ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare the corneal endothelial cell change in Femtosecond laser and microkeratome LASIK operation. METHODS: This study involved 31 eyes (16 patients) that had LASIK using a femtosecond laser (group 1). The control group comprised 32 eyes (16 patients) that had conventional LASIK using microkeratome. We measured the endothelial cell using a non-contact specular microscope preoperatively and at postoperative 1, 2 and 6 months. RESULTS: The preoperative and postoperateive 1, 2, and 6 months cell densities were, respectively: (group 1) 3039+/-335.2, 3012.9+/-373.0, 3008.2+/-240.2, 3009.1+/-250.5; (group 2) 2984.8+/-334.4, 2972.7+/-290.0, 2968+/-323.2, 2968+/-319.1. The coefficients of variation were, respectively: (group 1) 32.6+/-5.3, 33+/-7.2, 32.2+/-5.9, 31.7+/-5.8; (group 2) 32.3+/-5.3, 33.6+/-6.2, 35.5+/-4.8, 34.1+/-5.1. Respective hexagonality measurements were: (group 1) 59.2+/-11.7, 56+/-12.1 55.1+/-13.5, 57.2+/-11.6; (group 2) 57.6+/-9.8, 57.4+/-10.7, 56.5+/-11.6, 57.1+/-11.1. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistical difference in corneal endothelial change between the two groups (p>0.05). LASIK using the femtosecond laser seemed to be a safe choice when considering corneal endothelial change.