After a corneal transplant, is it possible to have laser surgery to correct astigmatism?
JUN 05, 2015
Question:
After a corneal transplant (DSAEK procedure), is it possible to have laser surgery to correct astigmatism?
Answer:
Laser vision correction can be performed after any type of corneal transplant procedure, whether a penetrating keratoplasty (or PK, when the entire cornea is replaced) or endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK or DMEK, when only certain layers of the cornea are replaced). The surgery to correct astigmatism would be a surface ablation technique, such as photo refractive keratectomy (PRK) or advanced surface ablation (ASA) rather than LASIK. These procedures avoid cutting into the cornea and make it safe to perform vision correction after a transplant. Results are not quite as predictable as results in a cornea without prior surgery, but very good visual outcomes may still be achieved. Laser vision correction surgery should only be performed once the prescription is stable (which may take several months to a year after the corneal transplant).