Comparison of Early Changes in Ocular Surface and Inflammatory Mediators between Femtosecond Lenticule Extraction and Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction

Purpose To evaluate the short-term changes in ocular surface measures and tear inflammatory mediators after femtosecond lenticule extraction (FLEx) and small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) procedures. Methods Eighteen subjects (18 eyes) underwent FLEx and 23 subjects (23 eyes) underwent SMILE in this single-center and prospective study. Central corneal sensitivity, Schirmer I test (SIT), noninvasive tear breakup time (NI-TBUT), tear meniscus height, corneal fluorescein (FL) staining, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were assessed in all patients. Concentrations of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), nerve growth factor (NGF), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in collected tears were measured by multiplex antibody microarray. Results Central corneal sensitivity was reduced in both groups, but the scores in the SMILE group were higher than those in the FLEx group at all time points postoperatively (P<0.01). Lower FL scores and longer NI-BUT were observed in the SMILE group 1 week after surgery (P<0.05). OSDI scores in both groups increased rapidly at 1 day and 1 week postoperatively, then returned to their preoperative levels within 1 month (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in SIT or tear meniscus height between the two groups. Lower and faster recovery of tear NGF, TGF-beta 1 and IL-1 alpha concentration were found in the SMILE group compared to the FLEx group postoperatively. No significant difference was found in tear TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and MMP-9 for either group before or after surgery. Tear NGF, TGF-beta 1 and IL-1 alpha show a correlation with ocular surface changes after FLEx or SMILE surgery. Conclusion SMILE has superiority over FLEx in early ocular surface changes and NGF, TGF-beta 1 and IL-1 alpha may contribute to the process of ocular surface recovery.