AIM: To explore the effect of different diameters corneal epithelial trephine on laser epithelium keratomileusis

METHEDS: 264 cases(528 eyes)with myopia were divided into the observed group and the control group randomly, then underwent LASEK surgery using 7mm and 8mm diameters corneal epithelial trephine respectively to make corneal epithelial flap. The comparisons between groups were conducted in terms of corneal irritation, the time of the epithelium healing at 1, 3, 5d, visual recovery at 1mo, and the degree of haze at 3mo.

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

CONCLUSION: LASEK with the smaller diameter corneal epithelial trephine is a safe and efficient method to correct myopia than with the bigger diameter with the advantages of having milder irritating symptom, a shorter time of the epithelium healing and the visual recovery.