Comparison of corneal refractive power and visual quality after LASEK, TransPRK or FS-LASIK

Abstract

AIM:To compare the corneal refractive power and visual quality after three kinds of corneal refractive surgery: laser subepithelial keratomileusis(LASEK), transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy(TransPRK)and femtosecond laser assisted in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK).METHODS: Retrospective study. A total of 232 patients(464 eyes)who underwent elective corneal refractive surgery in our hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected as the study subjects. They were divided into the LASEK group of 70 cases(140 eyes), TransPRK group of 76 cases(152 eyes), and FS-LASIK group of 86 cases(172 eyes)according to the different surgical choices made by the patients. Uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), visual quality, biomechanical stability, tear film break-up time(BUT), Schirmer Ⅰ test(SⅠt)and quality of life were compared among the three groups at 1 and 3 mo postoperatively.RESULTS: The UCVA of the three groups significantly improved at 1 and 3 mo postoperatively, the total high-order aberrations, spherical aberration, horizontal coma, and vertical coma of the entire cornea were significantly increased, while the biomechanical stability in all three groups were significantly reduced(all P0.05).CONCLUSION:In the treatment of ametropia, LASEK, TransPRK and FS-LASIK all have certain effects, and have similar results in improving UCVA and increasing visual quality. However, TransPRK and LASEK have more stable biomechanical properties than FS-LASIK, and have better efficacy in improving patients' quality of life.

Keywords

• laser subepithelial keratomileusis(lasek)
• transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy(transprk)
• femtosecond laser assisted in situ keratomileusis(fs-lasik)
• corneal refractive surgery
• corneal refractive power
• visual quality