Excimer phototherapeutic keratectomy for recurrent granular dystrophy.
OBJECTIVE
Corneal grafting is a standard treatment for visually disabling granular dystrophy. The visual results of this procedure are generally good, but can be marred by recurrences of granular deposits some years later. We report the results of phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) for recurrent granular dystrophy in three eyes from two patients and discuss the possibilities of treating de novo granular dystrophy with excimer laser.


METHODS
The records of two patients (three eyes) treated with excimer PTK for recurrent granular deposits on the donor cornea were reviewed.


RESULTS
In all cases visual acuity was improved and repeat corneal grafting avoided. No significant complications occurred although one eye had further recurrence of granular deposits which was also successfully retreated with excimer PTK. Follow-up on these cases varies between five months and three years.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that excimer PTK offers a simple, safe and repeatable way of restoring visual acuity to most cases of recurrent granular dystrophy. Visual recovery is fast and all the incumbent problems of repeat grafting are avoided.
Maclean
H
H
Sydney Eye Hospital, Wooloomooloo, New South Wales.
Robinson
L P
LP
Wechsler
A W
AW
Goh
A
A
D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence; D014792:Visual Acuity