title: Phototherapeutic keratectomy with an epithelial flap for recurrent erosion syndrome.
abstract: Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) is an acceptable technique to treat recurrent erosion syndrome. Its disadvantage is postoperative pain. We present a modified technique to reduce the immediate pain from removal of the epithelium after PTK. Nine patients with recurrent erosion syndrome had PTK with epithelial reflap (similar to laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy) and contact lens application. The follow-up was 6 months. No patient reported severe postoperative pain. Three of 9 patients reported mild pain during the first 24 hours postoperatively. The best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 0.40 to 0.63 logMAR on the first postoperative day and 0.80 to 1.00 logMAR after a week. No patient developed recurrent erosion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Karl-Franzens University Medical School, Graz, Austria. navid.ardjomand@kfunigraz.ac.at
authors.forename: Navid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ardjomand
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fellner
authors.forename: Bertram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vidic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D012008:Recurrence; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013577:Syndrome