Objective: To compare the recovery of corneal sensitivity after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK).
Methods: Central corneal sensitivity (CCS) was measured with a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer in 59 patients before and 2 weeks, 1, 3 and 6 months after myopic correction by LASIK or LASEK. Among them, 50 patients were treated with LASEK and 9 patients were treated with LASIK.
Results: CCS were reduced in the early period time after LASEK and LASIK, but more reduction was seen after LASIK. At every time points, the CCS after LASEK was better than that after LASIK (at 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months P < 0.01, at 6 months P = 0.031). In myopic eyes with less than 6.00 diopters (D), the CCS recovered at 3 months after LASEK (P > 0.05), but it didn't recover at 6 months after LASIK (P = 0.023). In myopic eye with more than 6.00 D, the recovery of CCS was seen at 6 months after LASEK (P > 0.05). Correlations between CCS and ablation depth were found at 3 and 6 months after LASEK (r = 0.419, 0.433, 0.413; P < 0.05), but no correlation was found after LASIK (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Recovery of corneal sensitivity is faster after LASEK than after LASIK. Ablation depth is related to the recovery of corneal sensitivity after LASEK.