Abstract:

Objective   To observe and compare the short-term change of morphology of regenerated subbasal nerve fiber after the femtosecond laser and keratotome for laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using confocal microscope.  Methods   In this study, 40 patients (80 eyes) with refractive error were randomly divided into 2 groups： femtosecond laser was used for LASIK myopic surgery in 20 patients (40 eyes)， and keratotome was used in the other 20 patients (40 eyes). The morphology of corneal subbasal nerves was observed with confocal microscope 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after surgery. Results   Only short (<50μm), curved and independent subbasal nerve fibers were observed in a small number of eyes in the two groups 1 week after surgery. The subbasal nerve fibers were longer 1 month after surgery than 1 week after surgery, but no branch connection was found between the nerve fibers. The length of subbasal nerve fibers at central corneal was more than 200μm in 18 eyes(45.0%) in femtosecond group and in 25 eyes(62.5%) in keratotome group, and there were intercommunicating branches and class beaded structures between subbasal nerve fibers at central cornea 3 months after surgery. Conclusion   The postoperative nerve morphology in femtosecond laser group and keratotome group was close to preoperative nerve morphology with time. The regenerated subbasal nerve in keratotome group was better than in femtosecond laser group 3 months after surgery, but there was still difference compared with preoperative morphology.

Key words: Confocal microscope, Femtosecond laser; , Regeneration, Keratotome, Excimer laser in situ keratomileusis; , Corneal nerves;