Quantitated trauma following radial keratotomy in rabbits.

Radial keratotomy was performed in 33 rabbits using an eight-incision technique. At various postoperative intervals up to 90 days, these eyes were enucleated and subjected to increasing quantitated trauma until ocular rupture occurred. Control animals (13 eyes) were subjected to similar trauma. The eyes that had surgery required approximately 50% of the control energy to rupture over the 90-day period (P less than 0.001). Corneal microperforations at surgery greatly increased the trauma risk (P = 0.02). Consistent rupture patterns resulted, both grossly and microscopically.