Radial keratotomy for myopia from 5.00 to 13.00 diopters two years after surgery

BACKGROUND: Radial keratotomy for low myopia can produce good results with few side effects. For higher myopia, predictability becomes less accurate and side effects more common. METHODS: A retrospective study of 111 eyes of 76 patients were divided into two groups. Group I had 79 eyes with myopia of -5.00 to -8.00 diopters (D); group II had 32 eyes with myopia -8.25 D to -13.00 D. One hundred eleven eyes were followed for 1 year and 90 eyes were followed for 2 years. RESULTS: Sixty-seven (84.8%) eyes in group I and 12 (37.5%) eyes in group II achieved a refraction within the range of -1.00 D and +1.00 D. Ninety-two percent of group I and 44% of group II achieved an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Three percent lost spectacle-corrected visual acuity. Four eyes developed a hyperopic shift of 1.00 D or more between 2 months and 2 years. Seven other eyes developed a hyperopic shift of 1.00 D or more between 2 months and 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Eight-incision radial keratotomy is an attractive option for treatment of myopia up to -8.00 D. For levels above -8.00 D, the results are poorer; there may be a variable period before refraction stabilizes.