FAQ for Radial Keratotomy and Scleral Lenses

Dr. Boshnick; I had Radial Keratotomy surgery in the 1908’s follow by LASIK surgery about 10 years ago. I am having terrible problems with blurred, distorted vision especially at night. My ophthalmologist suggested that I have “Replacement Lens Surgery” to restore my vision. Do you think that this will help me?

Absolutely not. The reason you are not seeing clearly is because your corneas are distorted. We see this all the time in patients with surgical histories similar to yours. Placing an intra-ocular lens into the eye behind the cornea will not improve your vision. On the contrary, there are real risks of cataract formation and other ocular conditions such as infections, glaucoma and retinal tears and detachments. Think of it like this: If you are driving your car with a windshield that is distorted or warped, changing your eyeglasses or your eyeglasses prescription will not allow you to see clearly. If, however, you placed a new windshield over the distorted windshield with a liquid reservoir in between, you would have clear vision with the 2 windshields in place. This may not seem logical to you but optically speaking what I am writing here is true. In the same way, placing a gas permeable scleral lens over your distorted corneas will provide you with clear, comfortable vision once again. This is because the scleral lens vaults over the compromised cornea and replaces it as an optical surface. A liquid interface (.9% sterile saline solution) exists between the back surface of the lens and the front surface of the cornea. Just know that there are no surgeries (PRK, CK, LASIK, LASEK, SMILE, etc.) that will restore the vision you have lost due to your previous refractive eye surgeries. The only technology that will allow you to see clearly and comfortably once again is a well fit scleral lens such as the GVR Scleral lens.