Corneal topography and LASIK

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to outline the importance of corneal topography after LASIK surgery and to show the association between topographic findings and postoperative results. PATIENTS: One hundred and fourteen eyes, 70 patients with myopia (from -6.00 to -14.00 Dsph) who underwent surgery by LASIK. METHODS: We identified 5 types of topographic patterns which were classified to symmetric and asymmetric groups. We evaluated the association between the type of topography pattern and the following parameters: age, sex, astigmatism, pre-operative refraction, post-operative uncorrected and best corrected visual acuity. RESULTS: Fifty eight eye filled the criteria of the first group (uniform pattern), 30 eyes of the second group (bowtie), 4 eyes of the third group (penninsula), 3 eyes of the fourth group (semicircular) and 3 eyes of the fifth group (irregular pattern). Significant association between topographic corneal patterns and observed parameters has been confirmed in post-operative uncorrected visual acuity, post-operative refraction and astigmatism (p < 0.05). Age and sex were not significant parameters for the outcome of surgery. CONCLUSION: Majority of eyes (89%) had symmetric corneal topography pattern which highly surpassed our expectations. Comparison of topography patterns with observed parameters proves that the shape of ablation zone influences post-operative quality of vision.