[Radial keratotomy: history and current state]

Results of clinical use of the radial keratotomy (RK) surgery are presented in the format of a lecture and a summary. The analysis encompasses the mechanism of changes in corneal refraction, immediate intra- and postoperative complications, so-called secondary symptoms and long-term effects (addition of various pathological processes, influence of corneal changes on the results of diagnostic tests and treatment methods) of the surgery.