title: Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy to correct astigmatism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) to correct astigmatism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hôpital Morvan, Brest, France.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 193 nm excimer laser was used to perform toric ablation with an expanding slit to flatten the cornea in the steeper meridian and/or to correct myopia with an iris diaphragm in 72 eyes (55 patients): 68 eyes for compound myopic astigmatism and 4 for astigmatism only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperative cylinder was -2.14 diopters (D) +/- 1.99 (SD) (range -0.50 to -5.50 D); 6 months postoperatively, it was -1.75 +/- 1.34 D (range -0.25 to -5.25 D). Preoperative spherical equivalent was -5.33 +/- 3.22 D (range -0.25 to -14.50 D); 6 months postoperatively, it was -0.86 +/- 2.32 D (range 2.50 to -9.75 D). The axial error was within 30 degrees. Uncorrected visual acuity was 0.50 or better in 64.5% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall patient satisfaction seemed the result of the myopic correction; cylindrical correction was incomplete. Future software refinements should improve the results. In particular, single elliptical ablation seems to offer theoretical advantages.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Morvan, Service d'Ophtalmologie, Brest, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallinaro
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Toulemont
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cochener
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity