VIDEOKERATOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF PERIPHERAL REDEEPENING IN THE CADAVER EYE

Radial incisions must be deep enough to correct myopia. As currently p erformed, most surgeons set their diamond blades at a constant depth a nd do not alter the blade length throughout the procedure. The cornea is not uniformly thick; the central cornea is the thinnest and it thic kens toward the periphery. Therefore, an incision of constant depth wo uld be deeper centrally and thinner peripherally. Peripheral redeepeni ng of the cornea would in theory make the incision depth deeper throug hout and should increase the effect of radial incisions. We reviewed t he literature on this technique and performed radial incisional studie s on the human cadavar eye using videokeratography to measure incision depth indirectly. Based on our studies, we believe that peripheral re deepening has no effect on central cornea flattening.