Objective To study corneal nerve damage by observing the corneal subepithelial nerve plexus density and corneal sensitivity after LASIK and LASEK. Methods In this prospective clinical study, 102 LASIK (204 eyes) and 34 LASEK (68 eyes) postoperative patients from the Central Hospital of Cangzhou City were enrolled. Nerve plexus density under corneal epithelium basal cells and corneal sensitivity were examined in both groups 1 day preoperatively and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after the surgery. Repeat measured ANOVA was used to statistically analyze and compare the above two indicators. Results The LASIK group: corneal subepithelial nerve plexus density was 1 582±175 μm preoperatively and 208±32 μm at 1 week, 254±32 μm at 1 month, 588±65 μm at 3 months, 648±65 μm at 6 months, and 938±119 μm at 1 year. All measurements had decreased significantly after surgery (F=7.13, P<0.05). However, the measurements had almost returned to preoperative levels 2 years after surgery (t=0.147, P>0.05). Corneal sensitivity was 58.82±0.53 mm preoperatively and 0.59±0.40 mm at 1 week, 15.59±2.67 mm at 1 month, 41.18±3.44 mm at 3 months and 52.88±2.58 mm at 6 months. All measurements had decreased significantly after the surgery (F=78.13, P<0.05). However, the measurements had almost returned to preoperative levels at 1 year after surgery (t=1.144, P>0.05). The LASEK group: corneal subepithelial nerve plexus density was 1 406±195 μm preoperatively and was 182±33 μm at 1 week, 538±83 μm at 1 month, 784±74 μm at 3 months, and 1 024±74 μm at 6 months. All measurements had decreased significantly after surgery (F=34.51, P<0.05). However, the measurements had almost returned to preoperative levels at 1 year after surgery (t=1.906, P>0.05). Corneal sensitivity was 58.82±0.53 mm preoperatively and 1.18±0.53 mm at 1 week, 38.82±3.11 mm at 1 month, and 55.29±1.00 mm at 3 months. All measurements had decreased significantly after the surgery (F=361.98, P<0.05). However, measurements had almost returned to preoperative levels 6 months after surgery
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