Epi-LASIK is a refractive surgery technique designed to reduce a person's dependency on eyeglasses and contact lenses. Invented by Dr. Ioannis Pallikaris, the technique is basically an automatic LASEK without alcohol; it can be better considered as superficial LASIK. The stromal bed is smoother than that obtained by mechanical methods or brush. Unlike alcohol (LASEK), there is no chance of damaging the limbal stem cells. It is also relatively less painful than LASEK.[1]
Recent studies show that the surface epithelial layer of the cornea heals faster if the epithelial sheet is removed at the end of surgery.[2][3] This means that the original rationale for carefully cleaving the epithelium with the aim of replacing it at the end of surgery is flawed. It is better in fact to discard the epithelial layer at the end of surgery, thus making epi-LASIK no different from traditional photorefractive keratectomy surgery.
Although relatively uncommon, the following are some of the more frequently reported complications of Epi-LASIK:[citation needed]
A potentially serious complication which occurs in 0.33% to 2.2% of cases is corneal stromal incursion during the microkeratome pass.[4] When this happens, the blade inadvertently cuts into the collagenous corneal stroma and creates an irregularity. If this irregularity is near the visual axis, permanent visual blurring can occur.[5]
The first cases outside Greece were performed in 2003. In September 2003, Marguerite McDonald became the first person in North America to perform Epi-LASIK.[6][7]
