conductive keratoplasty to correct residual hyperopia and astigmatism after cataract surgery

purpose : to present conductive keratoplasty (ck) as a new procedure to correct residual hyperopia and astigmatism after phacoemulsification surgery and to evaluate its predictability, safety and stability methods : fifteen eyes of 13 patients with preoperative hyperopia +0.75 to +3.00 d and or astigmatism -0.75 to -3.00 d were enrolled into the study and underwent ck treatment. at the 1st and 3rd month follow-ups, near and far uncorrected visual acuity (ucva) and best corrected visual acuity ( bcva), refraction, and in 6th month contrast sensitivity was also considered. results : in six months follow-up uncorrected visual acuity far (ucvaf) 20/40 or better increased from 10 eyes preoperatively to 12 eyes postoperatively. uncorrected visual acuity near (ucvan) 20/40 or better increased significantly from no case to 8 eyes postoperatively. mean manifest sphere (ms) preoperatively was 1.5 d (±0.75) which decreased to 0.05 d (±0.7) postoperatively. mean manifest cylinder (mc) preoperatively was -1d (±0.8) which was decreased slightly to -0.8 d (±0.5). manifest refractive spherical equivalent (mrse) preoperatively was 1 d (±1) which decreased to -0.3 d (±0.83) postoperatively. there was one eye with loss of more than 2 lines of best corrected visual acuity far (bcvaf) and we had no case of 2 lines loss of best corrected visual acuity near (bcvan) during six months follow-up. no significant change occurred during 3rd to 6th months follow-up. conclusion : ck appears to be safe, effective and stable for correcting low to moderate hyperopic after cataract surgery, but more predictable nomogram is needed to correct postoperative astigmatism.   iranian journal of ophthalmology 200820(4):3-9