Radial Keratotomy (RK) is a type of refractive surgery used to correct nearsightedness (Myopia), thus reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. This procedure has been replaced by the newer laser procedures: LASIK, PRK, and advanced surface ablation such as epi-LASEK.
How it works...
During the RK procedure, the surgeon makes incisions in a spoke-like, or radial, pattern in the cornea. The incisions, which vary in number depending on the refractive error, flatten the cornea to allow for a more normal curvature, thus reducing or eliminating myopia. RK is a brief procedure, approximately 15 minutes, and was usually performed in the ophthalmologist’s office under a local anesthetic.
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