Four-incision radial keratotomy for low to moderate myopia

The first 112 consecutive eyes (75 patients) to undergo four-incision radial keratotomy (RK) performed by four surgeons were evaluated retrospectively. The preoperative myopia (spherical equivalent) ranged from -1.12 to -7.00 D (95% between -1.12 and -4.25 D). The preoperative uncorrected visual acuity was 20/100 or worse in 95% of the eyes. A six-month follow-up was achieved in 95% of the eyes and 45% were followed over one year. Following four incision RK, 79% of the eyes achieved 20/40 or better vision and 82% were corrected to within 1 D of emmetropia. Following repeat RK in 15 eyes (13%), 82% had uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better, and 90% were corrected to within 1 D of emmetropia. Only 3.5% of the eyes were overcorrected by more than 1 D and only one eye had induced astigmatism greater than 1 D. For eyes with preoperative myopia up to -4.25 D over 90% achieved uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better and were within 1 D of emmetropia following primary four incision RK and a second four incisions in 13 eyes (12%). Only 3.5% of the eyes in this group were overcorrected by more than 1 D. There were no serious complications.