[Spatial contrast sensitivity in patients with high myopia after refraction lamellar keratoplasty]

Spatial contrast sensitivity (SCS) is one of the most important visual functions. SCS was examined in 23 patients (38 eyes) with high myopia before and after refraction lamellar keratoplasty (RLK) and in 21 healthy controls. Before surgery an appreciable (p < 0.01) reduction of SCS was observed in patients with high myopia in the entire range of spatial frequencies in comparison with the controls. After the operation the maximally corrected vision acuity was virtually unchanged, whereas the parameters of SCS somewhat increased for all frequencies, the increase being statistically reliable at frequencies of 0.23 to 3.75 and 15 cycles/degree. Hence, the studies demonstrated that changes in the topography of the cornea after refraction lamellar keratoplasty do not deteriorate the visual function.