Photorefractive keratectomy after radial keratotomy.
BACKGROUND
Twenty-three eyes of 22 patients remained undercorrected 5 to 49 months after radial keratotomy, either alone or in combination with transverse keratotomy.


METHODS
We attempted to correct the residual myopia ranging from -1.25 to -5.75 diopters (D) (with astigmatism of 0 to 1.25 D) with photorefractive keratectomy. The mean age of patients was 26 years (range 22 to 40 years).


RESULTS
After photorefractive keratectomy (follow-up 6 to 17 months) uncorrected visual acuity was equal to or better than 20/20 in 39% (9 eyes), better than 20/25 in 65% (15 eyes), and better than 20/40 in 74% (17 eyes). Spectacle-corrected visual acuity was equal or better than 20/40 in all eyes; one eye (4%) lost two lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity. Refractive error was within +/- 0.50 D in 48% (11 eyes) and within +/- 1.00 D in 65% (15 eyes). Undercorrections of more than 1.00 D occurred in 22% (5 eyes) and overcorrections of more than 1.00 D occurred in 13% (3 eyes). No or minimal haze was present in 57% (13 eyes), mild haze in 39% (9 eyes) and moderate haze in 4% (1 eye). Final uncorrected visual acuity was better (p = 0.0002) and haze was less (p = 0.003) in the group with less than -3.00 D than in the group with greater than or equal to -3.00 D.


CONCLUSIONS
Photorefractive keratectomy after radial keratotomy is safe but less effective and less predictable in eyes with greater than or equal to -3.00 D compared to those with less than -3.00 D.
al-Rajhi
A A
AA
King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Risco
J M
JM
Badr
I A
IA
Teichmann
K D
KD
D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial / Q000379:methods*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D009216:Myopia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity