AIM: To explore the effect of soft corneal contact lens with different base curve on laser epithelial keratomileusis(LASEK).

METHEDS: Totally 186 cases(372 eyes)with myopia underwent LASEK surgery were divided into the observation group and the control group randomly, respectively wearing soft corneal lens -1.0D with 8.7mm and 8.5mm base curve. The comparison and observation were conducted in terms of corneal irritation at postoperative 1, 3 and 5d, the time of healing the epithelium and visual recovery in these two groups at 5d, the uncorrected visual acuity refraction at 1mo, and the degree of haze at 3mo.

RESULTS: Corneal irritation in the observation group was much better than that in the control group at postoperative 1, 3 and 5d, there was significant difference(P<0.05). There was significant difference in the healing of epithelium and uncorrected visual acuity at postoperative 5d, the difference was significant(P<0.05). There was no significant difference of the uncorrected visual acuity at postoperative 1mo(P>0.05), and there was no significant difference of haze at postoperative 3mo between two groups(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Wearing bigger base curve soft corneal contact lens is a safe and efficient method for LASEK than smaller with the advantages of having mild irritating symptom, a shorter time of healing the epithelium and the visual acuity.