This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
LASIK for post-PKP astigmatism best if performed in two stages
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
THOROFARE, N.J. — Astigmatism following penetrating keratoplasty can effectively be treated with LASIK if the procedure is done in two steps, leaving an interval of time between the lamellar cut and laser ablation, said Hazem Haroun, MD, of Spain's Alicante Ophthalmologic Institute.
While LASIK is potentially a good treatment for post-penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) astigmatism, “the lamellar cut has the disadvantage of inducing new regular astigmatism,” Dr. Haroun said. “Doing LASIK in two steps allows you to monitor the refractive changes occurring after the first stage of the procedure and perform the ablation, once the eye is stable, on the actual amount of astigmatism present.”
Dr. Alicante and colleagues compared results of one-step and two-step LASIK in 22 eyes of 20 patients, all of whom had post-PKP astigmatism and clear corneal grafts. The minimum postop interval between PKP and LASIK as 12 to 18 months, and at least 3 months from suture removal, Dr. Haroun said. Patients were equally divided into two groups according to the surgical technique used and patients were followed for 6 months.
“Refractive changes and a tendency toward spontaneous reduction of the cylinder were observed in all cases of the two-step group in the period following the first stage of the procedure,” Dr. Haroun said. Mean cylinder decreased in the two-step group from -5.77 D to -3.90 D after the lamellar cut and further to -2.45 D after the ablation, he added.
Details on the procedure and outcomes will be published in the June 1 print edition of Ocular Surgery News.