OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of flap-on or flap-off Epipolis laser in situ keratomileusis (epi-LASIK) on the release of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in tear fluid and corneal haze formation.

METHODSThirty patients (60 eyes) with myopia underwent epi-LASIK surgery with epithelial flap repositioning (flap-on) in the right eyes and epithelial flap removal (flap-off) in the left eyes. The level of TGF-β1 in tears was measured preoperatively and on days 1, 3, and 7 postoperatively. Corneal haze was graded at 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery.

RESULTSThe mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -4.98∓2.28 D (-2.50 to -7.25 D) in flap-on group and -5.20∓4.02 D (-1.75 to -7.00 D) in flap-off group, showing no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.80). TGF-β1 levels in the tear fluid were similar in the two groups preoperatively (P=0.11) and at 1, 3, and 7 days postoperatively (P=0.55, 0.45, 0.19, respectively). TGF-β1 levels in tears gradually decreased after the first postoperative day in both groups, but were still higher than the preoperative value till the 7th postoperative day. Corneal haze scores in the two groups were similar at 1 month (P=0.98), 3 months (P=0.52), and 6 months (P=0.72) after the operation.

CONCLUSIONFlap-on and flap-off epi-LASIK surgeries do not differ significantly in postoperative TGF-β1 levels in the tear fluid or in the postoperative haze scores. TGF-β1 may play a role in corneal wound healing.