Abstract
Purpose: :
To assess the long term sequelae, principally time–to–first–recurrence, of phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) for the treatment of recurrent corneal erosion syndrome (RCES).
Methods: :
A retrospective case series was performed. Thirty–nine eyes in 33 patients with RCES required PTK and were treated using the VISX STAR Excimer Laser System. The data was analyzed with the Kaplan Meier survival estimate.
Results: :
Patients were characterized by the cause of their RCES. Over 50% had epithelial corneal dystrophies, 31% were post–traumatic, and 15% were idiopathic. Overall, 25% of eyes had a recurrence by 3 months, 36% had a recurrence by 9 months, and the 50% recurrence rate was not observed in our study follow–up period. The mean follow–up time was 17.4 months. Of those who had a primary recurrence, 38% had a second and 15% had a third. Visual acuity was slightly decreased within the 2 weeks following surgery, and 10% of patients developed transient haze. No serious adverse effects were reported.
Conclusions: :
PTK is an important treatment of RCES refractory to other therapies. Long–term data suggest that most patients treated with PTK do not develop recurrences, and side effects from PTK are minimal.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • laser