A consecutive series (1982-1985) of radial keratotomies performed with the diamond blade

The refractive and visual results of a consecutive series of diamond knife radial keratotomy procedures were evaluated at one year after surgery as part of an ongoing prospective study of radial keratotomy. Of the 972 procedures performed, 656 eyes (67.5%) were examined one year or more after surgery. The average amount of preoperative myopia was 4.4 diopters with a range of 0.6 to 11.9 diopters; 638 (97%) of the eyes had a preoperative uncorrected visual acuity of 20/100 or worse. The mean change in spherical equivalent after one year was 4.5 diopters. One year after surgery, 496 (76%) of the eyes were within 1 diopter of emmetropia; 310 (47%) had uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better, 579 (88%) were 20/40 or better, and all but one eye had uncorrected visual acuity improved by at least two Snellen lines. Evaluation of refractive and visual results at the final available examination of those eyes not examined one year after surgery showed that 256 (81%) of the eyes were within 1 diopter of emmetropia; 176 (56%) had uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better, and 287 (91%) were 20/40 or better.