What You Need To Know About Epi-lasik

Epi-LASIK is a type of refractive surgery, which is designed to reduce a person’s dependency on contact lenses and eyeglasses. The technique was invented by Dr. Ioannis Pallikaris, and it attempts to merge the desirable features of other major refractive surgery techniques, such as PRK, and LASEK. Epi-LASIK is believed to avoid risks associated with and offers improved postoperative recovery relative to PRK. In essence, Epi-LASIK is described as ‘an advanced type of corneal surface ablation’ employed to correct myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism.

Epi-LASIK differs from conventional LASIK. involves cutting a flap in the cornea with a microkeratome or laser to reveal the stroma (the middle layer of the cornea). On the other hand, Epi-LASIK entails the creation of a thin flap of corneal epithelium. The epithelium is gently separated from the underlying corneal layer without cutting – quite the same procedure as what is followed during LASEK. However, as opposed to LASEK, Epi-LASIK

LASIK: Revolutionising correction of refractive errors
LASIK, an unprecedented advancement in eye care, offers people a safe and simple opportunity to see the world clearly, minus the inconvenience or discomfort of scratched or lost contact lenses, or the blocked side vision of spectacles. In simple term LASIK is a revolutionary laser technique for correction of refractive errors.
LASIK surgery works wonders for Packers' Ferguson
Ferguson said he went to three doctors seeking a panacea for the headaches. One suggested that LASIK surgery probably would solve his eye problem and just might curb the headaches.
New, Improved LASIK Surgery
Just how much better this new ?wavefront-guided LASIK? works isn't proven yet, but it's causing excitement among eye surgeons who say the three-dimensional maps let them customize treatment in a way never before possible.
Opening Your Eyes To LASIK
More and more people are going under the laser to shed their glasses and contact lenses. So the Eye Surgery Education Council has issued new guidelines to help patients determine whether they could be candidates for laser eye surgery.
BLADE-FREE LASIK SURGERY
Are you near-sighted? Far-sighted? LASIK eye surgery could rid you of your glasses. But if fear of going under the blade is stopping you -- stop worrying. Now, a new blade-free approach.
Low-Cost LASIK Surgery
This year, it's estimated that more than 1½ million people will have corrective laser eye surgery and the price of that surgery can vary tremendously, but cheaper is not always better.
Research warns against sleeping in contact lenses
Sleeping in contact lenses can lead to an increased risk of severe eye infection, new research suggests. But new generation contact lenses, the investigation reveals, perform better in this regard than their predecessors. The University of Manchester study found that wearers who failed to remove their lenses before bedtime had an increased risk of developing keratitis than those who routinely took out their lenses before going to sleep

does not make use of any alcohol solution to loosen and remove the surface of the epithelium.

Like LASEK, Epi-LASIK is more appropriate for patients who have thin corneas and are therefore not viable candidates for conventional LASIK. Once the epithelial layer is removed, the excimer laser reshapes the cornea in the desired manner so as to correct any refractive anomalies. Upon successful ablation, the epithelial flap is repositioned on the cornea. A thin soft bandage contact lens is then placed over the flap. This must be worn for several days after the Epi-LASIK surgery, in order to minimize discomfort and aid in the healing process.

Epi-LASIK holds a significant advantage over conventional in that it avoids any of the potential flap complications associated with LASIK. That is, there is no such risk as dislocated flap, folds in flap, epithelial in-growth etc. In addition, Epi-LASIK allows a more rapid visual recovery relative to PRK and LASEK.

In summary, Epi-LASIK is a technologically advanced surgical procedure, which might be useful if you have a thin cornea or some other visual anomaly that rules out conventional refractive surgery. However, it is advised that you acquire the assistance of an expert eye surgeon instead of hastily jumping on a conclusion.

The Surgeons Directory - find a surgery. Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about Epi-LASIK at Your Information.

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Your-LASIK.info