Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy resulting in more myopia postoperatively than preoperatively

SUMMARY Purpose: To present three patients who experienced excessive myopic regression which resulted in more myopia after excimer laser surgery. Methods: All patients, white males, 31 to 35 years old, were treated with the VISX 20/20 excimer laser. Results: Patient 1 had a manifest refraction of -5.00 diopters before PRK and 9 months later it was -4.25 +0.50 x 65º. Six months after retreatment it was -6.00 diopters and the patient had a corneal haze grade 3. Patient 2 had a manifest refraction of -12.25 +2.25 x 10º before surgery and -14.25 +1.00x 105º after wards with a corneal haze grade 3. Patient 3 had a manifest refraction of -5.75 +0.25 x 25º and four months after surgery it was -6.25 with a corneal haze grade 2. Conclusion: The corneal healing process after excimer is notwell understood and patients should be informed about the remote possibility that their myopia may increase after PRK and that they may develop a significanthaze.