AIM:To compare the clinical effects of removing or reserving the epithelial flap in high myopia correction by laser subepithelial keratomileusis(LASEK).

METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 58 patients(115 eyes)with high myopia received LASEK were selected and divided into reserving the epithelial flap group(30 patients, 59 eyes)and removing epithelial flap group(28 patients, 56 eyes)according to the order of the alternating vists. The changes of corneal irritation, epithelial healing time,uncorrected visual acuity and the occurrence of haze after surgery were observed.

RESULTS:Postoperative 1d, 2d, 3d, respectively, the pain score of the two groups were 1.64±0.64, 1.57±0.57; 0.83±0.49, 0.84±0.56; 0.36±0.48, 0.34±0.47, respectively, the differences were not significant(P>0.05). Postoperative 1wk, 1mo, 3mo, respectively, the uncorrected visual acuity of two group was 0.15±0.06, 0.12±0.05; 0.032±0.004, 0.041±0.003; 0.018±0.004, 0.022±0.005, and the differences were not significant(P>0.05). After 1mo, 3mo of surgery, the differences of the haze less than grade one of the two group, respectively, and were not significant(P>0.05), the differences of the haze of grade two of the two groups, respectively, and the differences were significant(P<0.05). The epithelial healing time of the two groups were 4.22±0.30d, 3.89±0.32d(P<0.05). The number of epithelial delayed healing of two groups was 0 eye and 10 eyes(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:It was similar both the changes of corneal irritation and uncorrected visual acuity of two groups,the rate of level two haze was higher in removing epithelial flap group. The time of healing of epithelium was quick than reserving the epithelial flap group,but the rate of delayed healing and poor healing of epithelium was higher than reserving the epithelial flap group. Therefore, for high myopia, it is worthy of clinical application of reserving the epithelial flap by LASEK.