Long-term results of femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) in mixed astigmatism

PurposeTo investigate the long-term efficacy, safety, and predictability of femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) for the treatment of mixed astigmatism.MethodsThis retrospective study included 72 eyes of 43 patients who underwent FS-LASIK for mixed astigmatism and completed at least 3 years of follow-up. Uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (UDVA, CDVA), manifest refraction, corneal topography, and higher-order aberrations (HOAs) were evaluated preoperatively and at the 1st, 3rd, and 5th years postoperatively.ResultsThe study included 16 females and 27 males with a mean age of 29.44 ± 5.82 years and a mean follow-up of 4.41 ± 0.91 years. The mean preoperative UDVA and CDVA were 0.67 ± 0.34 and 0.07 ± 0.09 logMAR, respectively, and both improved significantly at all postoperative visits (each p < 0.001). The mean preoperative manifest spherical (1.66 ± 1.32 D) and cylindrical (-3.77 ± 1.05 D) values showed significant reductions at all postoperative follow-ups (each p < 0.001). At final follow-up, all HOAs decreased at a 4 mm, while at 6 mm, spherical aberration decreased and total HOAs increased (each p < 0.001).ConclusionLong-term outcomes indicate that FS-LASIK is an effective, safe, and predictable procedure for the correction of mixed astigmatism.