Purpose: To assess the refractive outcomes of LASIK for the surgical correction of hyperopic astigmatism using the NIDEK EC-5000 excimer laser.
Methods: LASIK was performed on 46 eyes from 26 patients (19 men and 7 women) for the correction of congenital hyperopic astigmatism. The NIDEK EC-5000 excimer laser and the Moria M2 microkeratome were used in all procedures. Cylindrical ablations were performed on the negative axis out to a 6-mm diameter.
Results: The mean preoperative cylindrical refraction was +3.15+/-0.70 diopters (D) (range: +1.75 to +4.50 D), and the mean 24-month postoperative refraction was +1.27+/-0.78 D (range: +0.50 to +3.25 D). Vector analysis showed a 2.17+/-1.27 D reduction in the equivalent cylinder. Preoperative mean uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 20/100, and 24-month postoperative UCVA was 20/30. One eye lost one line of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity at 24 months postoperatively. Complications related to the LASIK flap occurred in 2 (4.3%) eyes. Partial regression of the astigmatic effect began at 4 to 6 months but stabilized by 1 year.
Conclusions: LASIK is a safe but limited alternative for the correction of astigmatism in eyes with hyperopic astigmatism. Early regression of the astigmatic effect in the first 6 months seems to be the primary disadvantage of this technique.