Epi-LASIK
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Epi-LASIK is a refractive surgery technique designed to reduce a person's dependency on eyeglasses and contact lenses. Invented by Dr. Ioannis Pallikaris (Crete, Greece), the technique is basically an automatic LASEK without alcohol:
- a device similar to a microkeratome (called epi-keratome) slides over the surface of the cornea, just underneath the epithelial layer of cells while suction is applied
- the result is a hinged sheet of epithelium that is at least partially viable
- it is reflected out of the way so that the ablation can take place
- the sheet is repositioned and a bandage soft contact lens is placed on the eye
The first cases outside Greece were performed in September 2003.
[edit] Complications
Although relatively uncommon, the following are some of the more frequently reported complications of Epi-LASIK [1]:
- Over/undercorrection
- Visual acuity fluctuation
- Halos around light sources
- Starbursts around light sources
- Decentered ablation
- Corneal Haze
- Epithelium erosion
- Loss of epithelial flap
