Corneal sensitivity after photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis for low myopia

To evaluate and compare the recovery of postoperative corneal sensitivity after laser in situ keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy for the correction of low myopia.

In a prospective study, 17 consecutive eyes (17 patients) underwent laser in situ keratomileusis to correct myopia ranging from -3.25 to -6.75 diopters, and another 18 consecutive eyes (18 patients) underwent photorefractive keratectomy to correct myopia from -3.12 to -7.00 diopters. Corneal sensitivity was tested preoperatively and 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively using the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. Corneal sensitivity was tested at the center of the cornea, and in four additional central points 2 mm from the corneal center (nasal, inferior, temporal, and superior).

Corneal sensitivity after laser in situ keratomileusis was reduced at the ablated zone during the first 3 months after surgery (Wilcoxon rank sum test, P < .05), and only after 6 months it returned to its preoperative values. However, corneal sensitivity recovered its preoperative values 1 month after photorefractive keratectomy (Wilcoxon rank sum test, P > .05), except for the central corneal point, where 3 months were required. Comparing both groups, corneal sensitivity was more depressed after laser in situ keratomileusis than after photorefractive keratectomy during the first 3 months (Mann-Whitney test, P < .05), except for the nasal central point, although no differences were found between both groups at 6 months (P > .05).

In the correction of low myopia, corneal sensitivity at the ablated zone was more depressed after laser in situ keratomileusis than after photorefractive keratectomy during the first 3 months after surgery. Only after 6 months were corneal sensitivity values similar in both groups.