Abstract
Purpose :
Effectiveness of Phototherapeutic keratectomy with simultaneous application of matrix ReGeneraTingAgent (RGTA, polycarboxymethyl glucose sulfate ) as a therapy in recurrent corneal erosion syndrome
Methods :
Prospective, randomized study including 35 patients (39 eyes) with recurrent corneal erosion due to corneal dystrophy in which PTK (Group 1 -16 eyes) vs PTK with simultaneous application of the RGTA (Cacicol) eye drops directly after PTK, before contact lens(Group 2 – 23 eyes). Mean age 51.38 (from 29 to 89). Additionally 0,15 % sodium hyaluronate preservative-free lubricating eye drops were used. The mean photoablation area was 6,5 mm. BCVA, time to complete healing, recurrence rate, corneal morphology in confocal microscopy and corneal thickness in anterior segment optical coherent tomography were assessed. The follow-up time was 12 months. BCVA, healing time, recurrence rate, corneal morphology in confocal microscopy and corneal thickness in AS-OCT were assessed
Results :
BCVA improvement was noted in 78% of cases in group 1 and 86% in group 2. In both groups the stopped recurrence of corneal erosion and enhanced matrix regeneration were observed. The average time of epithelialization was 2.35 and 1.73 days in group 1 and 2 respectively (p,0.05). Confocal microscopy images showed normal epithelium 7 days after the treatment in 77% of eyes in group 1 and 95% in group 2 (p<0.05); Regular shape of keratocyte below the photoablation area and no objective haze were noticed in 72% and 91% of eyes respectively. No side effects were noted
Conclusions :
Regenerating agent improves corneal reepithelialization, is useful, alternative, noninvasive therapeutic approach in patients with recurrent corneal erosion
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.