title: Visual acuity, refractive and keratometric results of 140 consecutive radial keratotomy procedures.
abstract: We reviewed the results of the first 140 consecutive radial keratotomy procedures (83 patients) performed by one surgeon from March 1986 to April 1992. The mean follow-up time per eye was 9.9 (standard deviation [SD] 9.1) months. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction of -3.74 (SD 1.70) dioptres decreased by a mean of 2.75 D (SD 1.11 D) to a postoperative mean refraction of -0.99 D (SD 1.50 D). The postoperative uncorrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 120 eyes (86%). All eyes had a postoperative best corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Correction to within +/- 1 D of emmetropia occurred in 98 eyes (70%), and no overcorrection of more than 1 D occurred. The mean amount of corneal flattening, as determined with keratometry, was 2.68 D (SD 1.23 D). Of the 42 eyes with high myopia (-4.50 to -9.12 D) preoperatively 57% had uncorrected vision of 20/40 or better postoperatively, and 31% had correction to within +/- 1 D of emmetropia. The corresponding figures for the 39 eyes with moderate myopia (-3.25 to -4.37 D) were 100% and 82%, and for the 59 eyes with low myopia (-1.00 to -3.12 D) 98% and 90%. There were no vision-threatening complications. The only significant loss of best corrected visual acuity occurred in one eye (1%) that lost two Snellen lines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto Hospital, Ont.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Symons
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Slomovic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*