Epithelial debridement for the treatment of epithelial basement membrane abnormalities coincident with endothelial disorders.

PURPOSE: To determine if treatment directed at the epithelial basement membrane abnormalities in eyes with endothelial disorder can improve visual acuity and surface irregularity.

METHODS

Retrospective interventional case series of 4 eyes of 3 patients with epithelial basement membrane abnormalities and endothelial disorder coincident with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy or iridocorneal endothelial syndrome that had initial treatment directed only at the epithelial basement membrane disorder.

RESULTS

In 2 of the 4 eyes undergoing epithelial basement membrane debridement, visual acuity improved by 3 Snellen lines. In the other 2 eyes, the intervention improved visual acuity by 2 lines in 1 eye and no lines in the other, but the procedure allowed for accurate keratometry readings to be obtained for intraocular lens calculations before cataract surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Epithelial basement membrane abnormalities can occur in eyes with endothelial disorder. Treatment of the epithelial basement membrane disorder in these eyes can sometimes improve the regularity of the ocular surface and visual acuity.