The management of epithelial ingrowth after laser in situ keratomileusis

. To investigate the treatment of corneal epithelial ingrowth with flap melt after LASIK.

Thirteen eyes of 13 patients with corneal epithelial ingrowth and flap melt after LASIK were treated based on the thickness and the extent of melting of the flap. Nine eyes were treated by lifting the flap and scraping the epithelium in the interface. Three eyes underwent allogenic keratomileusis. The flap was removed in one eye.

Recurrence occurred in 2 eyes treated by lifting the flap. The flaps, however, healed normally after retreatment. The grafts healed normally in the allogenic keratomileusis group, except for one eye in which the flap was lost. The corneal epithelium healed over the stromal bed after the flap was removed. Corneal haze of grade 2 was present at 6 months. The uncorrected visual acuity was between 0.3 and 1.0, and the best-corrected visual acuity lost 1 to 3 lines.

Corneal epithelial ingrowth with flap melt is a severe complication after LASIK. However, with proper treatment, vision can be salvaged in most cases.