Hello, I had Lasik on Jan 27th 2006. I ended up with corneal erosions for three months, and I also have epithelial cells under my left flap, I also have some dry eye problems. Although my Schrimers score is 21 one eye and 15 the other. My question is, do you feel that there is still healing after the 6th month? I also have been having problems with the eye with the cells. Is it true that they can return if treated. Also could that make my erosions come back? I have so many questions because of all the complications. I'm just hoping that I continue to heal. Thank you for any info you can give me.

Yes, healing can continue and vision can improve after the six month point. In a way, you really have not hit six months postop. You have not had six months of uneventful healing. Your healing has been delayed by epithelial ingrowth and epithelial erosions.

Epithelial erosions after Lasik are commonly caused by severe dry eyes. Your Shirmer test being around normal indicates that your aqueous layer of your tears is good, but you may have a very fast tear breakup time because of a poor lipid layer. We have a detailed article about Lasik and Dry Eyes at http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-dry-eyes.htm that you may find helpful. Be sure to follow the link to dry eye treatment info. Erosions can re-occur if dry eyes re-occur.

It is possible for epithelial ingrowth to re-occur after the cells have been removed. It is possible with every flap lift. Fortunately the flap can be lifted as many times as necessary. Unfortunately each time the flap is lifted the healing process restarts and any Lasik induced temporary dry eye issues will likely restart. You may want to read http://www.complicatedeyes.org/ingrowth.htm

Glenn Hagele
http://USAEyes.org
Lasik Patient Advocacy & Surgeon Certification

I am not a doctor.

Thanks Glenn for the advice. I am doing the vitamins and restasis. I am hoping since I am still healing that the dryness will eventually be better too. My eyes actually don't feel really dry, they just burn sometimes. My doc said that they don't look dry. It seems that we hear that magic six months and when we are not better we do panic a little. I also have blepharitis. So as you can see any side effect I got. This was after lots of research and reading before jumping into this. Of course you can imagine I am having regrets, but it is too late, and things have gotten better. So, hopefully six months from now I can look back and be glad that I did this. I did not have trouble with dry eyes before this, I couldn't wear contacts, but that is because they spun around on my eyes. So I never thought much about the dry eye thing. Also I am a hairdresser which I'm sure is not a plus Thanks Susie