[Comparison of wavefront aberration after LASIK and LASEK for treatment of myopia]

To evaluate the effects of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) on wavefront aberration for treatment of myopia.

Eighteen right eyes with LASIK and 18 right eyes with LASEK were included in this study. The patients were selected randomly for evaluation of the wavefront aberration using a WFA1000 subjective aberrometer before and 10 days, 1 and 3 months after treatment. The coefficient of 35 terms of zenike was obtained by aberrometer, and root mean square (RMS) of each and total high order aberration was calculated by Matlab5.3. SPSS10.0 was used for statistical analysis.

Uncorrected visual acuity in all eyes after operation achieved or exceeded preoperative best corrected visual acuity; no serious complication occurred to threaten visual acuity. RMS of each and total high order aberration was increased at 10 days after LASIK, and then decreased at 1 and 3 months, during which period the changes after LASEK were the same as those after LASIK, only smaller than that of the preoperative data except order 3. Statistical difference of order 3, 4 and total high order before and 10 days after LASIK was significant, while that 1 and 3 months was insignificant. There was statistically significant difference of each and total high order before and after LASEK, whereas, the results of LASEK showed no significant difference when compared with that of LASIK.

RMS of wavefront aberration increased rapidly at 10 days after LASIK and LASEK and decreased gradually at 1 and 3 months. There was no statistically significant difference in RMS at 1 and 3 months after treatment. The degree of crease after LASEK is smaller than that after LASIK.