[Measurement of the central corneal power after myopic LASIK].
OBJECTIVE
Comparison of the central corneal refractive power before and after myopic LASIK using the Keratograph and the Pentacam. The Scheimpflug technique (Pentacam) enables the measurement of the corneal refractive power by examining the anterior and posterior corneal curvature.


METHODS
The corneal refractive power of 59 eyes was examined before, 3 months and 6 months after myopic LASIK. The refractive power was measured at the corneal apex and at a distance of 2 and 4 mm. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test; a p value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
At the corneal apex and at a distance of 2 mm the findings with the Keratograph showed a higher refractive power of up to 1.05 D. The differences were statistically significant at all times. At a distance of 4 mm from the corneal apex postoperatively there was no statistically significant difference.


CONCLUSIONS
The results using the Pentacam system showed a lower corneal refractive power following myopic LASIK at all times. Its measuring principle compared to that of the Keratograph should be preferred when detecting changes of the refractive power of the central cornea after corneal refractive procedures.
Centrum für refraktive Therapie, Universitätsaugenklinik München, München, Deutschland. Carlo.Lackerbauer@med.uni-muenchen.de
C-A
CA
Lackerbauer
L
L
Hartmann
S
S
Fröhlich
M
M
Schaumberger
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A
Kollias
D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome