[Biomechanical study of corneal stability after radial keratotomy].
BACKGROUND
Radial Keratotomy is one of the most frequent refractive surgical procedures performed worldwide. It results in considerable alterations of the corneal structure. What does this mean for the mechanical properties of the cornea?


METHODS
Intraocular pressure was increased via a 180 degrees tilt. Before and during this procedure, corneal topography was measured by photokeratoscopy. We examined 36 patients after RK and 25 controls who had not undergone any surgical procedure.


RESULTS
The corneal center flattened by 0.523 +/- 0.054 dpt (p < 0.01) in the RK patients and by 0.187 +/- 0.045 dpt (p < 0.05) in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Even several years after radial keratotomy, corneal stability is still decreased.
Kohlhaas
M
M
Universitäts-Augenklinik Hamburg Eppendorf.
Böhm
A
A
Lerche
R C
RC
Hjortdal
J O
JO
Ehlers
N
N
Draeger
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
Biomechanische Untersuchung der Hornhautstabilität nach radiärer Keratotomie.