Epi-LASIK (Epithelial Laser In Situ Keratomileusis)

Epi-LASIK is one of the newer alternate LASIK procedures and was designed so that patients who are not candidates for LASIK or LASEK may still undergo laser vision correction.

Both LASIK and LASEK are very successful at improving vision, but not every person who wants improved vision is a candidate for these laser vision surgeries. If your cornea is too thin, then you may not be a good candidate for LASIK due to concerns in creating the hinged flap in the epithelium. LASEK completely removes the epithelium and replaces it after surgery, but some people may have a reaction to the alcohol that is used when removing the surface of the cornea.

In cases like this, epi-LASIK may be the solution.

Procedure

Epi-LASIK can be performed on people who are myopic, hyperopic, or have astigmatism. After the eyes are numbed with an anesthetic, a flap is created in the epithelial using a plastic oscillating blade rather than the trephine blade used in LASEK.

Once the flap is created, an epithelial separator, also made of plastic, separates the epithelial sheet from the eye and folds it out of the way. As with LASIK or PRK, an excimer laser is then used to reshape the underlying corneal tissue. The epithelial sheet is placed back on the eye with a tool that resembles a spatula.

Special contacts are placed on the eyes to keep the epithelial flap in place while it heals. The eye doctor may remove these contacts after three days, depending on how the epithelium is healing.

It may take your eyes up to six months after the epi-LASIK procedure before you are able to tell what your final vision results will be. More often than not this is going to be 20/20 vision.

If you are interested in finding out more about epi-LASIK, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area for an initial consultation.