Effect of peripheral deepening of radial keratotomy incisions

Single and double deepening of the peripheral part of radial keratotomy incisions are used to increase the refractive effect.

Single peripheral deepening was performed in 52 eyes of 36 patients and double peripheral deepening in 19 eyes of 14 patients who received radial keratotomy.

In the single peripheral deepening group, the mean change in refractive power was 4.01 diopters (D); 53.8% of eyes were within +/- 1.00 D of emmetropia; residual myopia was greater than -1.00 D in 46.2% of eyes; 65.4% of eyes achieved an uncorrected visual acuity greater than or equal to 20/40. In the double peripheral deepening group, the mean change in refractive power was 5.07 D; 52.6% of eyes wee within +/- 1.00 D of emmetropia; residual myopia was greater than -1.00 D in 47.4% of eyes; 89.4% of eyes achieved an uncorrected visual acuity greater than 20/40. The difference in mean dioptric change between the standard radial keratotomy groups and the single and double peripheral deepening groups was 0.53 D and 0.47 D, respectively.

Considering the limited additional dioptric change compared with the standard radial keratotomy surgical technique and the increased rate of complications, we think that peripheral deepening in radial keratotomy should be avoided.