Traumatic corneal abrasions following photorefractive keratectomy.

BACKGROUND

During excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy, central Bowman's layer and superficial stroma are removed. A potential disadvantage of this technique is whether proper epithelization of the cornea will occur in the event of a corneal abrasion. A potential advantage of photorefractive keratectomy over radial keratotomy in the event of blunt trauma is the presumably sound structural integrity of the cornea following superficial removal of stroma in photorefractive keratectomy compared to the weakened cornea following deep incisions in radial keratotomy.

METHODS

We report two patients who sustained corneal abrasions from blunt trauma to the eye and orbit following photorefractive keratectomy--one following a fist injury and the other following a karate kick.

RESULTS

In both patients, the corneal abrasions healed without incident and without recurrent erosions and both corneas remained intact.

CONCLUSIONS

Corneal abrasion following trauma in two patients who has undergone photorefractive keratectomy healed as expected in a normal cornea. Although it is uncertain whether the trauma in these patients would have been sufficient to rupture radial keratotomy incisions, as would be expected from a superficial photorefractive keratectomy, the corneas remained intact following blunt trauma.