Surgery in an attempt to change corneal curvature.

An historical review up to 1952 of surgical methods intended to change the refractive power of the eye is given. Experimental work at Yale utilizing 49 rabbits and dogs includes repeated prior studies done by others. This work incorporated: 1. Procedures on the anterior surface of the cornea, 2. Procedures on the posterior surface of the cornea, and 3. Procedures through all corneal layers (total segmented corneal resection) (SCR). In obtaining desired refractive changes, SCR created relatively higher refractive changes, assured stability and a more accurate calibration and calculation in advance of surgical procedures, however, even though total segmented corneal resection seemed superior, it was often complicated in animals.