[Correction of astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty].

Nine patients had a surgical correction of high astigmatism following perforating keratoplasty. In seven of them the reason for the perforating keratoplasty was keratoconus, in two of them Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy. The correction was performed in the seven 31-69 yrs old keratoconus patients 4-19 years (median 10 yrs) after the transplant, in the patients with Fuchs' dystrophy 13 month and 1 year following corneal transplant. In eight cases two circular shaped relaxing incisions of 60 degrees were performed in the steeper meridian, seven times combined with sutures in the opposite meridian. Once a wedge resection was performed. The astigmatism before correcting surgery was 8-19 dpt (median 13 dpt), 3-24 month (median 11 month) 1.75-13 dpt (median 8 dpt). The reduction of astigmatism was 3-10 dpt (median 8 dpt). In 5 of 9 patients the astigmatism could be corrected by spectacles, in two more patients no spectacles were prescribed because of cataract. After this series of astigmatic correction we think that incisions without sutures are superior. This method could replace rekeratoplsty in the future.