[Phototherapeutic keratectomy].

BACKGROUND

In the last few years the excimer laser has been increasingly used not only for refractive surgery but also for therapeutic purpose. We report about our two year experience with this form of therapy.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) has been performed on 27 eyes of 25 patients. The following diseases have been treated: Recurrent erosions (14), 9 of them in connection with bullous keratopathy, persistent epithelial defects (4), corneal opacity (6), one of them due to macular dystrophy, limbal infiltrates (2) and pterygium (1).

RESULTS

3 of 4 patients with persistent epithelial defects and 92% of the recurrent erosions were treated successfully. Above all the treatment of recurrent erosions in connection with bullous keratopathy was very satisfactory. The patients with corneal opacity achieved a significant improvement of their visual acuity.

CONCLUSION

The excimer laser is very suitable for therapy of different corneal surface pathologies. The possibility to treat painful bullous keratopathy is very encouraging.