Corneal topography of patients with excellent Snellen visual acuity after epikeratophakia for aphakia.

A computer-based corneal topographic analysis system was used to evaluate the patterns of power distribution in five patients with at least six months of postoperative follow-up who obtained excellent visual and refractive results after epikeratophakia for aphakia. All grafts were well centered relative to the visual axis. The range of surface power seen within the central 5 mm of the individual grafts ranged from 4.00 to 6.50 diopters. Each graft showed a unique, moderately irregular pattern of power distribution. Fair correlation was seen between the expected corneal power and that shown in the power map displays. These data suggest that moderate degrees of irregular astigmatism are compatible with good Snellen visual acuity after epikeratophakia for aphakia, though the effect of this irregularity on visual performance remains unclear.