title: One-year clinical results after epi-LASIK for myopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical results of epi-LASIK for the treatment of low to moderate myopia and myopic astigmatism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred thirty-four eyes of 138 patients underwent epi-LASIK for the correction of low to moderate myopia. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent ranged from -1.0 to -7.25 diopters (D) (-3.74+/-1.46, mean+/-standard deviation [SD]) and baseline logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) from 0.10 to -0.18 (mean+/-SD, 0.00+/-0.06).
  
  
  METHODS
  All enrolled eyes underwent epi-LASIK using the Centurion SES epikeratome (Norwood Abbey EyeCare, Victoria, Australia) and the Allegretto (Wavelight Laser Technologie AG, Erlangen, Germany) laser platform. The enrolled patients were followed up daily until the epithelial healing was complete as well as at the 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month postoperative intervals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The main parameters assessed were subjective evaluation of postoperative pain, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and BSCVA, manifest refraction, haze grade, and contrast sensitivity of the operated eyes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean epithelial healing time was 4.70+/-0.87 days (range, 3-7 days), with mean logMAR UCVA on the day of reepithelization of 0.26+/-0.14 (range, 0.7-0.0). One year after the treatment, the spherical equivalent of the treated eyes (n = 222) ranged from -1.25 to +0.625 D (mean+/-SD, -0.18+/-0.6 D), with 80.33% of the eyes within 0.5 D (96.72% within 1 D) of the attempted correction. At the same interval, 86% of the eyes had clear corneas and 14% clinically insignificant (trace) haze, whereas 60% of the eyes had a line gain of 1 or more lines of BSCVA. Mean logMAR contrast sensitivity of the treated eyes at 4 different spatial frequencies was improved or remained unchanged throughout the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One-year visual and refractive results after epi-LASIK suggest that it is a safe and efficient method for the correction of low to moderate myopia and myopic astigmatism.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Vision & Optics, Heraklion, Greece. vikatsan@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: Vikentia J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Katsanevaki
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Kalyvianaki
authors.forename: Dimitra S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kavroulaki
authors.forename: Ioannis G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Pallikaris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000502:physiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology