AIM: To observe the influence on the incidence of diffuse lamellar keratitis(DLK)after laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK)whether or not wearing sterile gloves with talc during operation, and to confirm the role of residual talc in the occurrence of DLK.

METHODS: Totally 563 patients(1 126 eyes)accepted operation with the method of surgical hand antisepsis only were set as the experimental group, while 592 patients(1 184 eyes)with the method of surgical hand antisepsis and sterile gloves as the control group. Each patient was rechecked to observe the occurrence of DLK on the first day and the seventh day after the operation. Then the data of DLK were statistically analyzed by χ² test and rank sum test.

RESULTS:On the first postoperative day, the incidence of DLK was 7.4%(83 eyes)in experimental group and 12.2%(144 eyes)in control group. In the former group, stage Ⅰ of DLK accounted for 4.6%(52 eyes)and stage Ⅱ for 2.8%(31 eyes); while in the latter, stage I did for 7.7%(91 eyes)and stage Ⅱ for 4.5%(53 eyes). On the seventh day, all DLK were cured. The other 2 cases(3 eyes)occurred in stage Ⅳ DLK(the first time recheck was on the eighth day after operation and fluorometholone ophthalmic solution was not used on time). The incidence and the severity were both significant lower in the experimental group than in the control(both P<0.01).

CONCLUSION:Talc is one of the most important factors resulting in DLK after LASIK. The method of surgical hand antisepsis without wearing gloves could avoid the stimulation of talc and reduce the incidence of DLK obviously.