Experimental radial keratectomy in rabbits for the correction of aphakia

The effect on central corneal curvature of radial keratectomy was examined. Ten rabbits had six equally spaced radial wedges removed from the cornea of one eye. Preoperative and serial postoperative keratometry readings were performed to follow the change in refractive power. The follow-up period was 3 months. Radial keratectomy produced an initial steepening of the central cornea, but this effect had disappeared by the end of the follow-up period. It is suggested that this could well have been because the 10/0 prolene sutures pulled through the rabbit cornea, which does not possess a Bowman's membrane.