Customized ablation for asymmetrical corneal astigmatism

Purpose: To evaluate laser in situ keratomileusis (LASlK) cases in which a customized ablation assisted by corneal topography was performed. Setting: Institute de la Vision, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Methods: The study group comprised 23 cases with asymmetrical corneas; 17 h ad myopia and 6, hyperopia. Visual acuity, spherical equivalent (SE), and c ylinder vectorial change measurements, along with keratometry and corneal t opography, were performed in all cases preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: In the myopic cases, the mean preoperative SE was -4.92 diopters ( D) +/- 2.46 JSD); it was -0.38 +/- 0.66 D after a mean follow-up of 4.41 +/ - 2.32 months. In the hyperopic cases, the preoperative SE was +3.54 +/- 1. 57 D; it was +0.33 +/- 0.50 D after a mean follow-up of 3.42 +/- 3.23 month s. Cylinder vectorial change, visual acuity, and the number of visual acuit y lines gained or lost were also evaluated in both groups. Conclusion: Although some features of our algorithm for corneal-topography- assisted customized ablations should be modified, the results of our treatm ent of cases with asymmetrical astigmatism were encouraging. J Cataract Ref ract Surg 2001; 27: 891-895 (C) 2001 ASCRS and ESCRS.