) of 32 patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excimer laser surgery offers an effective option in the treatment of myopic astigmatism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Guest
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Alpins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity