Femtosecond-laser arcuate wedge-shaped resection to correct high residual astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty
Accepted 9 February 2006.
We describe a standardized technique of femtosecond (FS) laser arcuate resection (LAR) in which intersecting arcuate cuts are used to perform a wedge resection for the correction of high astigmatism. A simple formula was used to calculate the relative decentration of the arcuate cuts based on the radii of curvature and desired wedge width to be resected. Feasibility of the procedure was established in porcine corneas before treatment of a patient with 20 diopters (D) of post-keratoplasty astigmatism. The astigmatism was reversed. Suture removal resulted in reduction of 14.5 D of astigmatism. Laser arcuate resection can be an effective alternative to manual wedge resection, allowing easier, more controlled, and more precise excision of tissue in width, length, and depth.
From the UIC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chicago, Illinois, and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Corresponding author: Dimitri T. Azar, MD, Corneal, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery Services, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Supported by Research to Prevent Blindness Lew R. Wasserman Merit Award and NIH Grant EY10101 (D.T.A.).
Dr. Azar receives travel support from Intralase, Inc. No author has other financial or proprietary interests in any product mentioned.
ABSTRACT