I had RK on both my eyes about eight years ago. It was not a very good result with either eye. I have to wear extended-wear contacts to attain a decent level of vision. My question: Could I be a candidate for LASIK? I have myopia and astigmatism.

Bill

Radial keratotomy (RK) is a surgical procedure that was used in the 1980s and early 1990s to correct myopia (nearsightedness). Myopia is a condition in which the cornea of the eye is too steep, causing images to be focused in front of the eye's light-sensitive retina rather than on the retina itself. Glasses or contact lenses correct myopia by altering the way images reach the retina so that the image is pushed back.

In RK, surgeons made four, eight or 16 incisions around the edge of the cornea, which flattened the cornea. When the curve of the cornea was less steep, the image was pushed back onto the retina, theoretically eliminating the need for glasses. However, a major problem with RK was that it was not very precise, and many patients ended up with either overcorrected or undercorrected vision, which required them to wear glasses or contact lenses. So, like you, many patients in this situation are now considering a newer procedure called LASIK.

In LASIK, doctors cut a small flap in the cornea. The flap is lifted, and a laser is used to reshape the inside portion of the cornea. Then, the flap is put back in place, and the eye is allowed to heal. LASIK has been performed on numerous RK patients, and the results generally have been very favorable.

However, not everyone who has had RK can be successfully treated with LASIK. During the LASIK evaluation, a person who previously had RK will need to have his pupil size evaluated. Testing for dry eyes and irregular astigmatism are also important components of a pre-LASIK eye exam. If an RK patient has irregular astigmatism, LASIK generally will not be helpful in improving the vision. So, it is very important that you undergo a complete eye exam by a LASIK surgeon if you are considering the procedure.