Published by EpiLASIK Info on 15 Dec 2008
“Epi-LASIK is my procedure of choice.”
In September 2008, four leading refractive surgeons explained why Epi-LASIK is their procedure of choice (for surface ablation) at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS) meeting in Berlin.
Drs. Richard L. Lindstrom, Richard J. Duffey, Osama Ibrahim, and Erik Mertens all noted that surface ablation procedures (Epi-LASIK and PRK) have more than tripled in the United States, increasing from almost 4 percent of all laser vision correction procedures in 2001 to nearly 14 percent in 2006. They and other surgeons have become much more selective about who is a good candidate for LASIK surgery.
One reason for the surge in Epi-LASIK’s popularity is that patients are less likely to develop post-surgical complications such as corneal ectasia. During Epi-LASIK, the surgeon removes less corneal tissue, which better preserves the cornea’s structural integrity and keeps it stable.
The surgeons also stated that, in comparison to PRK, Epi-LASIK results in better visual outcomes, less incidence of dry eye, a lower rate of complications, faster healing and faster visual recovery.