Histochemical and ultrastructural evaluation of myopic corneal lenticules based on refractive error.

Background: This study aimed to investigate cell degeneration, apoptosis, and ultrastructural differences in refractive lenticules (RL) obtained using small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) compared with spherical equivalence (SE) refraction values.

Methods: This study included 84 eyes from 42 patients. Patients were divided into two groups according to the SE values: those with values below 4 diopters (D) (Group 1) and above 4 diopters (D) (Group 2).