Phaco incision carefully placed between two RK cuts without intersecting them. The RK incisions swell during even the gentlest cataract surgery, and this swelling can induce central corneal flattening, which results in excessive hyperopia immediately postop.

Can you have cataract surgery after RK?

These RK patients will experience fluctuations in their refractive state for many weeks after their cataract surgery, so a mild amount of initial hyperopia should not be a cause of concern. After waiting at least 6 weeks, if the patient is still significantly hyperopic, a second procedure can be performed.

Can RK eye surgery be corrected?

Sadly, some RK patients risk losing this freedom. This can be corrected with laser corneal reconstruction using topographic guided ablation which eliminates the irregularity caused by the incisions. The incisions never go away, but the problems they cause can be significantly improved.