الفهرس 
Corneal anatomyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Many patients, especially those with lower to moderate levels of myopia, are
candidates for either LASIK or PRK procedures. Although patients of LASIK group
clearly benefit from a more rapid recovery of functional visual acuity, they also must
incur the risk of flap complications that could have long term implications for visual
performance. It is important to provide objective information regarding the difference in
visual recovery between the two procedures because this is one of the primary criteria
that patients use in making an informed decision.
These two procedures are safe, predictable and present high rates of satisfaction.
However, the induced epithelial, stromal and nerve damage alters corneal integrity and
function, triggering a regenerative response. Complications that arise from corneal
wound healing process might directly impact on visual outcomes of keratorefricative
procedures and may cause myopic regression as a result.
The overall positive benefits of laser refractive procedures heavily outweigh the
negative associations with visual regression. For example, younger patients with mild to
moderate myopic errors may never experience regression significant enough to warrant
enhancement. Nevertheless, regression after refractive surgery remains a limiting factor
to the long term effectiveness of these procedures, especially in patients with large
refractive errors or hyperopia. For most patients in developed countries, the prospect of
a re-enhancement procedure or possibly returning to glasses generally does not prevent
undergoing LASIK, PRK. Currently, there are no modalities or pharmacological agents
that can effectively prevent refractive regression in all patients. Ultimately, refractive
regression is a multifactorial process that can vary between individuals, and future
efforts towards its prevention should be directed at developing a more complete view of
the risk factors and mechanisms of the said regression.