Surgically Induced Astigmatism After Photorefractive Keratectomy with the Excimer Laser

Abstract

Spherical excimer laser PRK is associated with significant surgically induced astigmatism that is likely related to decentration of the ablation, excimer laser beam irregularities, and variations in wound healing across the ablated zone. Surgically induced astigmatism will complicate attempts to correct astigmatism simultaneously at the time of PRK and suggest that such attempts are likely to be problematic for lower levels of astigmatism.