Clinical Outcomes of Combined Procedure of Astigmatic Keratotomy and Laser in situ Keratomileusis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of a combined procedure of astigmatic keratotomy (AK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of high astigmatism. METHODS: Thirty-five eyes of 19 patients who had astigmatic keratotomy were studied. The patients had a secondary procedure, LASIK, to correct the residual refractive error. Follow-up visits were at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. The outcome measures included uncorrected distance visual acuity, refractive error, efficacy, safety, and predictability. We compared preoperative and post-AK expected corneal ablation depth using an Amaris Ablation depth table. RESULTS: After astigmatic keratotomy, astigmatism was reduced by 61.43 ± 14.62%, and after LASIK, astigmatism was reduced by 91.65 ± 8.68%. Expected corneal ablation depth was reduced by 18.72 ± 11.77% after astigmatic keratotomy. The proportion of eyes with spherical equivalent 0.5 D or less was 85.71% at 6 months after the combined procedure of astigmatic keratotomy and LASIK. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the combined procedure of astigmatic keratotomy and LASIK is effective for visual acuity, refraction, and reduction in corneal ablation depth.