J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2005 Oct;46(10):1711-1717.

Short Term Clinical Results of Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis and Epi-Laser in Situ Keratomileusis for Moderate and High Myopia

• Kwon HL
• Kim KI
• Koo BS
• Park HR

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare the results of laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and epi-laser in situ keratomileusis (Epi-LASIK) for the treatment of moderate to high myopia. METHODS: In this study, 50 patients with a manifest refraction of moderate to high myopia were assigned to two groups: 50 eyes of 25 patients treated with LASEK and 50 eyes of 25 patients treated with epi-LASIK. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), manifest refraction, corneal haze, and postoperative pain were reviewed in LASEK and epi-LASIK treated eyes at 3 months after the operation. RESULTS: At one week after surgery, UCVA was recovered more rapidly after epi-LASIK than LASEK (LASEK: 0.61+/-0.23, Epi-LASIK: 0.79+/-0.11, p<0.05), but UCVA at both 1 and 3 months showed no significant difference between the LASEK and epi-LASIK groups. However, epi-LASIK-treated eyes had lower postoperative pain scores and lower corneal haze scores (1 month; p=0.01) than those of LASEK-treated eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Epi-LASIK showed a more rapid visual recovery than LASEK at 1 week after surgery for the correction of myopia. Epi-LASIK-treated eyes also had less postoperative pain and an earlier reduction of postoperative corneal haze. These results suggest epi-LASIK could be a viable alternative procedure for the correction of moderate to high myopia.

Keyword

Corneal haze; Epi-Laser in situ keratomileusis; Laser epithelial keratomileusis; Postoperative pain

MeSH Terms

Humans
Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted
Myopia*
Pain, Postoperative
Visual Acuity