title: Videokeratographic changes after laser in situ keratomileusis to correct high myopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the videokeratographic changes and patterns after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in high myopia using computerized videokeratography.
  
  
  METHODS
  San Salvatore Hospital, Chair of Ophthalmology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one eyes of 26 patients treated with no-suture nasal-hinged flap LASIK for an attempted mean spherical equivalent correction of -13.9 diopters (D) +/- 4.1 (SD) (range -8.0 to -22.0 D) were evaluated. Mean patient age was 35.2 +/- 9.8 years. Mean follow-up was 15.1 +/- 6.7 months (range 6 to 26 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five eyes (85.4%) were within +/- 2.0 D of the planned correction, with a refractive error greater than 3.0 D in the 7.3% of eyes. Mean central corneal power decreased from 43.2 +/- 1.8 D (range 38.70 to 47.40 D) to 35.8 +/- 3.8 D (range 30.3 to 42.6 D). Mean preoperative corneal astigmatism decreased from 1.2 +/- 0.9 D (range 0.2 to 4.2 D) to 0.9 +/- 0.9 D (range 0.2 to 3.3 D). Videokeratographic qualitative analysis showed corneal shape changes within 15 days after surgery. Corneal patterns then stabilized, and 37 eyes (90.3%) had no significant modifications in corneal refractive power after 1 month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After LASIK in highly myopic eyes, videokeratographic maps showed corneal power stabilized within 1 month in most eyes and there was no irregular astigmatism if the treatment was well centered.
authors.affiliation: University of L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spadea
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Masini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balestrazzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity