Transverse Keratotomy for correction of low astigmatism: a simplified approach

ABSTRACT

Transverse karatotomy was performed on 109 eyes correction of low levels of astigmatism. All procedures were performed by the same surgeon and were combined with radial keratotomy for correction of myopia. The preoperative astigmatism ranged between 1.00 and 3.00 diopters [mean = 1.68 D]. The size of the optical zone and the number of the transverse incisions were varied according to the amount of astigmatism. The results were evaluated using both simple analysis and vector analysis methods. The follow-up period ranged between 6 months and 2 years [average 13.2 months]. After surgery, astigmatism was reduced to a mean of 0.54 D [ranged 0 to 2.25 D]. The mean decrease in astigmatism was 1.14 D. The axis of the surgically induced cylinder deviated by less than ten indicate that predictable results can be achieved with this technique