Treatment of irregular astigmatism with a 213 nm solid-state, diode-pumped neodymium:YAG ablative laser.
OBJECTIVE
To present the outcome of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using a new neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser in patients with irregular astigmatism.


METHODS
Claremont Eye Clinic, Claremont, and the University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.


METHODS
In 3 patients with irregular astigmatism, PRK was performed with a solid-state, 213 nm wavelength, 300 Hz scanning-spot, diode-pumped Nd:YAG ablative laser (CustomVis Pulzar laser system). The 3 patients had had previous PRK with penetrating keratoplasty, astigmatic keratotomy, or limbal relaxing incisions. At 3 and 6 months, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), manifest refraction, contrast sensitivity, and corneal topography were measured.


RESULTS
The first patient had a 1-line improvement in BSCVA and a 4-line improvement in UCVA, a 3.00 diopter (D) decrease in keratometric cylinder, and improvement in contrast sensitivity. The second patient had a 7.00 D decrease in myopia in 1 meridian and a 4.25 D decrease in the refractive cylinder in the other meridian. The third patient had a 2-line improvement in BSCVA, a 5-line improvement in UCVA, a 2.00 D decrease in the refractive cylinder, and improvement in contrast sensitivity.


CONCLUSIONS
The laser's combination of a small spot, a fast pulse rate, and ultrafast tracking/scanning resulted in good results in 3 patients with difficult irregular astigmatism.
Claremont Eye Clinic, Perth, Australia.
Ian
I
Anderson
Donald R
DR
Sanders
Paul
P
van Saarloos
William J
WJ
Ardrey
D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000601:surgery*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology