In order to investigate the safety of laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK), corneal endothelial cells before and after the LASEK procedure were evaluated.

Thirty-six patients (72 eyes) who underwent LASEK between June 2010 and May 2011 were included in the present study. Parameters included corneal endothelial cell density (CD), coefficient of variation of the cell area (CV), and percentage of hexagonal cells (6A) which were all obtained by a specular microscope (Noncon ROBO sp 8000, Konan, Japan) before and 3, 6, and 12 months after LASEK.

Preoperative CD was 2952 ± 352 cells/mm², and postoperative CD did not significantly change at 3, 6, and 12 months. Preoperative CV and 6A and postoperative CV and 6A at 12 months were not significantly different. Furthermore, correlation between change in corneal endothelial cell and degree of myopia correction was not statistically significant.

LASEK appears to be a safe procedure for corneal endothelial cells over an extended period.