Correction of post-keratoplasty astigmatism with keratotomies in the host cornea.

We evaluated the effects of astigmatic keratotomy performed in the host cornea to treat astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty. In 11 patients with high post-keratoplasty astigmatisms (mean 9.02 diopters [D]; range 5.5 to 17.4 D), an arcuate keratotomy was performed in the host cornea. The mean incision depth was 575 mum (range 500 to 600 mum). The refractive data were analyzed using the Alpins method for vector analysis. The mean keratometric cylinder decreased to 3.41 D (range 0.9 to 5.3 D). The mean surgically induced astigmatism achieved was 7.3 +/- 3.89, with a mean correction index of 0.82 +/- 0.34. No microperforations were observed, and neither graft decompensation nor rejection occurred. Astigmatic keratotomy performed in the host cornea was a safe procedure to reduce post-keratoplasty astigmatism. The procedure offers the potential for correction of the astigmatism and has satisfactory predictability.