Femtosecond-assisted astigmatic keratotomy for post-keratoplasty irregular astigmatism

J Cataract Refract Surg. 2009 Jan;35(1):11-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2008.08.039.

Abstract

We describe the technique of femtosecond-assisted astigmatic keratotomy (AK) in a post-keratoplasty patient with irregular, nonorthogonal astigmatism. Using the keratoplasty software, an anterior arcuate side cut (400 mum thick, 6.5 mm diameter) was created using the femtosecond laser in a 68-year-old woman with irregular astigmatism 28 years after penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus. No intraoperative or postoperative adverse events were seen during the follow-up period. Six months after the procedure, the uncorrected visual acuity improved from 20/60 to 20/50 and the best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, from 20/50 to 20/32. The mean manifest astigmatic correction decreased from 4.00 diopters (D) to 0.50 D; corneal topography showed a significant improvement in irregular astigmatism. The technique of femtosecond-assisted AK is simple and efficient for managing irregular and nonorthogonal astigmatism in post-keratoplasty patients and may overcome the limitations of earlier techniques.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Astigmatism / etiology
  • Astigmatism / physiopathology
  • Astigmatism / surgery*
  • Corneal Topography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Keratoconus / surgery*
  • Keratoplasty, Penetrating*
  • Laser Therapy*
  • Lasers, Excimer
  • Postoperative Complications*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Visual Acuity / physiology