title: Radial keratotomy in a patient with keratoconus.
abstract: A 33-year-old patient had radial keratotomy performed on both eyes for relief of longstanding myopia. Minimal reduction of myopia was obtained, and the patient underwent a second radial keratotomy in both eyes. Best corrected visual acuity decreased, and the patient had a marked, irregular astigmatism postoperatively. Careful ophthalmologic evaluation revealed that the patient had keratoconus bilaterally. Following a failed trial of contact lens wear, the patient underwent a penetrating keratoplasty of the right eye. Pathologic evaluation revealed findings of keratoconus, as well as radial keratotomy scars. This case report illustrates the importance of a complete ophthalmologic examination possibly including videokeratography, prior to keratorefractive surgery.
authors.affiliation: Intermountain Ocular Research Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mamalis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000601:surgery*; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D014792:Visual Acuity