Preoperative characteristics and a potential mechanism of chronic dry eye after LASIK.

Purpose: To determine whether measurable preoperative characteristics predispose patients to chronic dry eye after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Methods: The study consisted of 24 eyes of 24 patients who underwent LASIK. Tear breakup time, Schirmer testing with and without anesthesia, rose bengal staining, central corneal sensitivity, nucleus-to-cytoplasmic ratio, and goblet cell density were evaluated 2 weeks before and 1 week, 3 months, and 9 months after surgery.