Primary Topography-Guided LASIK: A Comparative Study Comparing Treating the Manifest versus the Topographic Astigmatism

PURPOSE: To investigate if topography-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) depending on the topographic astigmatism which is measured using the Topolyzer leads to a better refractive outcome when compared to treatment of the manifest refractive astigmatism in cases of myopic astigmatism. METHODS: This was a prospective non-masked, randomized study (block randomization) of postoperative vision and refraction of patients with myopic astigmatism that had LASIK using Contoura vision software. They were divided into three groups according to the treatment strategy, treating the manifest astigmatism in one group, the topographic astigmatism with compensation for the spherical power in the second group and treating the topographic astigmatism without changing the spherical power in the third group. It was conducted at Kasr Alainy Hospital and Dar Eloyon Hospital. RESULTS: The postoperative uncorrected distant visual acuity (UDVA) in each group separately was better than the preoperative corrected distant visual acuity (CDVA) (58% (n=35) had UDVA better than 20/20 and gained 1 line or more); however, eyes treated with the topographic astigmatism without changing the spherical power showed the statistically best results (75% (n=15) had UDVA better than 20/20). The residual anterior corneal astigmatism was lower in this group (the mean 0.47 vs 0.95 and 0.59). No significant difference was noted in the residual refractive astigmatism, but it was also the least in that group. CONCLUSION: Topography-guided LASIK is a safe and effective ablation profile for treatment of myopic astigmatism. Treating according to the topographic astigmatism shows the best outcome as regards the vision and residual astigmatism.