Corneal aberrations after astigmatic keratotomy combined with laser in situ keratomileusis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the optical aberrations in the cornea before and after astigmatic keratotomy (AK) combined with laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in a group of patients with high myopic astigmatism.


METHODS
Refractive Surgery Unit, NISA Hospital Virgen del Consuelo, Valencia, Spain.


METHODS
Twelve patients (24 eyes) with high myopic astigmatism (from 3.50 to 6.00 diopters) participated in the study. Astigmatic keratotomy was performed as the first step to reduce astigmatism; after 2 months, the residual refractive error was corrected with LASIK. Videokeratography measurements were conducted before and after each procedure. Topography maps were used to calculate the wavefront corneal aberrations for a 6.0 mm pupil diameter.


RESULTS
Total, coma-like, and spherical-like aberrations increased significantly from preoperatively to post LASIK (x6.34, x2.52, and x10.50, respectively; P<.01). Astigmatic keratotomy significantly increased coma-like (x4.04; P<.01) and spherical-like (x5.66; P<.01) aberrations. After LASIK, the coma-like aberration was significantly reduced (x0.62; P =.008) and the spherical-like aberration was significantly increased (x1.86; P<.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Astigmatic keratotomy increased higher-order corneal aberrations, both coma-like and spherical-like, whereas LASIK performed after AK increased the spherical-like aberration and reduced the coma-like aberration.
Montés-Micó
Robert
R
Refractive Surgery Unit, NISA Hospital Virgen del Consuelo, Valencia, Spain. roberto.montes@uv.es
Muñoz
Gonzalo
G
Albarrán-Diego
César
C
Rodríguez-Galietero
Antonio
A
Alió
Jorge L
JL
D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications