EFFECT OF INCISION DIRECTION ON REFRACTIVE OUTCOME AFTER RADIAL KERATOTOMY

Purpose: To determine whether the direction of radial keratotomy (RK) incisions (centripetal versus centrifugal) affects refractive outcome. Setting: Private ophthalmology office. Methods: The database of a sin gle surgeon was retrospectively reviewed. Stepwise regression was used to select significant predictors of refraction change in the populati on. In addition to incision direction, variables evaluated were optic zone diameter, number of incisions, patient age, corneal curvature, an d planned incision depth. Results: All variables except planned incisi on depth and corneal power affected refractive outcome. After controll ing for number of incisions, optic zone diameter, and patient age, cen tripetal incisions decreased myopia 0.87 diopters more than centrifuga l incisions. Conclusion: Our results, consistent with previous investi gations, found that number of incisions, optic zone diameter, and pati ent age were significant predictors of refractive outcome after RK. In cision direction was also a significant predictor by itself or coupled with optic zone diameter and number of incisions, with the centripeta l incision decreasing myopia more.