Factors Affecting Myopic Regression after Laser in Situ Keratomileusis and Laser-Assisted Subepithelial Keratectomy for High Myopia

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the factors affecting the amount of myopic regression after laser refractive surgery for high myopia, we retrospectively reviewed medical records of 1591 eyes with high myopia treated by laser in situ keratomileusis or laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy at Shandong Eye Hospital between January 2008 and December 2012. Thirty-five eyes suffering a postoperative myopic shift of manifest spherical equivalent (MSE) of 0.25 diopter (D) or greater were included in this study. The mean refractive error was −9.34 ± 1.89 D before surgery, and the mean regression was −1.22 ± 0.70 D. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were performed to assess the factors that were associated with the refractive regression. The age displayed a negative correlation with the diopter of regression (R = −0.404, P = .016), while the optical zone diameter had a positive correlation with it (R = 0.406, P = .016). Explanatory variables relevant to the diopter of regression were age (partial regression coefficient B = −0.045, P = .016) and optical zone diameter (partial regression coefficient B = 0.979, P = .014). Advanced-age patients with small optical zones were more predisposed to a larger amplitude of regression after laser refractive surgery for high myopia.

Keywords:

• High myopia
• laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy
• laser in situ keratomileusis
• myopic regression

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank Ping Lin for her linguistic and editorial assistance.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

DATA AVAILABILITY

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author or the first author upon request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81870639) and the Innovation Project of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences.