PARK with vector planning for keratoconus

[Hari Navarro]

I just came across this article... very interesting in that laser surgery has always been declared a no-no for KC treatment. Yet here we see that this doctor has over ten years of data covering just such surgery. Just goes to show that nothing can be overlooked in our on going search for a cure.

:: PARK with vector planning for keratoconus patients maintains 10-year outcomes :: June 15, 2007.

note: PARK = Photo-Astigmatic Refractive KERATECTOMY.

All patients achieved UCVA of 20/40 or better and BCVA of 20/30 or better, according to study.

SAN DIEGO — Laser refractive surgery has long been a risky option for keratoconus patients, but a novel way of guiding ablation profiles has rendered the surgery safe and effective, according to one ophthalmologist.

OSN Refractive Surgery Board Member Noel A. Alpins, FRACO, FRCOphth, FACS, said photoastigmatic refractive keratectomy (PARK) with vector planning safely reduced myopia and astigmatism in eyes with forme fruste and mild keratoconus.

Dr. Alpins published 10-year results of the procedure in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery and presented the study at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.

Whereas most laser eye surgery is guided by refractive astigmatism, Dr. Alpins explained, vector planning uses the ocular residual astigmatism (ORA) — the vectorial difference between refractive and corneal astigmatism — to calculate ablation parameters.

link:
http://www.osnsupersite.com/view.asp?rid=22423