Comparative characterization of the results of new and standard methods of keratotomy

The authors compare the efficacies of the traditional "Russian" radial keratotomy and the new method of making radial keratotomic incisions with evenly deep profiles. Keratotomy was carried out in 60 patients (120 eyes) with similar binocular myopia. On one eye the traditional "Russian" method was used, on the other the new method. The new method enables the physician to make a radial incision with one movement of a knife with programmed increase of the depth from the center to periphery. The number of incisions was the same on both eyes. In remote periods after surgery (4.5 years, on average) corneal refraction on the eyes operated on using the traditional "Russian" method reduced from 43.2 to 39.5 D and eye refraction from -4.36 to -0.4 D. Corneal refraction on the eyes operated on using the new method reduced from 43.2 to 39.3 and eye refraction from -4.36 to -0.32 D. The new method of keratotomy is not inferior to the traditional method but is more rapid and convenient.