title: Annular keratotomy for the treatment of painful bullous keratopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether annular keratotomy can relieve pain associated with bullous keratopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients with painful bullous keratopathy and poor visual potential underwent partial-thickness (0.30 to 0.42 mm) trephination of the cornea under local anesthesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients reported an absence of pain and foreign body sensation during an average follow-up interval of six months. The surgical procedure was uncomplicated; however, two eyes developed increased central corneal stromal edema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Annular keratotomy appears to be a relatively safe and simple surgical procedure that may be useful in managing pain in eyes with painful cornea edema and poor visual potential.
authors.affiliation: Cornea Service, Eye Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Koenig
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local