Correction of Pre-Existing Astigmatism with Phacoemulsification Using Spherical Intraocular Lens and Wave front Guided Surface Ablation: A Retrospective Case Series

Objective: To evaluate safety and efficacy of using spherical intraocular lens followed by wavefront guided surface ablation in correction of preexisting regular corneal astigmatism. Methods: This retrospective case series study included 20 eyes of 16 patients having visually significant cataracts and co-existing regular corneal astigmatism. The patients underwent phacoemulsification with spherical intraocular lens and wavefront guided PRK three months later. Results: There was a statistically significant difference for Uncorrected Visual Acuity UCVA, Best Corrected Visual Acuity BCVA, Manifest Refraction Spherical Equivalent MRSE, and refractive astigmatism postoperatively regarding all these parameters (P˂0.05). Conclusion: Astigmatism correction during or even after cataract surgery is a safe and effective method to improve visual outcomes. Longer period of follow up are required to evaluate stability of this technique and possibility of regression.

Severe Corneal Morphological Alterations after Excimer Laser Surface Ablation for a High Astigmatism

We report long-term alterations of anterior corneal stroma after excimer laser surface ablation for a high astigmatism. The patient claimed progressive visual loss in his right eye (RE) during the last 3 years after bilateral laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) surgery. His examination comprised visual acuity (UDVA and CDVA), slit-lamp examination, corneal topography and tomography, AS-OCT, and confocal microscopy. The UDVA was 0.1 in his RE and 1.0 in the left eye. The CDVA in the RE was 0.8. The slit-lamp examination showed a stromal lesion in the inferior paracentral corneal zone, with multiple vertical tissue bridges and severe thinning. Corneal topography and tomography showed central flattening with inferior steepening and severe alteration in elevation maps. AS-OCT showed void areas in the anterior stroma with thinning of the underlying tissue, and confocal images were not specific. In this case, progressive corneal steepening and thinning that manifest topographically as inferior ectasia occurred in correspondence to the singular stromal alterations after LASEK.