Corneal optical coherence tomography before and after phototherapeutic keratectomy for recurrent epithelial erosions(2).
OBJECTIVE
To study the representation of corneal structures with optical coherence tomography (OCT) before and after excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) for recurrent epithelial erosions.


METHODS
Departments of Ophthalmology, Vivantes Klinikum Neukölln, Berlin, and Medizinische Universität, Lübeck, Germany.


METHODS
This prospective study comprised 15 eyes of 14 patients with recurrent epithelial erosions. The central corneal and epithelial thickness as well as the wound-healing response in the anterior corneal stroma were assessed with slitlamp-adapted OCT before and after PTK.


RESULTS
After PTK, the symptoms improved in all patients without loss of best corrected, glare, or low-contrast visual acuity. The mean central corneal OCT thickness was 540 microm +/-28 (SD) preoperatively, 492 +/- 36 microm immediately after epithelial debridement and PTK, and 519 +/- 25 microm after 7 weeks (P <.01). The mean central epithelial OCT thickness changed from 70 +/- 13 microm preoperatively to 60 +/- 7 microm after 7 weeks (P >.01). Changes in the light-scattering properties in the anterior subepithelial stroma revealed a hyperreflective area with a mean thickness of 46 +/- 13 microm after 7 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Using noncontact corneal OCT, corneal and epithelial thickness changes and the wound-healing response in the anterior corneal stroma could be evaluated after PTK in patients with recurrent epithelial erosions.
Wirbelauer
Christopher
C
Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Vivantes Klinikum Neukölln, Berlin, Germany.
Scholz
Christian
C
Häberle
Heike
H
Laqua
Horst
H
Pham
Duy Thoai
DT
D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019781:Corneal Topography; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D014054:Tomography; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014945:Wound Healing