OBJECTIVE: To investigate various possible factors influencing the occurrence of recurrent corneal epithelial detachment after excimer laser keratectomy. METHODS: 3091 cases of 6085 eyes treated with keratomileusis (LASEK, LASIK) at our refractive surgery center from January 2006 to December 2008 were followed up for more than 6 months. The data of 57 cases of 110 eyes in which recurrent corneal epithelial detachment occurred were analyzed and summarized, and compared with 60 cases of 120 eyes in a random sample of patients operated at the same time. RESULTS: Recurrent corneal epithelial detachment occurred in all post-LASIK patients, none in post-LASEK patients; in the corneal epithelial detachment group there were 12 men and 45 women; in the control group there were 24 men and 36 women; X2 test was performed, X2=4.926, p<0.05, suggesting a statistically significant difference between the two groups; among all 57 patients with 38 cases (66.7%) had a history of preoperative corneal contact lens wear, of which 27 cases (71.1%) had worn them for more than 3 years; the duration of preoperative corneal contact lens wear ranged from 0 to 20 years in the corneal epithelial detachment group, with a mean of 4.84±4.32 years, and from 0 to 10 years in the control group, with a mean of 2.57±2.14 years; a group t-test was performed, t = 3.629, p<0.05, suggesting a statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant; 52 cases (91.2%) developed within one month after surgery and 55 cases (96.5%) developed after three months after surgery; 51 cases (89.5%) developed in both eyes. Conclusion: Recurrent corneal epithelial detachment occurs most often in post-LASIK patients, mostly early postoperatively and in both eyes, and women and long-term preoperative corneal contact lens wear are its high-risk factors. Keywords: excimer laser; keratomileusis; corneal epithelial detachment