Epi-LASIK Laser Eye Surgery
By April | January 14, 2008
For the most advanced type of eye procedure, look at Epi-LASIK laser eye surgery. It combines the best of the traditional LASIK surgery with that of the LASEK and PRK laser procedures. Epi means Epithelial whilst LASIK means Laser in situ Keratomileusis. Essentially this procedure involves lightly separating the epithelial from the top of the cornea. An epikeratome is used to achieve this rather than slicing the top of the cornea to create a hinge which is what happens in LASIK.
Someone who would want this type of surgery would be some one with a very thin cornea and has with moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. Like other types of laser eye surgery, vision is achieved through the use of laser beams that reshape the cornea.
What are the Benefits of Epi-LASIK Laser Eye Surgery?
The two main advantages of Epi-LASIK is the recovery time and the speed of restored vision. The cornea isn’t cut with a microkeratome (a sharp blade) which means the cornea doesn’t have to heal. Also, only a very thin layer of the epithelial is separated so it can also heal very quickly. There are also no risks which can happen from incorrectly cutting the cornea. You will therefore be able to avoid the potential of losing your vision and other associated problems. Also the pain is less.
Risks of Epi-LASIK
It is important to remember that there is no such thing as risk-free surgery. However by having a thorough diagnostic testing you’ll be able to severely reduce your chance of problems.
The Epi-LASIK procedure
Like other laser eye treatments, the Epi-LASIK procedure will take less than 10 minutes to perform. To reduce pain and discomfort, anesthetic drops are put into your eye. From there, the epithelial must be moved off to the side so that the laser can reach the intended target area.
Specialist equipment is first of all needed to stabilize your eye. The epithelium separator then passes across the eye to flatten the cornea making to easier to separate the epithelial. It is not removed completely; instead it remains attached in the middle as apposed to the side which is what happens with LASIK.
To remove excess tissue from the cornea, a laser emits pulses of UV light. The procedure continues until the correct amount of tissue is removed. Afterwards, antibiotic drops are placed in the eye to prevent infection and a bandage similar to a contact lens is put in place. Those opting for the Epi-LASIK procedure can usually continue normal life the day after the procedure. Several follow-up visits are required to monitor healing and vision.
Be very careful when choosing your Epi-LASIK eye surgeon. Find out as much as you can about their experience with this particular type of procedure along with success rates. You will also want to know what level of care you will receive before, during and after the procedure. And of course all the associated costs.
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