Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy for the correction of high myopia

Objective To investigate the effect of laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy(LASEK)for the correction of high myopia.Methods LASEK was performed on 54 eyes of 27 myopia patients.The preoperative mean spherical(MSE) was-6.00～-14.00?D,average(-8.75±1.27)D.Postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA),refractive power,time of epithelial healing and corneal haze were all recorded.Patients were followed-up for 6 months.Results No serious complications occurred.The epithelium was healed in a mean(3.71±0.26)d.3 days after the operations,the UCVA≥0.5 was found in 88.9%(48/54) and ≥0.8 in 35.2%(19/54).7 days after the operations,the UCVA≥0.5 was found in 100%(54/54) and ≥0.8 in 87.0%(47/54).6 months after the operations the UCVA was equal with or better than the preoperative best corrected visual acuity(BCVA).1,3 and 6 months after the operations, corneal haze was found in 13 eyes(24.1%),7 eyes(13.0%) and 2 eyes(3.7%)respectively but it was below grade 2 and had no effect on visual acuity.Conclusion LASEK is a safe,effective,stable and predictable surgery for myopia.