title: Comparison of Early Changes in Ocular Surface and Inflammatory Mediators between Femtosecond Lenticule Extraction and Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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-1α (IL-1α), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nerve growth factor (NGF), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) 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-β1 and IL-1α concentration were found in the SMILE group compared to the FLEx group postoperatively. No significant difference was found in tear TNF-α, IFN-γ and MMP-9 for either group before or after surgery. Tear NGF, TGF-β1 and IL-1α show a correlation with ocular surface changes after FLEx or SMILE surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SMILE has superiority over FLEx in early ocular surface changes and NGF, TGF-β1 and IL-1α may contribute to the process of ocular surface recovery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02540785.
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center and State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.|Department of Ophthalmology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, China.
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Hainan Eye Hospital, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Haikou 570311, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center and State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Hainan Eye Hospital, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Haikou 570311, China.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center and State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Liangping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Hainan Eye Hospital, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Haikou 570311, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bio-energy Crops, School of Life Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.|Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States of America.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center and State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.|Hainan Eye Hospital, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Haikou 570311, China.
authors.forename: Xingwu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D048988:Corneal Surgery, Laser; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C508584:IL1A protein, human; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9