Surgically Induced Astigmatic Change after Laser in Situ Keratomileusis using Manual Microkeratome

ABSTRACT

We performed spherical LASIK operations using manual microkeratome and assessed the axis and magnitude of surgically induced astigmatism by vector analysis[Jaffe's rectangular coordinates]. Six month follow-up of 124eyes of 98 patients who were followed for 6 months or longer were included. Myopia ranged from -4.00 to -9.75 diopter. We divided eyes depending on the degree of myopia;group 1, 31 eyes between -4.00 and -5.75 diopter, group 2, 46 eyes between -6.00 and -7 .75 diopter, and group 3, 47 eyes between -8.00 and -9.75 diopter. Also, we compared the axis of surgically induced astigmatism between right eyes[73 eyes]and left eyes[48 eyes]. Preoperative astigmatic refraction was -0.63 +/-0.30 diopter in group 1, -0.67 +/-0.35 diopter in group 2, -0.67 +/-0.41 diopter in group 3.After 2 months, magnitude of surgically induced astigmatism was 0.84 +/-0.57 diopter in group 1, 1.08 +/-0.72 diopter in group 2, 1.19 +/-0.84 diopter in group 3[P=0.15], after 6 months, 1.01 +/-0.59 diopter in group 1, 1.16 +/-0.98 diopter in group 2, and 0.99 +/-0.59 diopter in group 3[P=0.52]. Change in the axis of vectorial-induced astigmatism was not statistically significant between right eyes and left eyes after 2 months[P=0.16], but significant after 6 months[p<0.05 ]. In conclusion, spherical LASIK using manual microkeratome may induce a significant change in magnitude of the astigmatism regardless the degree of myopia. The difference of astigmatic axis was statistically significant between right eyes and left eyes after 6 months. These changes and differences may require long-term follow-up and further investigation.