Elliptical ELSA (LASEK) instruments for the treatment of astigmatism.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate newly designed, elliptical ELSA (excimer laser subepithelial ablation) instruments for the treatment of astigmatism.


METHODS
University Eye Clinic Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany, and the Rayne Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom.


METHODS
The new ELSA instrument set consists of an elliptical microtrephine (11.0 mm x 8.0 mm) with a 70 microm calibrated blade and an elliptical alcohol cone (11.5 mm x 8.5 mm). With this instrument set, ELSA (the laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy [LASEK] described by Camellin) was performed in 34 astigmatic eyes. The cylindrical correction was between 1.00 diopters (D) and 3.50 D and the spherical correction, between -0.75 D and -8.75 D. In all eyes, the follow-up was 6 months. The postoperative refractive outcome was analyzed using Alpins vector analysis.


RESULTS
Excimer laser subepithelial ablation was performed without intraoperative complications in all eyes. At 6 months, the mean spherical correction was -0.04 D +/- 0.27 (SD) (range +0.75 to -0.75 D) and the mean cylindrical correction, 0.27 +/- 0.23 D (range 0 to 0.75 D). The mean index of success was 0.18 +/- 0.15.


CONCLUSIONS
With the elliptical instruments, ELSA was an effective and safe surgical procedure for astigmatism.
Lohmann
Chris P
CP
From University Eye Clinic Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. lohmann@eye-regensburg.de
von Mohrenfels
Christoph Winkler
CW
Herrmann
Wolfgang
W
Gabler
Bernhard
B
Laube
Thomas
T
Marshall
John
J
D001251:Astigmatism / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000601:surgery; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012449:Safety; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014792:Visual Acuity