title: Transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy for recurrent corneal erosions in a patient with previous corneal collagen cross-linking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the significant visual and topographic improvement of a patient who had corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) performed and was subsequently treated with transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy (t-PTK) for recurrent corneal erosions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 36-year-old woman presented with recurrent corneal erosions in the right eye due to foreign body corneal trauma 1 month prior to presentation. The patient had undergone CXL treatment for keratoconus on the same eye 1 year prior to presentation. After failed conservative treatment consisting of epithelial debridement and lubrication with artificial tears, the patient underwent t-PTK.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four months after t-PTK, corneal erosions did not recur and the patient remained asymptomatic. Slit-lamp examination revealed a clear cornea. The patient showed significant visual and topographic improvement after t-PTK.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transepithelial PTK for recurrent corneal erosions in a postoperative CXL patient successfully treated the corneal pathology, and visual and topographic improvement were observed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Vision and Optics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. kymionis@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kymionis
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grentzelos
authors.forename: Dimitrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Mikropoulos
authors.forename: Konstantinos I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Rallis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism; D019781:Corneal Topography; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D003094:Collagen