AIM: To compare the visual quality between patients with moderate or high myopia and myopic astigmatism(SE -3.00～-9.00D)after femtosecond laser small incision lenticule extraction(SMILE)and laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK).

METHODS: The prospective study was applied.Eighty four patients(168 eyes)were divided into two groups: 42 patients(84 eyes)with myopia underwent SMILE was group Ⅰ, 42 patients(84 eyes)with myopia underwent LASIK was groupⅡ. The myopia degree of the patients was -3.00～-8.00D and astigmatism was -0.25～-2.00D before treatments and they were followed for 6mo. Uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), spherical equivalent(SE), high order aberration(HOA), contrast sensitivity(CS)were compared and statistically analyzed at preoperatively, 1,3 and 6mo postoperatively.

RESULTS: All operations were successful without serious complications that damaged vision. The UCVA in group Ⅰwas higher than that in group Ⅱ, and the SE was lower than that in group Ⅱ postoperatively(P<0.05).The HOA in both groups increased compared with those preoperative(P<0.05), but the increase of spherical aberration(SA)in groupⅡ were significantly higher than that in groupⅠ(P<0.05). The CS at each spatial frequency in both groups decreased compared with those preoperative(P<0.05). At 3 and 6mo postoperatively, the CS in both groups was improved.

CONCLUSION: Moderate or high myopia and astigmatism can be effectively corrected by SMILE. Better visual acuity, more stable refractive state, less increase on SA, the recovery of CS and the improvement on visual quality, are the advantage of SMILE, but investigation with larger sample size and long term observation are needed.