Clinical application of circumferential ethanol infiltration method making corneal flap in LASEK

Abstract

Objective To investigate the feasibility, advantages and disadvantages of making corneal flap with circumferential ethanol infiltration method in LASEK. Methods Total of 172 eyes of 86 cases with myopia underwent LASEK. The left eyes of all cases as observation group received modified circumferential ethanol infiltration to make corneal flap, and the right eyes as the control group received conventional ethanol infiltration to make corneal flap. The production process of corneal flap, irritation symptom after operation, incidence of flap healing of corneal epithelium and haze were observed. Results There was no statistical significance in corneal flap of grade 1 between observation group and the control group during the surgery (79: 82, u=0.997, P=0.378). After operation, irritation symptom was significantly less in observation group than that of in the control group (80: 33, u=7.697, P=0.003). There were significant difference between the observation group and the control group on postoperative corneal flap of grade 1 (82: 41, u=7.012, P=0.004), the observation group was better. There was statistical significant between the observation group and the control group (84: 70, u=3.537, P=0.019) on haze of grade 0. Conclusion The method of application circumferential ethanol infiltration making epithelial flap in LASEK is simple and easy to learn. It can be effective in reducing postoperative eye irritation and reduce the incidence of haze. Key words: LASEK; Corneal epithelial flap; Circumferential ethanol infiltration