title: Combined ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid chelation, phototherapeutic keratectomy and amniotic membrane transplantation for treatment of band keratopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) chelation and excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) combined with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for the treatment of band keratopathy (BK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven eyes in ten patients with BK received combined PTK (ablation zone of central 7.0-7.5 mm, depth of 50 microm), EDTA chelation (0.05 M, 3 minutes), and amniotic membrane transplantation using fibrin glue. Preand postoperative best corrected visual acuities, symptom changes, reepithelialization time, cosmesis, recurrence, and complications were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Visual acuity improved in three eyes (27.3%) and did not change in eight eyes (72.7%). Symptoms improved in all patients, and the mean reepithelialization time was 10.6+/-5.3 days. The cosmetic results were good in eight eyes (72.7%) and were fair in three eyes (27.3%). During the mean follow-up period of 11.4+/-6.1 months (range, 6 to 23 months), no postoperative complications or recurrences were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of EDTA chelation, PTK, and AMT is safe and effective for the treatment of band keratopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Kwang-Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung-Chul
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D004492:Edetic Acid