Abstract

People with short sight may learn of surgical procedures which enable them to see clearly without spectacles or contact lenses, often from articles in the press. These may present a somewhat rosy view of the subject; complications can follow any surgical procedure and surgery for myopia is no exception. The potential demand for such surgery is huge; about 5% of people in Britain have myopia in the range from −2 to −8 dioptres. Two procedures are used to correct myopia in these patients: radial keratotomy and laser photorefractive keratectomy.