Purpose: To evaluate the changes in irregular astigmatism after hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
Methods: In a prospective case series, 15 eyes of 12 patients who had hyperopic LASIK were evaluated. Corneal topography was obtained before and after hyperopic LASIK. Corneal irregular astigmatism (asymmetry and higher-order irregularity) was calculated using Fourier harmonic analysis of the topography data.
Results: Hyperopic LASIK significantly increased the asymmetry component at 3 (P = 0.0085) and 6 months (P = 0.0307) postoperatively. The mean higher-order irregularity was not significantly changed at any postoperative time-point (P = 0.222). The achieved change in the spherical equivalent was significantly correlated with the post/preoperative ratio of asymmetry (R = 0.695, P = 0.0030).
Conclusion: Hyperopic LASIK significantly increases the asymmetry component of the cornea, which is correlated with the achieved change in the spherical equivalent.