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Bizrah M, Shunmugam M, Ching G, Patel RP, Din N, Lin DTC, Holland SP. Transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy for treatment-resistant recurrent corneal erosion syndrome. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2024:10.1007/s00417-024-06482-1. [PMID: 38619603 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-024-06482-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To evaluate the efficacy and safety of trans-epithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy (TE-PTK) as a treatment for recurrent corneal erosion syndrome (RCES) in patients with symptoms refractory to conventional treatments. METHODS All patients who received TE-PTK treatment for RCES had failed 3 or more conventional treatments and were reviewed, and if met criteria, approved by healthcare workers of the British Columbia public health authority (Medical Services Plan (MSP). A retrospective chart review and telephone survey were conducted at the Pacific Laser Eye Centre (PLEC). Exclusion criteria were ocular co-morbidities potentially affecting treatment efficacy. RESULTS This study included 593 eyes of 555 patients (46.2% male; 50.9 ± 14.2 years old) who underwent TE-PTK. The leading identified causes of RCES were trauma (45.7%) and anterior basement membrane dystrophy (44.2%). The most common pre-PTK interventions were ocular lubricants (90.9%), hypertonic solutions (77.9%), and bandage contact lenses (50.9%). Thirty-six eyes had undergone surgical interventions such as stromal puncture, epithelial debridement, or diamond burr polishing. Post-PTK, 78% of patients did not require any subsequent therapies and 20% required ongoing drops. Six patients (1.1%) reported no symptom improvement and required repeat TE-PTK for ongoing RCES symptoms after initial TE-PTK. All 6 eyes were successfully retreated with TE-PTK (average time to retreatment was 11.3 ± 14.9 months). There was no significant difference in best corrected visual acuity pre- vs. post-operatively. The mean post-operative follow-up was 60.5 months (range: 5-127 months). CONCLUSION TE-PTK has a good efficacy and safety profile for treatment-resistant RCES. The third-party public health-reviewed nature of this study, the low recurrence rate of RCES, and the low PTK retreatment rate suggest that TE-PTK might be considered for wider use in the management of RCES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukhtar Bizrah
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Western Eye Hospital, 153-173 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5QH, UK.
- The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Maheshver Shunmugam
- The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Geoffrey Ching
- The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Radhika P Patel
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Western Eye Hospital, 153-173 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5QH, UK.
- Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Nizar Din
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Western Eye Hospital, 153-173 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5QH, UK
| | | | - Simon P Holland
- The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Abtahi MA, Beheshtnejad AH, Latifi G, Akbari-Kamrani M, Ghafarian S, Masoomi A, Sonbolastan SA, Jahanbani-Ardakani H, Atighechian M, Banan L, Nouri H, Abtahi SH. Corneal Epithelial Thickness Mapping: A Major Review. J Ophthalmol 2024; 2024:6674747. [PMID: 38205099 PMCID: PMC10776199 DOI: 10.1155/2024/6674747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The corneal epithelium (CE) is the outermost layer of the cornea with constant turnover, relative stability, remarkable plasticity, and compensatory properties to mask alterations in the underlying stroma. The advent of quantitative imaging modalities capable of producing epithelial thickness mapping (ETM) has made it possible to characterize better the different patterns of epithelial remodeling. In this comprehensive synthesis, we reviewed all available data on ETM with different methods, including very high-frequency ultrasound (VHF-US) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in normal individuals, corneal or systemic diseases, and corneal surgical scenarios. We excluded OCT studies that manually measured the corneal epithelial thickness (CET) (e.g., by digital calipers) or the CE (e.g., by confocal scanning or handheld pachymeters). A comparison of different CET measuring technologies and devices capable of producing thickness maps is provided. Normative data on CET and the possible effects of gender, aging, diurnal changes, refraction, and intraocular pressure are discussed. We also reviewed ETM data in several corneal disorders, including keratoconus, corneal dystrophies, recurrent epithelial erosion, herpes keratitis, keratoplasty, bullous keratopathy, carcinoma in situ, pterygium, and limbal stem cell deficiency. The available data on the potential role of ETM in indicating refractive surgeries, planning the procedure, and assessing postoperative changes are reviewed. Alterations in ETM in systemic and ocular conditions such as eyelid abnormalities and dry eye disease and the effects of contact lenses, topical medications, and cataract surgery on the ETM profile are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Golshan Latifi
- Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Sadegh Ghafarian
- Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Masoomi
- Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | | | - Laleh Banan
- Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hosein Nouri
- Ophthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed-Hossein Abtahi
- Ophthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Andreev AN, Svetozarskiy SN. [Anterior stromal micropuncture for the treatment of persistent corneal epithelial graft defects after penetrating keratoplasty]. Vestn Oftalmol 2021; 137:78-82. [PMID: 33610154 DOI: 10.17116/oftalma202113701178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Persistent corneal graft erosion or persistent epithelial corneal defect is a frequent complication of penetrating keratoplasty. Its development can be contributed by the dry eye syndrome, rare blinking, lagophthalmos, symblepharon, viral infection, autoimmune aggression, and the use of epithelial-toxic eye drops. The article presents three clinical observations of patients who developed persistent corneal graft erosion after penetrating keratoplasty. Due to the ineffectiveness of local conservative therapy for more than 3 weeks, anterior stromal corneal micropuncture was performed. After the procedure, there was a gradual epithelial proliferation, complete healing of the corneal surface was observed 10-16 days after the manipulation, the follow-up period was at least 1 year. The mechanism of action of stromal micropuncture is associated with the creation of a porous surface with better adhesion properties, as well as with the activation of the production of extracellular matrix glycoproteins such as fibronectin, type IV collagen and laminin, which are necessary for stable adhesion of the epithelium. The use of stromal micropuncture of the donor flap in the treatment of post-keratoplasty persistent corneal epithelial defect was proposed for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- A N Andreev
- Volga District Medical Centre, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
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Abstract
Purpose To comprehensively review the literature regarding recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) and to present treatment options and recommendations for management. Overview RCE usually presents with sharp, unilateral pain upon awakening, in an eye with an underlying basement membrane dystrophy, prior ocular trauma, stromal dystrophy or degeneration, or prior surgery for refractive errors, cataracts, or corneal transplantation. Making the correct diagnosis requires a careful slit-lamp examination of both eyes coupled with a high degree of suspicion. Several treatments are commonly used for RCE but new therapies have been introduced recently. Conservative treatment consists of antibiotic and preservative-free lubricating drops, with topical cycloplegics and oral analgesics to control pain. Patients who are unresponsive to these therapies may benefit from therapeutic bandage contact lenses (BCL). Newer therapies include oral matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors, blood-derived eye drops, amniotic membrane graft application, and judicious application of topical corticosteroids. Once the epithelium is healed, a course of hypertonic saline solution and/or ointment can be used. Surgical procedures may be performed in patients who fail conservative therapy. Punctal occlusion with plugs increases the tear film volume. Epithelial debridement with diamond burr polishing (DBP), anterior stromal puncture (ASP), or alcohol delamination should be considered in selected patients. DBP can be used for patients with basement membrane dystrophies and is the preferred treatment overall due to a low recurrence rate. ASP can be used for erosions outside the central visual axis. Excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy is an attractive option in eyes with central RCE since it precisely removes tissue while preserving corneal transparency. In patients with RCE who are also candidates for refractive surgery, photorefractive keratectomy can be considered. Summary Newly introduced therapies for RCE enable therapy to be individualized and lower the recurrence rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darby D Miller
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA,
| | - Syed A Hasan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA,
| | - Nathaniel L Simmons
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Michael W Stewart
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA,
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