Purpose: To evaluate the results of combining laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and radial keratotomy (RK) for the correction of moderate to high myopia.
Setting: Corneal Consultants of Colorado, Littleton, Colorado, and International Eye Care Laser Vision Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Methods: In a retrospective 2-surgeon interventional case series, outcomes in 60 eyes of 41 patients with moderate to high myopia were reported. All eyes had LASIK using a Visx Star S2 or Summit Apex Plus((R)) excimer laser. Residual myopia was treated with RK.
Results: Of the 54 eyes corrected for distance, the mean refractive spherical equivalent was -8.09 diopters (D) preoperatively and -0.43 D after LASIK and RK. The mean follow-up was 15.4 months. At the last visit, the uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20 in 22 eyes (41%), 20/25 in 36 eyes (67%), and 20/40 in 51 eyes (94%). No eye lost 2 or more lines of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity.
Conclusions: Many patients previously considered poor refractive surgery candidates because of their degree of myopia or corneal thickness could be offered this safe and effective combined refractive technique.