Effect of laser in situ keratomileusis on the corneal endothelium

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on the corneal endothelium. METHODS: In a prospective study, preoperative and 12-month postoperative specular microscopy of the central corneal endothelium and corneal thickness assessment was done in 180 eyes of 105 patients (mean age 31.96 +/- 8.88 years; range 16 to 55 yr) who had LASIK to correct myopia. The central endothelium was analyzed for several parameters including cell density, coefficient of variation, and corneal thickness. Preoperative and postoperative data were compared. RESULTS: The mean preoperative endothelial cell density was 2547.37 +/- 282.00 cells/mm(2), mean coefficient of variation of cell size was 58.33 +/- 11.50%, and mean central corneal thickness was 558.90 +/- 28.42 mum. There was not a statistically significant change in mean endothelial cell density (2508.24 +/- 289.57 cells/mm(2)) or mean coefficient of variation (58.61 +/- 9.89%) at 1 year after surgery (P>.05). Average endothelial cell loss was 1.54% at 1 year after surgery. Mean central corneal thickness at 12 months postoperatively was 493.24 +/- 52.55 mum (P<.01). CONCLUSION: LASIK did not appear to alter corneal endothelial cell density at 12 months postoperatively.