Radial keratotomy for residual myopia after photorefractive keratectomy

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and complications of radial keratotomy (RK) after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia. Setting: Laser Ultravision Institute, Montreal, Canada. Methods: Surgically induced refractive and visual acuity changes were retrospectively evaluated in 14 eyes of 10 patients treated with RK after PRK. All patients had simple myopia or compound myopic astigmatism. Minimum follow-up was 6 months. Results: Three eyes (21%) had one PRK, 7 (50%) had two treatments, and 4 (29%) had three. Eleven eyes (79%) required four-incision RK and 3 (21%), eight-incision RK. All patients had improved uncorrected visual acuity. Six months after the RK retreatment, there was a significant reduction in spherical equivalent of 2.93 diopters +/- 1.53 (SD) (P < .05). No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred except overcorrection. Conclusion: Radial keratotomy is an effective, safe method for treating undercorrected myopia after PRK. Further study and analysis of this series of patients are planned.