Epi-LASIK: 6-month results of an advanced surface ablation procedure

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Epi-LASIK for the treatment of low myopia and myopic astigmatism.

Methods: 162 eyes of 108 patients were treated with Epi-LASIK for low myopia and myopic astigmatism. Epithelial mechanical separation was performed with the use of Centurion Epikeratome™ (Norwood Abbey, Australia). Preoperative spherical equivalent ranged from –1.75D to –7.75D and best-spectacle corrected (BSCVA) from 0.50 to –0.10 log MAR.

Results: Epithelial separation was successfully performed in all 162 eyes. The epithelial healing was completed within 4.64±0.82 days (range 3 to 6 days). The mean log MAR UCVA on the day of reepithelization was 0.25±0.13 (range 0.40 to 0.00). The spherical equivalent was –0.30D±0.61D (N=142) at one-month postoperative interval, –0.19±0.44 at three months (N=111), and –0.21±0.37 at six months postoperatively (N=79). 52 eyes (47%) and 46 eyes (58%) gained one to two lines of BSCVA at three and six months respectively. 98% of the Epi-LASIK treated eyes had clear corneas or trace haze by the sixth postoperative month.

Conclusion: Preliminary clinical results suggest that Epi-LASIK is a safe and effective modality for the treatment of low myopia.