[Epi-Lasek--our experience].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study is to find advantages of alcohol assisted epithelial flap creation before surface excimer--laser refractive ablation.

Methods: One hundred eyes undergoing Epi-Lasek with 20% alcohol in the beginning of procedure. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was - 3.44 D +/- 1.8 and/from -1.0 to - 8.0 D/spectacle--corrected visual acuity was from 1.0 to 0.8 in 100% eyes. All epithelial separations were performed with the Lasitome Gebauer. In the beginning of operation was used 20% alcohol for 15 second.

Results: The mean uncorrected visual acuity at 1 month after operation was from 1.0 to 0.8 in 92% eyes. After 12 months, the mean spherical equivalent was -0.262 +/- 0.15D (from +0.50 to -0.75D). At 12 months no haze was observed.

Conclusion: Our clinical results confirmed, that using 20 % alcohol or Epi-Lasek is contribution to refractive excimer surgery. Epi-Lasek enhances creation and separation of epithelial flap, leaves epithelial basal membrane attached to Bowmans layer and though creates optimal conditions for excimer laser surface ablation.