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.