Radial Keratotomy (RK)

Radial Keratotomy is a surgical procedure used to correct myopia, or nearsightedness. It is a surgery designed and discovered by Dr. Fyodorov, a Russian doctor working in the 1970s. Radial Keratotomy operates by incising the cornea in order to flatten its roundness somewhat, causing a readjustment in vision that, for myopic sufferers, caused vision to improve dramatically.

Radial keratotomy surgery is used in conjunction with other surgeries in such common procedures as LASIK and LASEK. The procedure involves several finely placed incisions into the cornea. These incisions change the shape of the cornea because its structural integrity changes. RK surgery is usually performed in a surgical setting, but is generally non-invasive and easy to recover from.

Before the surgery a doctor will determine a number of things about the patient including corneal curvature, pressure, astigmatism, and thickness of the cornea's outer layer. This information is the key in determining the best course of surgical options for the patient. Once these preoperative determinations are made the surgeon will determine the number and depth of the incisions to be made with radial keratotomy

Once a determination has been made as to how many incisions are to be cut the procedure can take place. The cornea is cut around the edge or outer portion. The device used is very small and highly precise. Radial keratotomy surgery is so slight that no anesthesia is used, though commonly a topical anesthesia is applied.

Once the patient is relaxed a speculum is applied which keeps the eye open and can center the other device above the eye. The incisions are made after setting the knife's coordinates on the highly specialized machine. The depth of the incisions is monitored by the machine itself and does not exceed the preset limitations. The incisions create a more relaxed corneal surface and allows for the correction of myopia and some astigmatisms.

After surgery, the eyes are washed with a composition of sterilized salt water and antibiotic eye drops. Occasionally a patch is used in recovery, for up to a few days. Most patients leave the clinic and go home immediately following radial keratotomy surgery. The time of recovery varies but usually takes about a day. The patient is usually given a low-level painkiller to alleviate the slight pain they may feel.

While radial keratotomy corneal incision surgery is very safe, there have been repeated concerns about patients choosing this procedure over newer, safer ones such as LASIK. LASIK combines the best parts of RK surgery with its own non-invasive laser guided procedures. Radial keratotomy, however, has seen a great success rate and can dramatically reduce myopia.

Contact your experienced eye surgeon for a full checkup and see if they recommend radial keratotomy or another procedure. All doctors through this Web site will provide the most comprehensive examinations for potential RK surgery as well. Often RK surgery on its own is no longer performed. Many of its underlying principles, however, are retained and used in other procedures such as LASIK.

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