Photo-activated riboflavin therapy of refractory corneal ulcers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic effect of photo-activated riboflavin (PAR) for treating refractory corneal ulcers.


METHODS
Seven eyes with infectious keratitis, presented with a gradually deteriorating, vision-threatening, corneal ulcer, despite intense antimicrobial therapy, were treated with PAR. The surgical procedure was deepithelialization of the affected corneas followed by UV-A riboflavin (B2) cross-linking. Local antimicrobial therapy was continued after the procedure.


RESULTS
In all cases, the progression of corneal melting was halted after PAR treatment. Emergency keratoplasty was not necessary in any of the 7 eyes presented. More importantly, all the ulcers were healed without significant vascularization.


CONCLUSIONS
PAR is a promising option for treating patients with therapy-refractory infectious keratitis to avoid emergency keratoplasty and should be considered as a potential adjuvant therapeutic tool in such eyes.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. anitap49@yahoo.com
Anita
A
Panda
Sasikala N
SN
Krishna
Sandeep
S
Kumar
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D015817:Eye Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D012256:Riboflavin