ABSTRACT
Purpose To assess the success rate of radial keratotomy [RK] among Saudi myopes. Methods Three hundred operations were performed of which 113 had a minimum follow-up period of six months and were considered in this study. Preoperative complete ophthalmic evaluation was performed with special emphasis on uncorrected visual acuity [UCVA], best corrected visual acuity [BCVA], confirmation of a stable refraction, keratometry and pachymetry. The nature of the operation was explained to each patient. Results There were no sight threatening complications of surgery and no patient lost any line of best corrected vision. 84.7% of patients achieved 20/40 UCVA or better and 43.36% reached 20/20 or better. Postoperative refraction showed 72.5% of the patients to be within 1/2 a diopters of emmetropia and 84.07% within 2 diopter. Corneal epithelial loss occurred in 24.79% of the patients owing to drying of the eyes as a result of prior trachoma. Conclusion A refractive surgeon who follows the general principles of RK surgery can obtain excellent results with RK even in myopic paitents with corneal epithelial loss