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Combo phaco, LASIK procedure can reduce high astigmatism

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MUNICH, Germany — Performing cataract surgery combined with photoablation can reduce existing astigmatism, according to a study presented here at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.

Luis A. Rodriguez, MD, and colleagues evaluated 20 eyes of 14 patients with myopia and more than 2 D of astigmatism who underwent the combined procedure. In the surgical procedure a LASIK flap was made using the Moria M1 microkeratome and allowed to stabilize prior to phacoemulsification. After phacoemulsification and implantation of an Alcon AcrySof IOL, patients underwent the laser ablation.

Preoperatively, the mean astigmatism in the 20 eyes was –3.35 D and the spherical error ranged from –1.75 D to 1.5 D. After making the flap, the spherical error increased an average of +1.1 D. Cylinder was reduced to a mean –2.3 D.

Following phaco and IOL implantation, the spherical equivalent of the eyes ranged from –0.75 D to –2.25 D, with a mean of –1.11 D. This was reduced to a mean of +0.75 D after photoablation.

According to Dr. Rodriguez, creating the LASIK flap has a flattening effect on the cornea, which stabilizes at around 4 weeks after the cut.