Autorefractometry after laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose: To correlate cycloplegic subjective refraction with cycloplegic autorefractometry in eyes that have had laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Setting: Vlemma Eye Institute, Athens, Greece.

Methods: Subjective refraction and autorefractometry under cycloplegia were performed in 73 eyes of 46 patients 1, 6, and 12 months after LASIK to correct myopia or myopic astigmatism. The preoperative subjective refraction and autorefractometry under cycloplegia in the same eyes served as controls.

Results: A statistically significant difference between subjective refraction and autorefraction was found in the sphere and cylinder at all postoperative times. No statistically significant difference was found in the axis. There was no statistically significant difference in the control eyes.

Conclusions: Automated refractometry in eyes that had had LASIK was reliable in the axis only. Retreatments after LASIK should always be based on subjective refraction.