Comparison 1. LASIK with a mechanical microkeratome versus LASIK with a femtosecond laser.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1.1 Mean uncorrected visual acuity after surgery	3		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1.1 At 1 month	3	384	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.13 [‐0.08, 0.33]
1.1.2 At 3 months	2	144	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.00 [‐0.03, 0.03]
1.1.3 At 12 months	1	42	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.01 [‐0.06, 0.04]
1.2 Proportion of eyes within ± 0.5 diopters of target refraction after surgery	3		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.2.1 At 1 month	2	144	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.87 [0.77, 0.99]
1.2.2 At 12 months	1	79	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.85, 1.11]
1.3 Mean spherical equivalent of the refractive error after surgery	5		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.3.1 At 1 month	3	384	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.11 [‐0.18, 0.40]
1.3.2 At 12 months	3	168	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.09 [‐0.01, 0.19]
1.4 Corneal haze	1		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
1.4.1 Any time point	1		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
1.5 Dry eye	1		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
1.5.1 Any time point	1		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
1.6 Diffuse lamellar keratitis	3		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.6.1 Any time point	3	134	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.27 [0.10, 0.78]
1.7 Epithelial ingrowth	2		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.7.1 Any time point	2	102	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.04 [0.11, 9.42]
1.8 Best corrected visual acuity after surgery	1	126	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.01 [‐0.04, 0.02]
1.8.1 At 1 month	1	42	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.00 [‐0.05, 0.05]
1.8.2 At 3 months	1	42	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.00 [‐0.05, 0.05]
1.8.3 At 12 months	1	42	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.03 [‐0.09, 0.03]