Excimer laser Radial Keratotomy for Correction of Myopia and Astigmatism: Preliminary Report

ABSTRACT

Ultraviolet light(193nm) produced by an Excimer laser has a photochemical effect upon organic structures, which breaks molecular bonds without producing thermal damage. We performed argon fluoride Excimer laser radial keratotomy and treated 32 eyes of myopia and myopic-astigmatism from Febraury to september, 1989. All eyes were followed up over 3 months, and the results were as follows 1. Mean reduction by skiascopy was 2.47 diopters, that is, 1.9 diopters of moderate myopia, 2.75 diopters of high myopia. By keratometry, mean reduction was 1.45 diopters, that is, 1.68 diopters of moderate myopia, 1.33 diopters in high myopia. In correction for best visual acuity, spectacle diopters were decreased average 2.40 diopters, that is, 2.35 diopters of moderate myopia, 2.45 diopters of high myopia. The astigmatic reduction in 2 cases were 2.0 diopters and 3.0 diopters respectively after Ruiz operation. 2. Uncorrected visual acuity after surgery was 20/50 or better in 41% of entire eye group, that is, 67% of moderate myopia, 25% of high myopia.