Detection and classification of mild irregular astigmatism in patients with good visual acuity.

Videokeratography has been available for a decade, and this test is essential for determining the presence and type of irregular corneal astigmatism. Three eyes diagnosed with myopic astigmatism and considered good candidates for refractive surgery with conventional examination were studied. Color-coded maps with videokeratography showed regular astigmatism in one eye and the existence of irregular astigmatism in two eyes. Videokeratography showed that one of these eyes had a keratoconus suspect pattern and the second showed a pattern consistent with pellucid marginal degeneration. Videokeratography can detect and classify irregular astigmatism in cases where routine examination shows no abnormal findings.