Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effect of absorbable lacrimal plug on tear film after femto-laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Design Prospective case series. Participant 30 consecutive patients (60 eyes) with myopia and mild dry eye received bilateral LASIK from March to July 2012. Methods One eye of patients was randomly received absorbable lacrimal plug (VisiPlug) implantation, while the other eye was as control group of un-implantation. Schirmer I test (SIt), tear breakup time (TBUT), fluorescent staining of cornea, tear meniscus examination with optical coherence tomography were performed before and 1 week after LASIK. Main Outcome Measures SIt, TBUT, score of fluorescent staining; area, height and depth of tear meniscus. Results  On the 7th day after LASIK, there were no significant difference in all values between lacrimal plug implantation group and without lacrimal plug implantation group: SIt 9.7±1.18, 8.3±1.35 mm (t=-0.53, P=0.052), TBUT 6.63±0.34, 6.53±0.40 s (t=0.209, P=0.836); area of tear meniscus 0.020±0.002, 0.020±0.002 mm2 (t=-0.106, P=0.916), height of tear meniscus 207.40±8.59, 215.40±11.10  μm(t=-0.777, P=0.444), depth of tear meniscus 177.77±7.10, 180.60±7.00 μm (t=-0.377, P=0.709). Score of fluorescent staining (median 0, 0) (Z=0.707, P=-0.480). In lacrimal plug implantation group, SIt 9.7±1.18 mm, 7.17±1.03 mm (t=-2.019, P=0.023) and TBUT 8.3±1.35 s, 7.9±1.25 s (t=-2.359, P=0.025) were significantly higher postoperatively than preoperatively, while in the control group there were no significant difference postoperation compared to preoperation in all indexes. Conclusion During short follow-up of this study it is showed that it is not necessary to implant absorbable lacrimal plug for myopia patents with mild dry eye after LASIK. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2013, 22: 257-260)
 

Key words: laser in situ keratomileusis, lacrimal plug, tear film