ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Oftalmologica 2016 September;58(3):47-51

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Long-term outcomes of phototherapeutic keratectomy in the treatment of recurrent corneal erosions: a ten years’ experience

Saverio FROSINI, Franco FABRIZIO, Lucia FINOCCHIO, Dario GIORGIO, Gianni VIRGILI, Stanislao RIZZO

Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role and the long-term morphologic and functional outcomes of excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) in the treatment of recurrent corneal erosions (RCEs).
METHODS: This is a retrospective study about the surgical treatment (PTK) of a single refractive surgeon, over a period of 10 years, mean follow-up 2 years, and a total of 58 eyes, with an history of recurrent post-traumatic corneal abrasion. Mean frequency of attacks of 3.4 times/year. 58 eyes, 35 right eyes and 23 left eyes, of 58 patients, mean age 42 years old, 28 males and 30 females. They were subjected to a careful preoperative evaluation: an accurate anamnestic investigation, eye examination including UCVA and BCVA evaluation, autorefractor assessment, keratometry, tonometry, slit lamp examination, fundus evaluation, tear film assessment, Visante OCT, corneal topography, endothelial count, and a questionnaire evaluation about discomfort and quality of life.
RESULTS: After the treatment, there were no cases of recurrence and reprocessing. BCVA in all cases was 10/10. Forty eyes had no change, 18 eyes improved 1 line and no eye lost 1 line. In our experience we have found a mean hyperopic shift of + 0.50D in distance of twelve months. After PTK the mean endothelial cell count was 1890 cell/mm2, mean pachymetry was 566 µm, mean keratometry 46.00D. The mean time of re-epitehlialization was 7 days, no postoperative complications were found.
CONCLUSIONS: PTK is an effective, safe and repeatable technique for treatment of recurrent corneal abrasion and in our experience we have got complete healing in all cases, and no cases of relapse or reprocessing.