title: Uveitic band keratopathy: child and adult.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calcified band keratopathy is a chronic degenerative disease characterized by the deposition of gray to white opacity in superficial layers of the cornea that typically develops over months or years. It is associated with a variety of conditions, including chronic uveitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to assess visual acuity and corneal changes in patients with band keratopathy secondary to uveitis who underwent phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK).
  
  
  METHODS
  The place where this study was performed was in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with uveitic band keratopathy were submitted to PTK. The PTK was performed using Allegreto Wave EX500, with the ablation area of 6 mm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients (13 eyes) diagnosed with band keratopathy secondary to chronic uveitis were analyzed. Of the 12 patients, 8 patients were female (66 %), aged 22 years (7-53 years). From the 12 patients (13 eyes) evaluated in this study, only one patient (one eye) did not have visual improvement, due to epithelial deposits 2 weeks after PTK, and all the others benefited with the procedure. In the children group, all eyes had visual improvement, and quantitatively speaking, the children had a more significant improvement than adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTK is a safe and effective procedure even for children. However, the improvement in visual acuity was restricted due to other ocular changes secondary to uveitis, such as cataract and retinal changes, or even the corneal irregularity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. helomn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Heloisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Kaori
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Yasuta
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Carolina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marquezan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Henrique Araujo
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Salomão
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Délia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Francesconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muccioli
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Belfort