Radial keratotomy in monkeys. A one-year follow-up report.

Twelve adult rhesus monkey eyes underwent a radial keratotomy, consisting of 16, deep evenly spaced radial corneal incisions extending from the edge of a 3 mm central optical zone to the limbus. Peripheral deepening incisions were used. Keratometry and retinoscopy done before and after surgery monthly for one year revealed an average of 1.79 diopters decrease in the corneal curvature and an average increase of 2.49 diopters in the refractive error, which remained stable after one to two months. No significant complications were observed despite four perforations.