title: Transverse keratotomy followed by LASIK for the treatment of naturally occurring astigmatism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of transverse keratotomy followed by LASIK for patients with high amounts of naturally occurring astigmatism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen eyes with naturally occurring astigmatism ranging from -3.75 to -6.50 diopters (D) underwent sequential transverse keratotomy (60 degrees at 6 mm) and LASIK procedures. The effect of these two procedures on the amount of astigmatism was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transverse keratotomy led to a 46% reduction in refractive cylinder from -5.50 +/- 0.80 D to -3.00 +/- 1.00 D. After LASIK, the initial refractive astigmatism was reduced by 90% to -0.50 +/- 0.50 D with a minimum follow-up of 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined technique of transverse keratotomy followed by LASIK is an effective and accurate way to treat high amounts of naturally occurring astigmatism, allowing the size of the optical zone of the excimer laser ablation to be maximized.
authors.affiliation: Key-Whitman Eye Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Faisal E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Haq
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Speaker
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nilforoushan
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tullo
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morschauser
mesh_terms: D001251:Astigmatism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial / Q000379:methods*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome