AIM: To analyze the effects of epipolis laser in situ keratomileusis(Epi-LASIK)and laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK)for treatment of myopic astigmatism.

METHODS: For treatment of myopic astigmatism, 32 patients(64 eyes)treated by Epi-LASIK and 63 patients(126 eyes)received LASIK. By their degree of astigmatism, the eyes were divided into Group Ⅰ(-0.25～-2.75)DC and Group Ⅱ(-3.0～-5.0)DC. During the 6-month follow-up, the early effects of the two operations were observed and compared in terms of uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), residual astigmatism, corneal healing, intraocular pressure(IOP), corneal topography.

RESULTS: In Group Ⅱ, UCVA better than 20/20 was achieved in 87.5% of the eyes subjected to Epi-LASIK and in 63.3% of the eyes subjected to LASIK, with significant difference between them(χ²=4.055, P<0.05); residual astigmatism was -0.41±0.30D for the Epi-LASIK eyes and -0.74±0.36D for the LASIK eyes, with significant difference between them(t=2.672, P<0.05); postoperative corneal astigmatism was 0.63±0.34D for the Epi-LASIK eyes and 0.81±0.52D for the LASIK eyes with significant difference between them(t=2.234, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: For treatment of high astigmatism(≥-3.00D), Epi-LASIK is more effective and predictive than LASIK.