AIM:To observe the clinical effect of excimer laser in situ keratomileusis after the early application of latanoprost eye drops in prevention of refractive regression.

METHODS:Patients were randomly divided into experimental group, positive control group and blank control group, each group of 50 cases(100 eyes). In experimental group, patients used latanoprost eye drops once from the first day after the operation, and the eye drops were discontinued after three months. The positive control group applied timolol eye drops in the morning and evening respectively, and the eye drops were discontinued after three months. Blank control group without any ocular hypotensive drugs. Effect of preoperative, postoperative 1 week,1 month,3,6,12,24 months, the uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA),subjective refraction, corneal posterior surface, intraocular pressure, BUT, Schirmer test and other aspects of the change were observed.

RESULTS:There was no retreatment cases in experimental group and positive control group. Forty-eight cases of experimental group were able to adhere to employ latanoprost ophthalmic solution once daily for three months, while the positive control group had only 41 cases adhering to use timolol eye drops twice daily for three months. There was significant difference. The blank control group of 4 retreatment cases were appeared, there were significant differences compared with experimental group. No significant differences in BUT, Schirmer test among three groups were found.

CONCLUSION:Latanoprost eye drops can effectively prevent excimer laser in situ keratomileusis retreatment, with less side effects and better patient compliance.