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Phototherapeutic keratectomy for treatment of recurrent corneal erosions and corneal dystrophies

Session Details

Session Title: Special Cases

Session Date/Time: Monday 07/10/2013 | 17:00-18:30

Paper Time: 18:06

Venue: Elicium 1 (First Floor)

First Author: : B.Samadi SWEDEN

Co Author(s): :    M. Economou              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To study the outcome of patients with recurrent corneal erosions (RCE) and with corneal dystrophies (CD) who were treated with phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK).

Setting:

The anterior segment clinic at St. Erik Eye Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who had undergone PTK from January 2010 to February 2012. A total of 55 patients were included in the study that had symptoms of ocular discomfort and/or reduced visual acuity (VA). The patients were divided into 2 etiologic groups: 1. RCE due to trauma or idiopathic, 48 PTKs on 45 eyes of 45 patients and 2. CD, 10 PTKs on 10 eyes of 10 patients. In the RCE group all patients had ocular discomfort, which was the main indication for PTK. In patients with CD, PTK was primarily performed to improve VA. Postoperative clinical follow-up ranged from 1-14 months (mean 4 months). The patients were analyzed for preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and refraction, change in spherical equivalent and symptoms of ocular discomfort.

Results:

The BCVA remained unchanged in the RCE group after the PTK treatment at their last clinical visit. In terms of refractive change, in the RCE group 19 eyes (42 %) had the same refractive error, 10 eyes (22 %) became more myopic with a change in average spherical equivalent from -0.15 D prePTK to -0.67 D postPTK and 16 eyes (36 %) became more hyperopic, with a change in average spherical equivalent from -1.27 D prePTK to -0.92 D postPTK. There were no symptoms of ocular discomfort in 19 eyes (42%), 25 eyes (56 %) had minor symptoms and 1 eye (2 %) had major symptoms with more discomfort postoperatively. Amongst CD patients the preoperative mean BCVA increased from 6/12 to 6/9 on Snellen chart postoperatively. One eye (10 %) had the same refractive error, 2 eyes (20%) became more myopic with a change in average spherical equivalent from -2.94 D prePTK to -3.69 D postPTK and 7 eyes (70 %) became more hyperopic, with a change in average spherical equivalent from -3.55 D prePTK to -1.61 D postPTK. Only 2 (20 %) patients had ocular discomfort prior to PTK, however none of them had symptoms postoperatively.

Conclusions:

PTK is a safe and effective treatment for RCEs and CDs. It may reduce symptoms of ocular discomfort and it may improve BCVA.

Financial Interest:

NONE