LASIK Regression

I had LASIK in one eye in 2007 for high astigmatism (about 4.75 diopters). I knew when I did it that it would probably not eliminate the full amount (it didn't), but it would greatly reduce it (it did). I have been fairly happy. Now I'm 44 and presbyopic (need bifocals) and the last 3 straight years my astigmatism has been getting worse again. It's "coming back" or regressing. It's my experience that a LOT of these high astigmatism cases regress, and my own situation has borne that out. Pre-treatment I was -4.75 diopters of astigmatism or "cylinder" (cyl). Immediately post procedure I was -1.00 cyl, a vast improvement! 3 years ago I was -1.25, 2 years ago -1.75, last year -2.00 and today -2.50. So I'm back to half of my original amount of astigmatism. I'm not too bothered by it. I wear progressive glasses almost all day anyway because I need them for the computer and reading, so adding in the extra cyl is easy. It is interesting tho that I'm regressing. I wonder how much more astigmatism I'll get? For the record it has not been my experience that nearsighted LASIK cases regress much. They're usually fine. And I don't refer many high cyl cases (or far sighted cases or high myopia cases) so I don't have many patients experiencing this because I'm pretty conservative.

Comments

  1. Interesting. I also have quite high astigmatism (4 D at least). Do you think you'd have a similar regression of your astigmatism if you'd never had LASIK? What I mean is whether the regression is rather related to LASIK or high astigmatism itself. Thank you.

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  2. yes I think so. In my experience the best LASIK candidates are still near-spherical myopes between -1.50 and -6.00 or so. Everyone else regresses. The high myopes get nearsighted again, the astigmats get their astigmatism again and the hyperopes become farsighted again...all fairly routinely. that's just been my experience.

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  3. You're one of few people who can directly compare a LASIK eye with a non-LASIK eye. How does it feel? Do you perceive any differences between both eyes in visual aberrations (halos, glare, etc.) or comfort? I'm especially interested if you feel/felt a difference in dryness. Maybe your comparison would be a great topic for a new blog entry. Thank you very much.

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  4. differences in aberrations: ABSOLUTELY, but I think that's more to do with the existing distortion from the high cyl than from the LASIK fix. dryness: no difference 9 years out. maybe I'll compose a new blog entry but probably not. not a lot of info there...the eyes were already so different that "comparing" them wouldn't really yield any new revelations that could be attributed to LASIK

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  5. Sorry to bother you again... What do you think about the LASIK-induced dryness in general (like if it depends on the used method or rather the individual patient)? And do you have an explanation what causes high astigmatism only in one eye and not the other? I assume that was your case. Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Please, I don't want to be rude, but I'm very interested in your opinion about my previous questions (especially LASIK and dryness). I'd be very grateful to you for any answer. Thank you.

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    2. "What do you think about the LASIK-induced dryness in general (like if it depends on the used method or rather the individual patient)?"
      LASIK famously causes dryness in all cases. everyone with every method is more dry after lasik than before. if you were dry before, you are MORE dry after. if you weren't dry before, you probably are after.

      "And do you have an explanation what causes high astigmatism only in one eye and not the other? I assume that was your case"

      in my case it was forceps delivery. but there are plenty of other causes...too many to start listing

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  6. Are you positive that was normal astig prior to surgery or are you developing ectasia? In my experience, though I am not a doc, I'd repeat topography to be sure.

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