Objective To measure and compare the visual quality in myopic patients corrected by laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and rigid gas permeable contact lens (RGPCL) by using point spread function (PSF).Methods This was a prospective study.There were 2 groups of patients with middle-high myopia corrected using either LASIK or RGPCL:44 eyes of 22 patients received LASIK (group A),with the spherical equivalent (SE) (-6.84±1.65)D,while 49 eyes of 25 patients corrected by RGPCL (group B),with the SE(-6.43±1.59)D.The changes of the modulation transfer function (MTF) in their eyes were evaluated before and 3 months after LASIK in group A,before and after the fitting of RGPCL in group B by using the PSF examination under conditions of 3 mm and 6 mm pupil diameters respectively.The changes of PSF in each group before and after correction were compared and the differences between groups were statistically analyzed with paired samples t test and analysis of covariance.Results ① The MTF values at low-middle spatial frequencies were decreased 3 months after LASIK (3 nun pupil diameter,2.98～23.81 cpd; 6 mm pupil diameter,2.98～9.42 cpd,P＜0.01),which was a statistically significant decrease,whereas the changes of MTF at high frequencies were not significant.②Under the condition of 3 mm pupil diameter,the MTF values at high spatial frequencies were increased after fitting of RGPCL (18.85～37.70 cpd,P＜0.05),whereas at low-middle frequencies the difference was not significant.Under the condition of 6 mm pupil diameter,the MTF values were improved at all spatial frequencies after RGPCL (2.98～37.70 cpd,P＜0.05).③The changes of MTF values at all spatial frequencies in the RGPCL group were better than those in the LASIK group (P＜0.05).Conclusion LASIK can deteriorate the visual quality of myopic patients in the early stage after surgery,whereas RGPCL can improve it.The visual quality of myopic patients corrected by RGPCL is better than that of the early stage after LASIK.