| RADIAL KERATOTOMY | LASER KERATECTOMY | |
| Range of Correction | Up to -12.00 and occasionally higher. | -1.00 to -7.00. Higher than -7.00 is less predictable and is not recommended by Health and Welfare Canada, or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S.A. |
| Track Record | 26 years. | 7 years. |
| Location of Procedure | The procedure is performed in the periphery of the cornea leaving the centre (the optical zone) intact. | The laser is applied to the optical zone. Haze of some degree (that is usually transient) appears in most patients. Some may develop a scar which may interfere with vision. |
| Anaesthetic | Topical Anaesthetic (eye drops only). | Same as Radial Keratotomy. |
| Pain | Usually very minor or no discomfort | Most patients have 2-4 days of considerable pain after the procedure. |
| Vision | Most patients see well on the same day, or the next day after surgery. | Vision is blurred for 3-7 days following the procedure. |
| Fluctuation | Vision may fluctuate slightly between mornings and evenings and will usually not last for more than a few weeks (up to 3 months). | Vision fluctuates up to 12 months or longer. |
| Eye Patch Duration | The eye patch is removed a few hours after the surgery, or on the next day. | The eye patch is usually worn for one to two days. |
| Post-operative Medications | Eye drops to control healing are used up to 3 months. | Eye drops to control healing are used up to 6 months. |
| Side Effects: Glare and Starburst | Transient. May last for several months, but are usually present for only several days if at all. | Night vision may be impaired. |
| Cosmetic Appearance | Corneal incisions are invisible to the naked eye. They are detected only with the aid of a microscope. | Corneal haze may be visible. |
| Regression | Regression has not been reported after the vision has stabilized (approx. 3 months after surgery.) | Regression has been observed, even several years after the operation. |
| Retinal Detachments | Not described as directly related to the surgery. | Recent publications from England described Retinal Detachments in some patients (apparently due to shock waves travelling to the retina.) |