Effect Of High Epithelial Astigmatism On Lasik Surgery
Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PP15.13 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/mrds-4419
Authors: David Pablo P Pinero* 1 , Alfonso Arias-Puente 2 , José Luis Rincón Rosales 2 , Pedro Ruiz-Forte 2 , Jesús Fernández 2 , Ana Fernández 2 , Ainhoa Molina-Martin 1 , Dolores de Fez 1
1Optics, Pharmacology and Anatomy,University of Alicante,Alicante,Spain, 2Ophthalmology,Vithas Medimar International Hospital,Alicante,Spain
Purpose
To investigate the correlation of preoperative high epithelial astigmatism with pre and post parameters in patients undergoing LASIK surgery
Setting
Care-Vision Laser Eye Surgery Center
Methods
A retrospective, single-centered cross-sectional study investigating the effect of preoperative epithelial astigmatism on preoperative and postoperative parameters in myopic patients undergoing LASIK surgery. Using student t-test, we compared the preoperative and postoperative parameters between eyes with epithelial astigmatism of 0.75D and above (high epithelial astigmatism), and those with epithelial astigmatism of less than 0.75D (low epithelial astigmatism). The epithelial astigmatism were examined at 3 and 6 mm optic zone (OZ) as reported by the high resolution AS-OCT tomography of the MS-39.
Results
The study included 120 patients (mean age: 33.9 ±11.1 years, 51% female). The high epithelial astigmatism group (≥0.75D) included 42 eyes, and the low epithelial astigmatism group (<0.75D) included 78 eyes. At 3 mm OZ, eyes with higher preoperative astigmatism had significantly thicker epithelium in most quadrants, including central, temporal, nasal, and inferior (p<0.05), except superior quadrant (p=0.68). Postoperatively, central epithelium was significantly thicker in the high astigmatism group (p<0.05). No correlation was found between epithelial astigmatism and subjective or objective refraction (p>0.05). Postoperative BCVA was significantly differed between groups, with better BCVA in eyes with lower epithelial astigmatism (p=0.04).
Conclusions
Pre-LASIK higher epithelial astigmatism is associated with worst postoperative BCVA and thicker central epithelium after surgery.