EPI LASIK

Epi-LASIK is the latest technology eye surgery which solves the problem related with LASIK and LASEK. Though in LASIK, the surgeon cuts a flap in the cornea with a sharp blade or a laser and it may have the risk of cutting the flap too thickly but the bladeless LASIK process can reduce this risk.

In LASEK, the surgeon cuts the cornea's outer layer, the epithelium, in a thin sheet that retains its hinge on the eye. In Epi-LASIK this is also done but the blade that is used is blunt, plastic oscillating in the place of finer blade is used in LASEK.

In LASEK alcohol is used to loosen the epithelial sheet but in Epi-LASIK, the plastic blade is used to separate the sheet from the eye and it reduces the risk of reaction from the alcohol, which can kill epithelial cells but some eye surgeon use alcohol with the Epi-LASIK process procedure to improve quality of the flap and attached hinge.
 
This process is good for those with flatter corneas and less myopia because it is difficult in case of those with steeper corneas and higher amounts of myopia. When the epithelial flap is made it is lifted and gently folded out of the way and excimer laser is used, in LASIK to shape the underlying corneal tissue. After this the epithelial flap is placed back on the eye with a kind of spatula.

A special contact lens is placed on the eye to keep the flap in place while the epithelium grows back. Ahigh-Dk contact lens is used for this and it is oxygen-permeable. The contact lens protects the surface of the eye and allows the epithelial cells to grow back properly.