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Los Angeles EpiLASIK FAQs
Serving Los Angeles and Orange County, California
What is EpiLASIK?
EpiLASIK is a relatively new procedure that combines the positive aspects of PRK, LASIK and LASEK while eliminating some of the downsides. It corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The same laser is used for the actual vision correction but how the eye is treated before and after the laser differs quite a bit.
How is EpiLASIK different?
As with LASIK, a flap is made and then the corneal treatment is done with the excimer laser. However, the flap in EpiLASIK is made with a plastic epithelial separator (epikeratome) instead of a metal blade (microkeratome) and is thinner than the flap made for LASIK. This is true whether the LASIK flap is created with a microkeratome or the IntraLase laser. The epikeratome parts the epithelial tissue along a natural separation line, which makes it heal more easily.
Unlike LASIK, no alcohol solution is used in the treatment of the epithelium, which results in a quicker healing time, as alcohol damages the epithelial cells.
After the flap is made, the laser treatment completed and the flap placed back down, a bandage contact lens is placed on the eye for a few days during the healing process. At your post-operative appointment, Dr. Khanna will evaluate when you can remove it .
What are some of the advantages of EpiLASIK?
- Fewer flap complications than LASIK (although flap complications with LASIK are usually correctible)
- Dry eye is less often a complication afterwards
- No alcohol solutions are used, decreasing healing time
- Healing time is faster (3-4 days) than that of PRK or LASEK (5-7 days)
- Considered safer than LASIK
- Results from EpiLASIK include less post-operative haze
Who is a candidate for EpiLASIK?
Potential candidates include people who have thin or flat corneas or dry eye and are not candidates for traditional LASIK.
If you have been told that you are not a candidate for LASIK due to thin corneas or dry eye, call or email Khanna Institute today to see if EpiLASIK can help you see clearly again!
