RK stands for "Radial Keratectomy", a surgical procedure to correct up to -5 dioptres of Myopia. The Russian surgeon, Svyatoslav Fyodorov in 1973, first performed this procedure.

In RK, a microscope, microsurgical instruments and a fine diamond blade are used to make 4 to 8 cuts like the pattern of the spokes of wheel, around the centre of your cornea. You have myopia because your cornea is strong enough to focus the light entering your eye before the retina, instead of directly focusing on it. RK makes the cornea to lose its power and makes it to flatten to allow the light rays to focus directly on the retina.

The treatment time is just 15-30 minutes and may be performed with the patient awake having a local anaesthetic applied to eliminate the pain during the surgery. Discomfort, oral painkillers and antibiotic eye drops are very common after the surgery, although there is a possibility of getting an improved vision within a day.

Unlike laser treatments, RK permanently weakens the cornea and there is a possibility of getting post-operative complications like glare, halo-effect, under-correction, over-correction and astigmatism. As you might understand now that RK was an older method of treatment, which has been replaced by the modern technologies like PRK and LASIK.

RK is not a suitable treatment if you are:

• Pregnant
• Breast-feeding
• Having Glaucoma
• Sports person (permanent weakening may cause the cornea to tear)

Before you make a decision to go ahead with this procedure, you should speak to the surgeon about the possible complications. The surgeon will be able to suggest you which method is the most viable option for you.