[EPI-LASIK--2 years' clinical results].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical results of Epi-LASIK, a new surface ablation surgical technique for the treatment of low and middle myopia.

METHODS: Twenty eyes of 10 patients had Epi-LASIK for the correction of low and middle myopia. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent of the refractive error was 3.64 diopters (D) +/- 1.9 D, and the best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was from 1.0 to 0.8 in 100 % of eyes. All epithelial separations were performed with the Krumiech-Barraquer microkeratome (Lasitome Gebauer). In the postoperative period the patients filled out a questionnaire grading pain score of the treated eyes.

RESULTS: The mean uncorrected visual acuity at 1 month after the operation was from 1.0 to 0.8 in 90 % of eyes. After 12 months, the mean spherical equivalent of the refractive error of the treated eyes was -0.262 +/- 0.15 D (from -0.25 to +0.25 D). One hundred percent of eyes had clear corneas at 6 months after the treatment. After 24 months, the mean spherical equivalent of the refractive error was -0.258 I 0.14 D, no "haze" was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: The first clinical results suggest that Epi-LASIK is a safe, less painful and efficient method for the correction of low and middle myopia. We suppose, further studies will establish this method as a very good alternative surface ablation procedure.