Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To describe a case series of patients with persistent corneal edema treated with photorefractive keratectomy. Methods: Patients with persistent, painful corneal edema underwent photorefractive keratectomy with the VISX S4 excimer laser. Visual acuity, refractive error, corneal pachymetry, topography and specular microscopy were tested before and after treatment. Depth of corneal ablations ranged between 5 to 25% of the original pachymetry depending upon the refractive error. Results: Patients had an overall improvement in their ocular discomfort and corneal clarity. Postoperative corneal pachymetry measurements remained stable. Conclusions: Photorefractive keratectomy may be useful in the treatment of corneal edema. In this case series, the goals of decreasing the workload on the endothelial pump by thinning the cornea, improving the adhesion of the epithelium to the stroma, and decreasing the refractive error were achieved.
Keywords: cornea: endothelium • refractive surgery: PRK • cornea: stroma and keratocytes