Computerized Radial Keratotomy Predictability Programs

Five commercially available methods of predicting the outcome of radial keratotomy have been compared with regard to recommended surgical methods, derivation, hardware requirements, availability, cost, ease of use, and prediction of outcome. Data on each system was obtained from advertising literature, materials supplied by vendors, hands-on experience, and other software users. A series of hypothetical cases were used to determine the differences between formulas with regard to the relative effects of optical zone size, incision depth, degree of myopia, age, sex, IOP, and keratometry. In spite of the limitations of these formulas in terms of predicting outcome, the use of one of them is worthy of serious consideration.