title: Unilateral refractive keratotomy for anisometropia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In anisometropia, the asymmetry of refractive error produces disparity of image magnification (aniseikonia) that can create visual discomfort, especially when asymmetry is 3.00 diopters or more.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 20 eyes of 20 patients between 18 and 61 years of age who underwent unilateral radial and/or transverse keratotomy was conducted; results of at least 12 months follow-up are presented. The efficacy of keratotomy was evaluated by the following criteria: 1) change in spherical and cylindrical refraction, 2) decrease in refraction difference between two eyes of each patient, 3) change in spectacle-corrected visual acuity, and 4) change in binocular vision functions and asthenopic complaints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean decrease in spherical refractive error was 3.66 +/- 1.58 D (range, 1.25 to 7.50 D) and 2.08 +/- 0.81 D (range, 1.00 to 3.50 D) in astigmatic refraction. The mean refraction difference between two eyes was 4.90 +/- 2.20 D preoperatively, and this difference regressed to 1.79 +/- 1.42 D postoperatively. Spectacle-corrected visual acuity increased in seven eyes (35%), remained the same in 12 eyes (60%) and decreased in one eye (5%). All patients reported relief of asthenopic complaints. Fusion amplitudes increased in 12 (60%) patients. Stereoscopic vision improved in five (25%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monocular refractive keratotomy can significantly decrease anisometropia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maden
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Erkin
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Oner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015858:Anisometropia / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000150:complications; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015348:Vision, Binocular; D014792:Visual Acuity