title: Treatment of corneal epithelial in-growth after excimer laser in situ keratomileusis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate efficacy of photo therapeutic keratectomy (PTK) on corneal epithelial growth under the lamellar flap after excimer laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
  
  
  METHODS
  In the 6 eyes with epithelial in-growth, the corneal cap was lifted, and the in-growing epithelium was removed from the interface. Five to 10 pulses of PTK being 7 mm in diameter were placed over the undersurface of the flap and the stromal bed, irrigation between the interface and replacing corneal flap were performed, and 50 to 75 pulses PTK being 3 mm in diameter were utilized to smooth the flap edge. The follow-up period ranged from 5 to 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the follow-up, no epithelial implantation reoccurred in these 6 eyes. The uncorrected visual acuity achieved their best preoperative corrected visual acuity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that PTK can prevent recurrent epithelial in-growth after LASIK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Second Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China (Email: hdxh@126.com)
authors.forename: Xinhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Yabo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014792:Visual Acuity