A Prospective Clinical Study of Radial Keratotomy in Koreans

Three hundred and forty-eight eyes (246 patients, both eye radial keratotomy in 102 patients) which could be followed-up for at least one year or more were included in this study. Postoperative uncorrected visual acuity which was 20/40 or more could be obtained in 79% of the lower myopic eyes (-1.75--2.75 D), in 73% of the moderate myopic eyes (-3.00--5.75 D) and in 34% of high myopic eyes (-6.00 D-). The postoperative refractive correction (spherical equivalent) ranged from piano to - 9.0 D with a mean decrease of -3.86 D with a mean reduction of keratometry in moderate myopia of 3.33 D with a range from 0.5 D to 6.75 D. But its mean reduction in high myopia did not parallel its myopic degree. Glare and fluctuation of vision were the most frequent complaints following surgery. Some patients had continuous constant vision improvement for a long period while some patients (or other eyes) had episodes of decreased vision because of the recurrence of myopia or hyperopia shift. The mean central corneal endothelial cell loss determined 6-12 months later was 5.31-5.61%. Microperforation in 11 eyes (3%) occurred during the early part of the study and improved naturally without any problem. An over-correction of more than +1.0 D (2%) and an under-correction of more than -1.0 D (1%) with having induced or residual astigmatism (17%) were observed. Radial keratotomy is successful in carefully selected patients with mild and moderate myopia, and also in anisometropic high myopia.