Objective: To evaluate the alternatives of the excimer laser for the management of cases with keratoconus.
Materials and Methods: We studied 28 cases with mild keratoconus, or suspected keratoconus, whose characteristics were within the mentioned inclusion criteria. In the analyzed population, 16 years after the procedure, the inferior-superior asymmetry was 1.71, with an average age of 42.5 +/- 3.1 years. The preparatory spherical equivalent was -4.77 +/- 1.43 diopters, with a spherical component of -4.18 diopters and a cylindrical component of -1.31 diopters. Postoperative results were -0.66 +/- 0.39 diopters, with spherical component of -0.44 diopters and cylindrical component of -0.5 diopters.
Results: Preoperative corrected visual acuity was 0.84 +/- 0.13 and postoperative acuity was 0.89 +/- 0.21. All cases in the mid postoperative period were within 1 diopter of correction, and 18 cases within 0.5 diopter of correction. It is important to highlight that regarding safety of the procedure, all cases maintained their best corrected visual acuity. Uncorrected visual acuity presented satisfactory results: 100% saw 20/40 or more and 57.1% saw 20/20 or more.
Conclusions: With careful inclusion criteria, the excimer laser is a valid treatment alternative in patients with keratoconus.