Abstract

Last year our group reported preliminary results using the Howland and Howland subjective aberroscope that indicated the higher order monochromatic wave aberrations of radial keratotomy (RK) eyes were increased compared to similar nonsurgical eyes or the same eye prior to surgery.¹ Additional data collection has revealed that the peripheral corneal surface is often irregular enough (27 eyes out of 34 eyes, 19 subjects) to prevent aberroscopic measurements adequate for analysis (see Figure 1).² Along the same line, photokeratometric data on RK eyes document that, while the central corneal area radius increases (the cornea flattens and its power decreases) as desired, the peripheral cornea (surgical area) remains the same or steepens³. Both of these effects are consistent with the report that disability glare effects increase faster in the RK eye than in the normal eye with normal or drug induced pupil dilation.⁴ These three findings suggest that the difference between central and peripheral comeal optics following RK surgery is marked and may cause other significant visual function losses including a loss in acuity.

© 1990 Optical Society of America