Contact lenses in the treatment of patients with overcorrected radial keratotomy

Abstract

Thirty-two eyes of 28 patients who underwent radial keratotomy had a hyperopic overcorrection after the surgical procedure. Anisometropia, with associated aniseikonia and depth perception problems were present in many of these patients. The patients were subsequently fit with contact lenses. Conventional methods of fitting contact lenses in these patients were unsuccessful. A trial lens technique is used with the initial lens having a base curve equal to the preoperative keratometry measurements and the power equal to the preoperative spherical equivalent. Superficial neovascularization developed within the radial incisions in 33% of the eyes fitted with soft contact lenses. Gas permeable contact lenses offered patients the best-corrected visual acuity as well as minimal complications. In addition, the anisometropia was minimized, and fluctuating vision was eliminated in cases in which it was a problem.