Corneal astigmatic outcomes after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery combined with surface penetrating arcuate keratotomies

AIM: To evaluate corneal astigmatic outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted arcuate keratotomies (FAKs) combined with femtosecond-laser assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) over 12mo follow-up. METHODS: Totally 145 patients bilateral cataracts and no ocular co-morbidities were recruited to a single-centre, single-masked, prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing two monofocal hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses. Eyes astigmatism (CA) >0.8 dioptres (D) received unpaired, unopened, surface penetrating FAKs at the time FLACS. Visual acuity, subjective refraction Scheimpflug tomography recorded 1, 6, 12mo. Alpins vectoral analyses performed. RESULTS: Fifty-one (61 eyes), mean age 68.2±9.6y [standard deviation (SD)], FAKs. Sixty eyes available for analysis, except when 59 attended. There complications due Mean pre-operative CA was 1.13±0.20 D. reduction all post-operative visits (residual 1mo: 0.85±0.42 D, P=0.0001; 6mo: 0.86±0.35 P=0001; 12mo: 0.90±0.39, P=0.0001). indices remained stable Overall, cohort under-corrected points. At 12mo, 61% within ±15 degrees meridian. CONCLUSION: Unpaired unopened on-axis phacoemulsification are safe but minimally effective. is largely in this using an existing unmodified nomogram. The effect on