Is Radial Keratotomy (RK) Still Performed?

Radial keratotomy (RK) is an older surgery that was used to correct nearsightedness before LASIK and PRK were available. Radial keratotomy involved multiple large incisions into the cornea to change the curve of the cornea.

Today, RK is not often performed but many patients who have previously had RK require additional eye care and vision help from glasses or contact lenses.

Causes of Nearsightedness

When an eye is nearsighted, the eye is either too long or the focusing power of the eye is too strong.

In either case, the eye focuses things at a distance in front of the retina and it creates blurry vision.

Depending on the amount of nearsightedness, things may be clear within a few feet but will still be blurry in the distance.

A major cause of the eye having too much focusing power is that the cornea is too strong.

The cornea bends light into the eye and contributes to focusing the light.

If the cornea is too strong, the light will focus before the retina and blurred vision will result.

Why was Radial Keratotomy Used?

Radial keratotomy was used as a way to reduce the amount of nearsightedness in an eye.

Typically, glasses or contact lenses were the only options to improve vision in a person with nearsightedness, but RK offered a surgical option that reduced the reliance on glasses or contacts.

For individuals who wanted clear vision without using glasses or contacts, RK provided a great option.

How is RK Performed?

RK is a surgery that uses several incisions into the cornea to alter the focusing power of the cornea.

In RK, the incisions are made from the outer edge of the cornea and radiate inward but do not reach the center of the vision.

The more incisions that are used in RK, the stronger the effect on the focusing power.

Most cases of RK require 6 to 10 incisions per eye to achieve the desired effect.

Complications of RK

While RK was a very successful and widely performed surgery, it was not without issues.

A common issue that arose following the surgery was an increase in halos or glare with lights.

Since the incisions are near the pupil, in dark lighting the incisions can create light scatter or glare at night.

Another long-term complication of RK surgery is changing vision over time.

As RK changes the focusing power of the eye to correct for nearsightedness, it can continue to change the eye’s power and result in an over-correction.

If this happens, the eye may become farsighted and need glasses for clear vision years after the surgery was performed.

RK can also cause distortion or changes in the shape of the cornea. These changes are predominantly found in individuals who had the surgery years prior.

Is RK Still Performed?

RK has given way to less invasive surgeries that utilize laser technologies to achieve more precise results with fewer adverse outcomes.

LASIK and PRK have become the new standards for refractive surgery in place of radial keratotomy.

Dr. Nathan Abraham and the staff of the Abraham Eye Center specialize in cataract surgery, LASIK, PRK, and various corneal surgeries.  Call our ophthalmologist in Valencia, CA today at 661-977-7377 or schedule an appointment online if you are interested in Radial Keratotomy.  Our eye doctor provides only the highest quality eye care and surgical services amongst eye doctors in the Valencia California area.