The role of contact lenses in the management of the radial keratotomy patient.

Approximately 15% of radial keratotomy procedures result in a residual refractive error of at least 1.00 D. Contact lenses may be used in these cases to optimize visual acuity. Patients who have undergone radial keratotomy present unique physiological challenges because of the corneal incisions; wear of lenses can produce epithelial erosion, infiltrative keratitis, neovascularization, and chronic edema. The corneal topography is altered by the surgery, with the central cornea flattened and the midperiphery steepened; these changes influence contact lens design. The lens of choice is a large, thin, rigid gas-permeable lens with a fairly small optic zone. Hydrogel lenses can also be used, but complications of wear can include neovascularization and corneal edema. Toric hydrogel lenses can be used to minimize residual astigmatism.