AIM: To study the incidence of xerophthalmia between people with high myopia and low myopia after laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK), and find a way to prevent the xerophthalmia.

METHODS: The research was based on the retrospective analysis of 388 patients who underwent LASIK surgery in Wuhan Aier Eye Hospital during the 2010-2011. The Patients were divided into low and high myopia group. Assessment included xerophthalmia symptoms, tear fluid quantity, lacrimal secretion, tear film stability, corneal epithelial defect and corneal sensation, etc.

RESULTS: After the surgery, patients with high myopia were significantly higher than the incidence of low myopia groups. High myopia patients, who underwent the LASIK, would have lower tear volume, poorer tear film stability, and higher rate to suffer xerophthalmia symptoms than that of low myopia patients during the observation periods before or after the surgery.

CONCLUSION: Both low and high myopia groups, the rate of women suffering from dry eye was significantly higher than men. Patients with high myopia was significantly higher than the risk of suffering from dry eye syndrome in patients with low myopia, and high myopia than low myopia patients suffering from dry eye symptoms after LASIK is more severe and more lasting. For patients with high myopia, ICL or TICL surgery should be chosen as possible to for refractive correction.