Astigmatism Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Astigmatism, including details on cornea, retina, treatment, types, signs, tests.

Long-Term Refractive Results of Elliptical Excimer Laser Penetrating Keratoplasty (EELPK).

Szentmáry N, Langenbucher A, Kus MM, Naumann GO, Seitz B

Department of Ophthalmology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.

Purpose: To assess long-term refractive and visual outcome of elliptical excimer laser penetrating keratoplasty (EELPK). Methods: Inclusion criteria (17 eyes): (1) Primary central elliptical excimer laser penetrating keratoplasty in phakic eyes; (2) No other simultaneous procedure except cataract surgery in 6 eyes; (3) Interrupted sutures; (4) Complete sequence of follow-ups before EELPK, with all-sutures-in, with all-sutures-out; (5) No active inflammation at the time of EELPK. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive and keratometric astigmatism, topographic surface regularity index (SRI), surface asymmetry index (SAI) were determined in 5.9 +/- 3.3 years follow-up. Results: BCVA improved from 0.2 preoperatively to 0.6 after suture removal (p < 0.001). After suture removal, keratometric (4.9D/5.8D, p = 0.01) and refractive cylinder (2.8D/4.4D; p < 0.001) increased, and SRI and SAI decreased significantly (3.0/1.0; 1.9/0.9; p = 0.01) compared to all-suture-in values. Conclusions: EELPK is effective in improving visual acuity. Despite topographic regularization, an increase of refractive more than keratometric astigmatism may occur after suture removal.

Published 20 November 2007 in Curr Eye Res, 32(11): 953-9.
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