Corneal laser photocoagulation for treatment of neovascularization. Efficacy of 577 nm yellow dye laser.

The authors treated corneal neovascularization in 25 eyes of 23 patients with corneal laser photocoagulation using 577 nm yellow light. Four groups of patients were treated: patients with corneal neovascularization and active graft rejection (group 1); patients with neovascularization before penetrating keratoplasty (PK) (group 2); lipid keratopathy patients with opacification and/or focal edema threatening the visual axis (group 3); and patients with extensive corneal neovascularization, who were not candidates for PK (group 4). Area of neovascularization and clinical outcome were monitored. After corneal laser photocoagulation, there was a statistically significant reduction in the neovascularized area in group 1 from 32% of corneal area to 10%, and in group 3 from 46% to 27%. All five patients in group 1 had resolution of their graft rejection. In group 3, there was a reduction in the area of corneal opacification from 59% of corneal area to 52%. This difference was not statistically significant. Seven of nine patients in group 3 had stabilization or improvement in their vision over a mean of 9.3 months follow-up. There was no significant change in neovascularized area in groups 2 and 4. In group 2, no rejection reactions occurred over a mean of 5.6 months follow-up after PK. In group 4, corneal laser photocoagulation was disappointing.