AIM: To utilize tissue micro measurement to study the effect of transient high intraocular pressure (IOP) induced by different durations of suction during laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on rabbit retina thickness. METHODS: Sixty healthy New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a control group, and 3 negative-pressure suction groups (20s group, 45s group, and 3min group) and each group was comprised of 15 rabbits (30 eyes); the latter 3 groups were the transient high IOP models. The retinal tissue around the papilledema was separated. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was carried out to generate slices for light microscopy. The changes in the retina thickness values of each layer were measured for all animals in each group at different postoperative recovery periods and compared with the values recorded for the animals in the control group. The thickness of the retinal tissue showed a normal distribution. The ANOVA was performed by using SPSS13.0 statistic software. RESULTS: In the comparison between the 20s and 45s negative-pressure suction groups and the control group, no significant differences were observed, except at 14d. Significant difference was observed between the 3min negative-pressure suction group and the control group, and the retina thickness value of each layer reached a peak at 14d after repair. CONCLUSION: Conventional negative suction during LASIK may not lead to significant changes in retinal tissue thickness; however, if the suction duration is increased to 3min, it will cause significant changes in retinal tissue thickness.