Excimer laser keratectomy for correction of astigmatism.

We treated 13 eyes (12 patients) with excimer laser surgery for correction of astigmatism using linear corneal T-excisions. All eyes were followed up for a minimum of three months. We used a newly developed delivery system and special contact masks to deliver the 193-nm excimer light. Astigmatic corrections of up to 4.16 diopters were obtained. The actual corrections corresponded well with the intended values as predicted by a biomechanical theory. The refractive change over time was different than that observed after knife incisions, suggesting different repair mechanisms. An epithelial plug filling the whole T-excision persisted for over one year in all eyes.