Related factors of epithelial thickness changes in early stage after LASIK and its relationship

Objective To discuss the changes of central corneal epithelial thickness after LASIK at different time,and investigate the relationship of some factors leaded to these changes.Methods Forty-eight patients(48 eyes) were performed LASIK,the mean spherical equivalent before surgery was(-5.61±2.75)D.Based on the different spherical equivalent,the cases were divided into low and medium myopia group(21 eyes,≤-6.00 D),high myopia group(27 eyes,-6.00 D).The changes of corneal epithelial thickness at pre-operation and postoperative 1 day,3 days,7 days,10 days,30 days,60 days and 90 days by confocal microscopy in vivo,the relationship were analyzed.Results The visual acuity at postoperative 1 day,3 days,7 days,10 days,30 days,60 days and 90 days were 1.34±0.66,1.24±0.76,1.27±0.73,1.26±0.76,1.08±0.80,0.96±0.76,0.80±0.72,the mean deflection of refraction were(1.07±0.63)D,(1.97±0.63)D,(0.79±0.63)D,(0.74±0.64)D,(0.37±0.34)D,(0.50±0.33)D,(0.47±0.52)D,respectively.The changes of mean corneal epithelial thickness showed positive correlation with spherical equivalent(r=0.538,P=0.047).The corneal epithelial thickness showed positive correlation with the changes of anterior corneal curvature(r=0.648,P=0.007).The changes of corneal epithelial thickness showed no correlation with the changes of corneal stroma thickness(r=0.238,P=0.6470.05).The changes of corneal epithelial thickness showed no correlation with the thickness of corneal flap,activated-cells area(r=0.197,P=0.841;r=0.214,P=0.714).Conclusion After LASIK,the corneal epithelium remodeling occurs,which participates in the early reparation of corneal tissue.