title: Early changes in refractive error following radial keratotomy.
abstract: One hundred twenty-six eyes that had undergone radial keratotomy were analyzed to assess the early changes in refractive error after surgery. Between two weeks and three months, 38% of eyes became more myopic by less than 1 diopter (D), 34% by 1.00 to 1.87 D, and 25% by 2.00 to 3.50 D. Four eyes (3%) had a decrease of 0.25 to 1.25 D. The average increase between two weeks and three months was 1.31 D (SD, 0.9 D). To decrease this change, 15 eyes were semi-pressure patched at night and treated with topical steroids for four weeks following surgery. The average change between two weeks and three months in these eyes was 0.3 D (SD, 1.0 D). This retrospective study suggests that semi-pressure patching after surgery may be useful for eyes that are undercorrected or overcorrected by less than 1 D.
authors.affiliation: Estelle Doheny Eye Foundation, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schanzlin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial / Q000379:methods; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012029:Refraction, Ocular