title: Bitoric laser in situ keratomileusis for astigmatism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy, predictability, and safety of bitoric laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of mixed astigmatism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 28 eyes of 21 patients with mixed astigmatism who had bitoric LASIK using the Hansatome microkeratome (Bausch & Lomb Surgical) and the Chiron Technolas 217 excimer laser (Bausch & Lomb Surgical). The main outcome measures were uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), defocus equivalent, blur strength, and refraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six months after bitoric LASIK, the mean UCVA was 0.70 +/- 0.23 (SD). The percentage of eyes with a UCVA of 20/40 or better was 78.6% and of 20/20, 21.4%. There was a statistically significant increase in the mean BCVA from 0.71 +/- 0.19 before surgery to 0.83 +/- 0.15 at 6 months (P =.0004). Three eyes (10.7%) lost 1 line of BCVA; 19 eyes (67.9%) gained 1 or more lines. The mean preoperative astigmatism of -4.04 +/- 1.13 diopters (D) was reduced to -0.67 +/- 0.79 D after surgery. The defocus equivalent was less than 1.00 D in 75.0% of eyes and less than 0.50 D in 64.3%. Vector analysis showed that the mean achieved correction was 97.4% of the intended correction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bitoric LASIK was a safe, effective, and predictable procedure in the treatment of mixed astigmatism. It is a means to improving BCVA in a significant percentage of patients.
authors.affiliation: Refractive Surgery Department, Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, Avenida Denia 111, 03015 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albarrán-Diego
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montés-Micó
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alió
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology