Corneal Epithlial Thickness Changes after LASIK Measured by Antrior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography

Objective The goal of this study was to estimate alterations in the corneal epithelium by Optical coherence tomography in healthy people after LASIK surgery. Patients and methods Corneal epithlial thicknes measured by oct system before lasik and after two months of surgery. Central (within 2mm diameter) and paracentral epithelial thickness (7 mm diameter) were compared both prior to and following LASIK. Correlation between laser spherical equivalent setting and central epithelial thickness change was estimated. Results In this investigation, thirty eyes from fifteen participants were examined, all having undergone myopic LASIK with spherical equivalents between -5.5D and -2.0D. Prior to LASIK, the average central epithelial thickness was 52.30 ± 1.02 μm, which increased to 56.40 ± 1.94 μm two months post-surgery (P < 0.001). Before LASIK, the average paracentral nasal epithelial thickness was 52.6 ± 1.22 μm, which rised to 56.9 ± 2.29 μm two months following the procedure (P < 0.001). For the paracentral temporal region, the thickness was 53.40 ± 1.59 μm prior to LASIK and 57.10 ± 1.95 μm two months following LASIK (P < 0.001). Before LASIK, the average epithelial thickness in the paracentral inferior region was 54.30 ± 1.82 μm, which rised to 57.5 ± 2.29 μm two months following the procedure (P < 0.001). For the paracentral superior epithelium, the thickness was 50.6 ± 1.30 μm before LASIK and 54.20 ± 1.86 μm two months post-surgery (P < 0.001).