Long-Term Corneal Refractive Power Changes Two Decades After Radial Keratotomy With Microperforations.

Abstract

We retrospectively examined corneal refractive power in three patients who had been followed up for more than 20 years after radial keratotomy (RK) with microperforations (MPs). All patients underwent RK in both eyes and were referred to our clinic because of postoperative decreased vision. MP was observed in five of the six eyes at the initial visit. The corneal refractive power of the anterior and posterior surfaces of the 6-mm-diameter cornea was examined using Fourier analysis based on corneal shape analysis using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. The spherical components decreased in all three cases. The asymmetry and higher-order irregularity components and fluctuations in corneal refractive power were markedly greater in the two cases with MP in both eyes. Fluctuations in corneal refractive power were observed at more than 20 years after RK with MP. Therefore, careful observation is necessary, even after a long-term postoperative follow-up period.