title: Excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy in conjunction with mitomycin C in corneal macular and granular dystrophies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the visual outcomes, recurrence patterns, safety, and efficacy of excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) in conjunction with mitomycin C (MMC) for corneal macular and granular diystrophies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included patients with macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) that caused superficial corneal plaque opacities, and Group 2 included patients with granular corneal dystrophy (GCD). Patients in both groups were pre-, peri-, and postoperatively evaluated. The groups were compared in terms of uncorrected visual acuity (VA), best spectacle-corrected VA, presence of mild or significant recurrence, and time of recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen eyes (nine with MCD and nine with GCD) of 18 patients (10 men and eight women) were included. PTK was performed for each eye that was included in this study. The mean ablation amount was 117.8 ± 24.4 µm and 83.5 ± 45.7 µm in MCD and GCD, respectively, (p=0.18). The postoperative improvement of the mean VA was similar between the two groups before recurrences (p>0.43) and after recurrences (p>0.71). There were no statistically significant differences in the recurrence rate and the recurrence-free period for any recurrence type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTK was an effective, safe, and minimally invasive procedure for patients with MCD and GCD. PTK in conjunction with MMC was similarly effective for both groups in terms of recurrence and visual outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Ozgur
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Cubuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hulya Yazıcı
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Eroglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bilgihan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000628:therapy*; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D016685:Mitomycin