Clinical research on corneal epithelium remodeling after small incision lenticule extraction and femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis
·AIM:To compare the changes in corneal epithelial thickness(CET)after small incision lenticule extraction(SMILE)and femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK).·METHODS:A total of 187 patients(187 eyes)who underwent either SMILE or FS-LASIK at Urumqi Aier Eye Hospital between December 2022 and November 2023 were collected.The patients were divided into SMILE group and FS-LASIK group according to surgical methods.The CET of the patients was measured by optical coherence tomography(OCT)system before surgery and at 1 wk,1,3,and 6 mo postoperatively.·RESULTS:Changes in corneal epithelial thickness(△CET)in the central,paracentral,and mid-peripheral regions were compared at 6 mo postoperatively.The SMILE group was characterized by the most significant thickening in the central area and the least thickening in the mid-peripheral area;while the FS-LASIK group was characterized by the most significant thickening in the paracentral area and the least thickening in the mid-peripheral region.At 1 wk,1,3,and 6 mo postoperatively,within the 0-7 mm corneal area,the△CET for both the SMILE and FS-LASIK groups was correlated with the preoperative spherical equivalent.·CONCLUSION:Within 6 mo postoperatively,both SMILE and FS-LASIK showed a similar trend in epithelial thickening but with distinct characteristics.The change in corneal epithelial thickness for both procedures was positively correlated with the preoperative diopter.
small incision lenticule extraction(SMILE)femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK)corneal epithelium remodelingoptical coherence tomography(OCT)