title: Inhibition of recurrence of epithelial ingrowth with an amniotic membrane pressure patch to a laser in situ keratomileusis flap with a central stellate laceration: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical lifting and scraping is a well-known treatment for epithelial ingrowth, but treatment for epithelial ingrowth on the centrally perforated laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap has not been well studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a patient who had epithelial ingrowth to the backside of the flap through a central LASIK flap laceration with a stellate shape. The patient had undergone uncomplicated bilateral LASIK surgery 3 years before the trauma. Because the epithelial ingrowth was suspected during the first visit 2 weeks after trauma, and definite epithelial ingrowth was noted during the additional 2 week observation period, the ingrown epithelial tissue was removed mechanically with a number 15 blade after lifting of the flap 4 weeks after the trauma. An amniotic membrane overlay was applied over the cornea and was sutured tightly to the episclera to firmly press down the flap to the remaining posterior stroma, to prevent growth of the epithelium again to the backside of the flap. At the last follow-up visit, 5 months after surgery, the patient's visual acuity remained stabilized with no sign of recurrent epithelial ingrowth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed that an amniotic membrane patch can be a useful adjuvant in the treatment of epithelial ingrowth, even on the central stellate laceration of the LASIK flap over the visual axis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro Seodaemun-gu, 120-752, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kye Yoon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro Seodaemun-gu, 120-752, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro Seodaemun-gu, 120-752, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeihoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro Seodaemun-gu, 120-752, Seoul, South Korea. eungkkim@yuhs.ac.|Corneal Dystrophy Research Institute, Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. eungkkim@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Eung Kweon
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D065306:Corneal Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008297:Male; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Amniotic membrane; Epithelial ingrowth; Laser in situ keratomileusis