Assessing the Efficacy of Topical Corticosteroids Following Radial Keratotomy

BACKGROUND: The postoperative use of topical corticosteroids may decrease the risk for regression and thereby improve the refractive outcome following radial keratotomy. METHODS: Twenty patients with identical preoperative refractions in each eye underwent bilateral radial keratotomy in one sitting. One eye was treated with dexamethasone twice daily for 3 months postoperatively; the fellow eye was not. RESULTS: Three months postoperatively, there was no difference between the refractions of the two groups of eyes. CONCLUSION: The use of topical dexamethasone after radial keratotomy for 3 months does not improve the refractive outcome.