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. 2001 May;85(5):534–536. doi: 10.1136/bjo.85.5.534

Corneal irregular astigmatism after laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia

T M Baek 1, K H Lee 1, A Tomidokoro 1, T Oshika 1
PMCID: PMC1723949  PMID: 11316709

Abstract

AIMS—To quantitatively evaluate the changes in corneal irregular astigmatism after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in relation to the amount of laser ablation.
METHODS—In 189 eyes of 116 patients undergoing LASIK for myopia, corneal topography was obtained before and 1 month after surgery. Using Fourier harmonic analysis of the topography data, corneal irregular astigmatism (asymmetry and higher order irregularity) was calculated.
RESULTS—By surgery, asymmetry component significantly increased (p <0.0001, Wilcoxon signed rank test), while higher order irregularity did not (p = 0.767). The increases in the asymmetry component significantly correlated with ablation depth (Spearman rank correlation coefficient rs=0.440, p <0.0001). No significant correlation was found between changes in higher order irregularity and ablation depth (rs=0.137, p = 0.074).
CONCLUSION—LASIK significantly increases the asymmetry component of the cornea which is dependent on the amount of laser ablation.



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Figure 1  .

Figure 1  

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Significant correlation between the amount of laser ablation and changes in asymmetry component. (Spearman rank correlation coefficient rs=0.440, p<0.0001).

Figure 2  .

Figure 2  

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Relation between the amount of laser ablation and changes in higher order irregularity. There was no significant correlation (Spearman rank correlation coefficient rs=0.137, p=0.074).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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