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Three methods of surface ablation are in use: photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), LASEK, and Epi-LASIK. These methods differ in the way the epithelial layer is handled.

In Epi-LASIK, a purely mechanical means of epithelial dissection allows the creation of an epithelial sheet, which is repositioned on the stroma after excimer laser ablation. Several epikeratomes have been developed for this purpose. These devices differ from LASIK microkeratomes in that the blade and its angle of cutting are optimised for a clean subepithelial dissection, which does not disrupt the underlying corneal stroma.