Radial keratotomy versus excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy in treatment of low and moderate myopia

ABSTRACT

Radial keratotomy [RK] was used for management of 14 eyes of seven patients with myopia ranging from -1.75 to -5.0 diopters. In all eyes 8 radial incisions were performed from IN to OUT, optical zone ranged from 3 to 4 mm, age of patients ranged from 19 to 27 years with mean of 22 years. On the other h and, 39 eyes of 20 patients with myopia from -1.5 to 5.5 diopters with astigmatism from -0.25 to -2.0 diopters were managed by excimer laser [keracor 116], photorefractive keratectomy [PRK] with multizone mode program. Age of these patients ranged from 19 to 45 years with mean of 25.5 yeaers. RK was successful in 71.4% while PRK was successful in 92.3% of cases [patients gained after surgery without glasses the same preoperative best corrected visual acuity]. No vision threatening complication occurred in failed cases. Follow up periods ranged from 3 to 9 months for RK cases and from 3 to 11 months for PRK cases