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Clinical outcomes of epi-LASIK: 1-year results of on- and off-flap procedures with and without mitomycin-C

Aim To evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes of epi-laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) performed either on-flap or off-flap with or without 0.02% mitomycin-C (MMC) in terms of corneal haziness, pain scores and satisfaction scores. Methods In this non-randomised comparative retrospective study, the charts of 198 patients (394 eyes) who had undergone an epi-LASIK procedure for myopia (−1.5 D to −8.0 D spherical equivalent) correction were reviewed. Patients were classified into four groups: Group I, on-flap without MMC, 181 eyes; Group II, on-flap with MMC, 52 eyes; Group III, off-flap without MMC, 93 eyes; Group IV, off-flap with MMC, 68 eyes. We compared the group outcomes on the first day, 1, 3 and 6 months and 1 year after the operation. Results The mean uncorrected visual acuity was significantly better in the off-flap groups (III and IV) than in the on-flap groups (I and II) on day 1 (p=0.002). There was no significant difference in the spherical equivalent among all groups at 1 year (p=0.305). Some degree of haziness was present in 10 eyes (Grade II: 2; Grade I: 8), but the haziness level was not significantly different among groups at 1 year (p=0.533). Pain scores (0−10) were lower in the off-flap groups (III and IV) (p=0.010). Satisfaction scores (0–10) were higher in the off-flap groups (III and IV), but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.248). Conclusions Myopic correction by epi-LASIK surgery with all four methods showed stable visual results in terms of the 1-year postoperative clinical outcomes. Haziness levels revealed that treatment with 0.02% MMC was less effective than expected. Overall, the off-flap method offered faster visual recovery and less postoperative pain than the on-flap method.