Prior Keratorefractive Surgery Radial Keratotomy IOL Power Calculations RK Prior Keratorefractive Surgery Radial Keratotomy IOL Power Calculations RK Eye Cataract Surgery Eyes
Prior Keratorefractive Surgery by Radial Keratotomy.
Unlike the ablative forms of keratorefractive surgery (LASIK and PRK) in which
only the anterior radius is changed, eyes that have previously undergone radial
keratotomy show a flattening of both the anterior and posterior radii in what
has been described as a linked manner. This approximate preservation of the ratio
between the anterior and posterior radii allows for a direct measurement of the
central corneal power, but only if carried out in a certain way.
For eyes with prior radial keratotomy, averaging the 0 mmm, 1 mm and
2 mm annular power rings of the Numerical View of the Zeiss Humphrey Atlas
topographer (right) will typically give a useful and mostly accurate estimate
of central corneal power. If the Zeiss Humphrey Atlas topographer is not
available, then the adjusted effective refractive power (EffRPadj) from
the Holladay Diagnostic Summary of the EyeSys Corneal Analysis System can
be used. The key concept here is that we are looking to discover the corneal
power at its center. Instruments such as manual keratometers, autokeratometers,
or simulated keratometry using a standard topographer will typically over-estimate
the central corneal power, resulting in a post-operative hyperopic surprise.
Of course, correctly estimating the central corneal power following RK is only half of the exercise. The calculated IOL power must also be adjusted to prevent the artifact of a very flat central corneal power from having the formula underestimate IOL power. CLICK HERE for a summary of why this is so and how this is carried out.
Annular ring power from the Numerical View feature of the Zeiss Humphrey Atlas topographer. Use the average of the 0 mm, 1 mm and 2 mm annular power values.
Transient hyperopia following cataract surgery and
prior radial keratotomy
Patients with previous 8-incision radial keratometry will commonly show variable amounts of transient hyperopia in the immediate post-operative period following cataract surgery. This is felt to be due to stromal edema around the radial incisions, producing a temporary enhancement of central corneal flattening. While this central corneal flattening is usually transient, it can be as much as +4.00 D, and is further accentuated by greater than eight incisions, an optical zone of less than 2.0 mm, or incisions that extend all the way to the limbus. If a patient exhibits any of the above, significant unanticipated hyperopia may be seen in the immediate post-operative period, which should gradually resolve after eight to twelve weeks. Sometimes, due to a lack of corneal stability, the post-operative refraction can continue to slowly shift myopic over a several month period. We have seen several patients with myopic shifts as large a -5.00 D over a 12-week period.
If the final post-operative refractive objective remains elusive, plans for an IOL exchange, or a piggyback IOL, should not be made until at least two months have passed and two consecutive refractions, two weeks apart (at the same time of the day), are stable (the "rule of twos."). Also, if more than six months passes before cataract surgery is required for the fellow eye, the corneal measurements should be repeated due to the fact that additional corneal flattening frequently occurs over time following radial keratotomy. For this reason, IOL power calculations are usually targeted for between -0.75 D and -1.00 D and are designed to make the operative eye more myopic than usual, so that five to ten years from surgery, the post-cataract surgery refractive error does not drift into hyperopia. This also helps to avoid hyperopic refractive results, which are quite common, in spite of every precaution being taken.
Of all the various forms of keratorefractive surgery, we have had the best overall accuracy following radial keratometry.
Formula
