Correction of myopia and astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty with laser in situ keratomileusis.

PURPOSE: We evaluated whether laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) was a safe and effective treatment for myopia and astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty (PK).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of medical records of all the patients who underwent LASIK following PK at the University of Minnesota between January 1999 and March 2000.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients (20 eyes) underwent LASIK following PK between January 1999 and March 2000. Mean age of the patients at the time of LASIK was 37 years (range, 20-62). Keratoconus was the indication for PK in the majority of the eyes (73.7%). Anisometropia and/or contact lens intolerance was the indication for LASIK following PK. No intraoperative complications occurred. Following LASIK, the best spectacle-corrected visual acuity remained within 1 line of preoperative visual acuity in 94.7% of the eyes. The mean sphere was reduced by 3.93 diopters (80.0%) and the mean cylinder was reduced by 2.83 diopters (69.9%) from the preoperative values at the last follow-up visit. Uncorrected visual acuity became 20/40 or better in 73.7% of the eyes after LASIK.

CONCLUSIONS

LASIK is a safe procedure in eyes in which PK has previously been performed. LASIK is effective in the treatment of myopia and astigmatism following PK.