title: [Therapy of persistent erosion after severe chemical eye burn with the excimer laser].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The course after severe eye burns is characterized by many complications which require a longlasting and intensive therapy. The success of treatment is menaced especially by superficial problems like persistent erosiones which occur also after keratoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  As a cause of persistent erosions, pathological changes of Bowmans' membrane are discussed. Therefore, it was removed by PTK (phototherapeutic keratectomy) in our patient, in order to allow better adhesion of the epithelium to the deeper, less changed layers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient suffered from a severe burn accident of his right eye with liquid cement. After proliferations were excised twice, we had to glue on a hard contact lens as an artificial epithelium due to a persistent erosion. Later, the development of a bacterial keratitis required keratoplasty. The epithelium remained intact for eleven months, but then an erosion arose and persisted for nine months. Therefore we performed a PTK and the epithelium closed subsequently within four days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment of persistent erosions has been very difficult so far, and often procedures like artificial epithelium or even keratoplasty have been necessary. The astonishing course of our patient indicates, that PTK is a promising and less invasive therapy in these cases.
authors.affiliation: Augenklinik der RWTH Aachen.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kottek
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Redbrake
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Schlossmacher
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuckelkorn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000601:surgery; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation
vernacular_title: Therapie einer persistierenden Erosio nach schwerer Verätzung mit dem Excimer-Laser.