Undercorrection (Residual Myopia)
Undercorrection occurs when an eye remains somewhat nearsighted after refractive surgery. It is seldom considered a serious complication. Distance vision is better (if not perfect), and near vision is still good. Undercorrection is much more common in people with severe nearsightedness than in people who had nearsightedness of less than 3 diopters.
Slight undercorrection may be considered an advantage. A little mild nearsightedness will delay the onset of presbyopia. And it may offset the effect of progressive farsightedness (hyperopia). Also, the amount of undercorrection may decrease after several years because of a phenomenon called the hyperopic shift. Hyperopic shift is the gradual increase in farsightedness that may occur for some years after radial keratotomy (RK) surgery.
Juvenile Macular Degeneration: Stargardt's and Best Disease
Juvenile macular degeneration is the term for several inherited eye diseases that affect children and young adults, including Stargardt's disease, Best disease, and juvenile retinoschisis. These rare diseases cause central vision loss that may begin in childhood or young adulthood. Unfortunately, there is no treatment available for these diseases, which are caused by gene mutations passed down in families. Visual aids, adaptive training, and other types of assistance can help young people with vision...
Read the Juvenile Macular Degeneration: Stargardt's and Best Disease article > >
Undercorrection may be successfully corrected with a repeat surgery. But repeat operations tend to be less effective and less predictable than the first surgery.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
