Abstract: Objective To observe short-term outcome of off-flap Epi-LASIK for moderate to high myopia. Design Retrospective case series. Participants The study included 203 patients, who had underwent Epi-LASIK in Xingtai Eye Hospital from April 2008 to November 2010. One hundred and ten patients underwent off-flap Epi-LASIK was defined as off-flap group, and 103 patients underwent on-flap Epi-LASIK was defined as traditional group. Methods The uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), refractive status, pain status, level of haze, high degree aberration, and contrast sensitivity function (CSF) were compared between the two groups. All the patients had been followed up for 6 months. Main Outcome Measures Pain status, level of haze, high degree aberration and contrast sensitivity. Results No significant differences in the mean preoperative spherical equivalent between two groups (t=1.62, P=0.11). Compared with the traditional group, the off-flap group had rapider reepithelialization (t=17.25, P=0.00), and less pain at 3 days (Z=11.89, P=0.000) and 5 days (Z=10.34, P=0.000) after operation. Six months after surgery, there was no significant differences in the mean spherical equivalent between groups (t=17.25, P=0.21). Compared with traditional group, the off-flap group had lower level of haze (Z=2.06, P=0.04). Wavefront aberration increased significantly from baseline in both groups (t=-8.05, P=0.00; t=-8.92, P=0.00). Contrast sensitivity function with glare at 18 cpd was better in the off-flap group (1.21±0.13) than in off-flap group (1.15±0.12) (t=2.18，P=0.03). Conclusions Comparing with on-flap Epi-LASIK, off-flap Epi-LASIK offers a rapider visual recovery, comparable pain, a lower level of haze formation, and better visual quality. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2012, 21: 65-68)

Key words:  Epi-LASIK, epithelial remove, myopia