Photorefractive Keratectomy as a Second Attempt to Correct Myopia After Radial Keratotomy

BACKGROUND: Undercorrection after radial keratotomy is not uncommon. To correct the residual refractive error, several techniques are available including photorefractive keratectomy. METHODS: We report five eyes of four patients, which remained undercorrected following radial keratotomy and underwent photorefractive keratectomy with an excimer laser (193 nm) to correct the residual myopia, with a follow up of 6 months to 1 year. RESULTS: The corneal-healing response was similar to that of corneas treated by photorefractive keratectomy alone. No permanent corneal scarring occurred. The average preoperative refraction before photorefractive keratectomy was -2.25 +/- 0.55 diopters; it was close to plano (+0.12 +/- 0.26 D) after 6 months. One eye regressed 0.50 D between 6 months and 1 year. Best-spectacle corrected visual acuity did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy seems to be effective as a second procedure in eyes undercorrected following radial keratotomy.