Regression

Moderate regression may occur after excimer laser assisted conventional or custom wavefront Lasik, All-Laser Lasik, PRK, LASEK, and Epi-Lasik. This occurs mostly in myopic patients who have more than 6.0 diopters of refractive error and virtually all hyperopic patients.

After excimer laser assisted refractive surgery the cornea tends to regress back toward the original refractive error. The epithelium and the deeper stroma can reshape and reform at different rates and can cause regression.

Most Lasik and All-Laser Lasik patients experience regression within the first few weeks after surgery, while the surface ablation techniques of PRK, LASEK, and Epi-Lasik may require additional time until regression has settled down. For myopic patients, regression usually occurs within the first one to three months after surgery. Hyperopic patients may experience regression for a longer period of time. In all cases, it is reasonable to expect regression stop within the normal six month healing period.

Regression that is severe or continues to progress may be a sign of ectasia.

NearVision CK is considered a temporary procedure because the effects regress at a rate of about 0.33 diopter per year until all effects have dissipated.

Regression is a natural component of the healing process and is considered in the planned correction. A patient may be deliberately overcorrect to accommodate expected levels of regression. See Lasik Overcorrection Information

Regression occurs more commonly with smaller ablation diameters and with abrupt transition zones at the edge of the treatment areas. Steroid medications can be used to regulate and control regression. Although regression seems to be more prevalent the higher the refractive error, regression can occur in anyone.

If you are ready to choose a doctor to be evaluated for conventional or custom wavefrontt Lasik, All-Laser Lasik, PRK, LASEK, Epi-Lasik, NearVision CK, RLE, or any refractive surgery procedure, we highly recommend you consider a doctor who has been evaluated and certified by the USAEyes nonprofit organization. Locate a USAEyes Evaluated & Certified Lasik Laser Eye Surgery Doctor.

If this article did not fully answer your questions, use our free Ask Lasik Expert patient forum.

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Current Regression Medical Journal News...

Corneal Ablation Depth Readout of the Mel 80 Excimer Laser Compared to Artemis Three-Dimensional Very High-Frequency Digital Ultrasound Stromal Measurements.

Related Articles

Corneal Ablation Depth Readout of the Mel 80 Excimer Laser Compared to Artemis Three-Dimensional Very High-Frequency Digital Ultrasound Stromal Measurements.

J Refract Surg. 2010 Jan 28;:1-11

Authors: Reinstein DZ, Archer TJ, Gobbe M

PURPOSE:To evaluate the accuracy of the ablation depth readout for the MEL 80 excimer laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec). METHODS:Artemis 1 very high-frequency digital ultrasound measurements were obtained before and at least 3 months after LASIK in 121 eyes (65 patients). The Artemis-measured ablation depth was calculated as the maximum difference in stromal thickness before and after treatment. Laser in situ keratomileusis was performed using the MEL 80 excimer laser and the Hansatome microkeratome (Bausch & Lomb). The Aberration Smart Ablation profile was used in 56 eyes and the Tissue Saving Ablation profile was used in 65 eyes. All ablations were centered on the corneal vertex. Comparative statistics and linear regression analysis were performed between the laser readout ablation depth and Artemis-measured ablation depth. RESULTS:The mean maximum myopic meridian was -6.66+/-2.40 diopters (D) (range: -1.50 to -10.00 D) for Aberration Smart Ablation-treated eyes and -6.50+/-2.56 D (range: -1.34 to -11.50 D) for Tissue Saving Ablation-treated eyes. The MEL 80 readout was found to overestimate the Artemis-measured ablation depth by 20+/-12 mum for Aberration Smart Ablation and by 21+/-12 mum for Tissue Saving Ablation profiles. CONCLUSIONS:The accuracy of ablation depth measurement was improved by using the Artemis stromal thickness profile measurements before and after surgery to exclude epithelial changes. The MEL 80 readout was found to overestimate the achieved ablation depth. The linear regression equations could be used by MEL 80 users to adjust the ablation depth for predicted residual stromal thickness calculations without increasing the risk of ectasia due to excessive keratectomy depth as long as a suitable flap thickness bias is included.

PMID: 20128534 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]