Background: Femtosecond laser astigmatic keratotomy (FSAK) and toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation have been studied individually for comparison to treat astigmatism at cataract surgery. We report a case of surgically induced high corneal astigmatism by laser thermal keratoplasty (LTK) in a patient with cataract who was successfully treated with simultaneous combination of FSAK and toric IOL implantation with femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS). This is the first report of both procedures combined simultaneously, with or without history of LTK.
Case Description: A 68-year-old male presented with a history of LTK with two enhancements each eye in 2004, with subsequent surgically induced high corneal astigmatism, and with age-related nuclear cataract of both eyes. IOL master demonstrated +7.71 diopters of astigmatism at 163 degree right eye and +3.29 diopters of astigmatism at 4 degree left eye. After extensive discussion of the risks and benefits, the patient agreed to undergo FLACS with FSAK with two 61 degrees of relaxation incisions (RIs) and toric IOL (Alcon SN6AT9) right eye; FLACS with toric IOL (Alcon SN6AT7) alone left eye. At 2-year follow-up, uncorrected visual acuity was 20/30 right eye, 20/25 left eye. His best corrected visual acuity was 20/25 (+0.25 +1.00 axis 21) right eye and 20/20 (plano +0.25 axis 90) left eye; his best corrected near visual acuity was J1+ with add +2.50 diopters right eye and left eye.
Conclusions: Patients with age-related cataract and LTK induced high corneal astigmatism can hardly be sufficiently treated with FSAK or toric IOL alone at the time of cataract surgery. An effective way is to combine large FSAK and toric IOL of the highest cylindrical power of T9, in our case, simultaneously, which can achieve an excellent long term visual outcome.
Abstract: This article reviews the history of the femtosecond laser in ophthalmology and its subsequent introduction into the field of cataract surgery. It discusses the innovations that this technology has brought to the field. The article also describes the current system of teaching cataract surgery to ophthalmology residents in the United States and then examines how femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) can be a beneficial part of residency education.
