4 - Radial keratotomy

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the historical insights of the radial keratotomy surgery and the current surgical results and recommendations. Cowden & Bores (1981) reported 20 patients who underwent radial keratotomy between January and April of 1980. In 6 months, they noted an average decrease in myopia of 3.10 diopters, with a range of 0.37–5.37 diopters refractive change. Maximum surgery with peripheral corneal re-deepening was attempted in patients with high degrees of myopia of −4.00 to −8.37 diopters. The degree of corneal flattening was best correlated to the size of the optical zone, with smaller optical zones producing larger refractive changes. The complications of radial keratotomy range from benign to disastrous, and patients should be aware of these complications before undergoing this experimental procedure. The main complications that have been observed are regression of myopic flattening, epithelial defects, recurrent erosions, stromal overgrowth, Cogan's map-dot-fingerprint corneal dystrophy, Moncreiff iron lines, blood in the incisions, vascular ingrowth with contact lens use, perforation of the anterior chamber, induction of astigmatic errors, incisional epithelial ingrowth, glare, decreased night vision, initial pain, persistently fluctuating vision, and overcorrection.