A retrospective study of laser in situ keratomileusis after radial keratotomy.
OBJECTIVE
This is a retrospective study designed to present results of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) after radial keratotomy (RK).


METHODS
Eighty eyes of 56 patients underwent LASIK for residual myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia after RK. Absolute mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was 2.36 +/- 1.17 D. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was 20/20 in 56% of eyes, 20/25 in 25%, 20/30 in 13%, 20/40 in 5%, and 20/60 in 1%. Uncorrected visual acuity was better than 20/40 in four eyes. Follow-up ranged from a minimum of 1 day after surgery to a maximum of 2 years, with an average of 6 months.


RESULTS
Mean final absolute spherical equivalent refraction was 0.62 +/- 0.611 D. Six eyes experienced a loss of BSCVA of one line, one eye lost two lines, and one lost more than two lines. Three eyes had one line of improvement and one eye had two lines of improvement. Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20 in 21 eyes, 20/25 in 20 eyes, and 20/30 in 19 eyes. There was stromal opacity in two eyes, epithelial defects in two eyes, and epithelial ingrowth in four eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
LASIK may be an effective treatment for myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia in patients with residual refractive error after RK. Extreme caution should be exercised due to the complexity of this group of patients.
Clausse
M A
MA
Laser Eye Center, San Diego, CA, USA.
Boutros
G
G
Khanjian
G
G
Wagner
C
C
Garabet
A L
AL
D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009216:Myopia / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity