title: Effect of increased atmospheric pressure on radial keratotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of increased atmospheric pressure on visual acuity in patients who have had radial keratotomy (RK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Long Beach, California, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  This controlled clinical study comprised 4 eyes that had RK and 4 control eyes that were age and sex matched. All patients had prehyperbaric chamber examinations consisting of manifest and cycloplegic refractions, intraocular pressure (IOP), keratometry, and corneal pachymetry. They were then placed into the hyperbaric chamber for 1 hour. Immediately after the patients were removed from the chamber, the examinations were performed again.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant changes in visual acuity, refractive error, IOP, keratometry, or pachymetry occurred in the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that, unlike at high altitudes, RK is stable at increased atmospheric pressure. This suggests that RK patients can engage in recreational scuba diving without encountering deleterious visual changes.
authors.affiliation: Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, California, USA.
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Borer
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Strauss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology