PURPOSE: To evaluate the optical aberrations in the cornea before and after astigmatic keratotomy (AK) combined with laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in a group of patients with high myopic astigmatism. SETTING: Refractive Surgery Unit, NISA Hospital Virgen del Consuelo, Valencia, Spain. METHODS: Twelve patients (24 eyes) with high myopic astigmatism (from 3.50 to 6.00 diopters) participated in the study. Astigmatic keratotomy was performed as the first step to reduce astigmatism; after 2 months, the residual refractive error was corrected with LASIK. Videokeratography measurements were conducted before and after each procedure. Topography maps were used to calculate the wavefront corneal aberrations for a 6.0 mm pupil diameter. RESULTS: Total, coma-like, and spherical-like aberrations increased significantly from preoperatively to post LASIK (x6.34, x2.52, and x10.50, respectively; P<.01). Astigmatic keratotomy significantly increased coma-like (x4.04; P<.01) and spherical-like (x5.66; P<.01) aberrations. After LASIK, the coma-like aberration was significantly reduced (x0.62; P =.008) and the spherical-like aberration was significantly increased (x1.86; P<.01). CONCLUSION: Astigmatic keratotomy increased higher-order corneal aberrations, both coma-like and spherical-like, whereas LASIK performed after AK increased the spherical-like aberration and reduced the coma-like aberration.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the optical aberrations in the cornea before and after astigmatic keratotomy (AK) combined with laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in a group of patients with high myopic astigmatism. SETTING: Refractive Surgery Unit, NISA Hospital Virgen del Consuelo, Valencia, Spain. METHODS: Twelve patients (24 eyes) with high myopic astigmatism (from 3.50 to 6.00 diopters) participated in the study. Astigmatic keratotomy was performed as the first step to reduce astigmatism; after 2 months, the residual refractive error was corrected with LASIK. Videokeratography measurements were conducted before and after each procedure. Topography maps were used to calculate the wavefront corneal aberrations for a 6.0 mm pupil diameter. RESULTS: Total, coma-like, and spherical-like aberrations increased significantly from preoperatively to post LASIK (x6.34, x2.52, and x10.50, respectively; P<.01). Astigmatic keratotomy significantly increased coma-like (x4.04; P<.01) and spherical-like (x5.66; P<.01) aberrations. After LASIK, the coma-like aberration was significantly reduced (x0.62; P =.008) and the spherical-like aberration was significantly increased (x1.86; P<.01). CONCLUSION: Astigmatic keratotomy increased higher-order corneal aberrations, both coma-like and spherical-like, whereas LASIK performed after AK increased the spherical-like aberration and reduced the coma-like aberration.