AIM:To investigate the clinical effect of excimer laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK)for high myopia and its effects on central corneal thickness(CCT), corneal endothelial cell density, and contrast sensitivity.

METHODS: Totally 120 cases(240 eyes)in Ophthalmic Center in our hospital with high myopia were retrospectively analyzed from November 2014 to July 2016. According to the operation method, those cases were divided into LASIK group(60 cases 120 eyes), laser assisted sub-epithelial keratectomy(LASEK)group(60 cases 120 eyes), and treatment effect between the two groups was compared.

RESULTS: After surgery, at 1, 3, 6 and 12mo, visual acuity, refraction spherical equivalent value between the two groups were not significantly different at each time point(P>0.05); spherical equivalent refractive power were significantly improved compared with preoperative values in the two groups(P<0.05); at 1a after surgery, the CCT, corneal endothelial cell density of the LASIK group were greater than those of the LASEK group, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Before surgery, contrast sensitivity with 3c/d, 6c/d, 12c/d, 18c/d spatial frequency was not statistically significant between the two groups(P>0.05); at 1a after the operation, contrast sensitivity of LASIK group with 6c/d, 12c/d spatial frequency was significantly lower than that of the LASEK group, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The clinical effect of LASIK on high myopia is certain, and it has little effect on CCT and corneal endothelial cell density, but it has obvious influence on the contrast sensitivity.