title: Radial keratotomy: in-to-out and out-to-in. Preliminary results in the Singapore General Hospital.
abstract: This is a preliminary report of 81 eyes which had Radial Keratotomy from March 1987 to November 1988. Fifty-nine eyes had In-To-Out surgery and the subsequent 22 had Out-To-In surgery. Follow-up was from 1 month to 20 months. At 3 months, the overall unaided visual acuity of 6/12 (20/40) or better for the In-To-Out group was 58.9% (33 of 56 eyes) and that for the Out-To-In group was 86.7% (19 of 22 eyes). Four eyes had microperforations, all from Out-To-In surgery. Steroid induced glaucoma was noted in 31 eyes. One eye developed ulcerative keratitis originating in an incision. The Out-To-In technique was superior to the In-To-Out technique in terms of consistency of depth as well as reduction of myopia. The underlying reasons are discussed. Reversion to myopia was a problem. A smaller Chinese corneal diameter and stiffer corneas may be of significance here. The surgery has proved effective and relatively safe thus far. Predictability remains a significant problem. Further evaluation and long term follow up is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Singapore General Hospital.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity