AIM: To study the effect of vitamin A palmitate eye gel on ocular surface reconstruction after laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK), and to evaluate the efficacy and safety.

METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients(240 eyes)performing LASIK were enrolled in this study. The right and left eyes were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. The experimental group were treated with vitamin A palmitate eye gel for 1 month, four times a day after LASIK, and the same as control group in other treatments. The SchirmerⅠ test, break-up time(BUT)and corneal sensation were detect at preoperation and the postoperative 1^st day, 1^st month, 3^rd month in two groups.

RESULTS: There were significant difference in BUT and tear secretion quantity between the experimental group and the control group at the postoperative 1^st month and 3^rd month(P<0.05), which provided evidence that the postoperative BUT and tear secretion quantity of experimental group recover faster than that of the control group. Comparing with control group, the experimental group had no significant difference in corneal sensation at the postoperative 1^st day,1^st month and 3^rd month(P>0.05), which revealed that vitamin A palmitate eye gel had no obvious effect on recovery of corneal sensation after LASIK. During the treatment, there was no adverse drug event occurred.

CONCLUSION: Early use of vitamin A palmitate eye gel postoperatively is applicable for ocular surface reconstruction, but has no obvious effect on the regeneration of corneal sensation.