Purpose: We studied the efficacy, predictability, and safety of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for moderate to high simple and compound myopic astigmatism.
Methods: Ninety-two eyes of 46 consecutive patients who had LASIK for myopic astigmatism (64 eyes, astigmatism 3.00 to 9.00 D; myopia 0 to -20.00 D), or simple myopia (28 eyes, myopia -4.00 to -20.00 D; astigmatism 0 to 0.50 D) were retrospectively studied. Mean baseline spherical equivalent refraction (SE) in the myopia group was -8.11 +/- 3.94 D and in the astigmatism group, -8.55 +/- 4.49 D. All eyes underwent LASIK using the Nidek EC-5000 laser by the same surgeon.
Results: At 6 months after LASIK in the myopia group versus the astigmatism group, 24 eyes (85%) vs. 54 eyes (84%) were available for follow-up, 12 eyes (50%) vs. 13 eyes (24%) had uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 20/20, 19 eyes (79%) vs. 44 eyes (81%) had UCVA of 20/40, 8 eyes (33%) vs. 18 eyes (33%) had SE within +/- 0.50 D, 15 eyes (62%) vs. 39 eyes (72%) had SE within +/- 1.00 D, and mean SE was -1.22 +/- 1.17 D vs. -0.74 +/- 1.46 D. Mean astigmatism (vertexed to the corneal plane) in the astigmatism group was 2.77 D at 0 degrees before surgery and 0.32 D at 7 degrees at 6 months. None of the myopic eyes and three of the astigmatic eyes (5%) lost > or = 2 lines of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity.
Conclusion: LASIK with the Nidek EC-5000 laser for myopic astigmatism was reasonably effective, predictable, and safe. Astigmatism was under-corrected with the nomogram implemented in this study.