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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents
Published on: February 15, 2022
Undetected development of glaucoma after radial keratotomy
Alexander Friedrich Scheuerle1, Michael Martin, Hans Eberhard Voelcker
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Alexander_Scheuerle@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Purpose:
To report a case of advanced glaucomatous optic atrophy years after bilateral radial keratotomy.
Methods:
Multiple intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements of both eyes in a 40-year-old woman who underwent previous bilateral radial keratotomy were obtained using Goldmann applanation tonometry as well as air-puff and Schiotz tonometry. In addition to regular eye examinations, corneal thickness, surface, and shape were examined using Orbscan and C-Scan.
Results:
The cornea of both eyes did not show signs of corneal thinning, but flattening of the corneal surface was observed. The decreased corneal curvatures precipitated a misjudgment of IOP readings measured by central applanantion tonometry (12 to 18 mmHg), whereas impression and non-contact tonometry revealed elevated IOP values (21 to 27 mmHg).
Conclusions:
Changes of the corneal shape without corneal thinning can lead to falsely low IOP values. Therefore, in eyes that have undergone corneal refractive surgery, non-Goldmann measurement of IOP and continued examination of the optic nerve and possibly visual fields are recommended.
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