Lamellar crescentic resection for pellucid marginal corneal degeneration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of lamellar crescentic resection in pellucid marginal corneal degeneration.

METHODS

Patients with pellucid marginal corneal degeneration who underwent lamellar crescentic resection from 1995 to 2000 at Labbafinejad Medical Center were assessed. Diagnosis was based on clinical findings of slit-lamp microscopy and confirmed by corneal topography and pachymetry.

RESULTS

Fifteen eyes of nine patients (six male and three female) were operated. Mean patient age was 32 years (range 25 to 41 yr). Preoperatively, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 20/200 to 20/500 with a range of 12 to 26 D of against-the-rule astigmatism (mean 19.00 D). Follow-up ranged from 13 to 57 months (mean 35 mo). Postoperatively, patients had with-the-rule astigmatism: mean 16.00 D at 6 weeks and 10.50 D at 6 months. In the second postoperative year, mean with-the-rule astigmatism was 4.30 D. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 in 71% of eyes at final follow-up. No significant complications occurred during the study period.

CONCLUSION

Lamellar crescentic resection was a safe and effective non-penetrating surgical method to manage pellucid marginal corneal degeneration, however, visual recovery was relatively prolonged.