TREATMENT OF PERIPHERAL ULCERATIVE KERATI TIS WITH CYANOACRYLATE TISSUE ADHESIVES

Purpose To investigate cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives in ulcerative ke ratitis. They represent one of the best emergency treatments of cornea l descemetoceles, preperforated corneal ulcers, impending corneal perf orations and small corneal perforations. Methods Nine patients present ing with peripheral ulcerative keratitis were treated by this method b etween 1990 and 1994. The underlying diseases included Mooren's ulcer (5 eyes), rosacea (2 eyes) and rheumatoid arthritis (2 eyes). Results Despite the poor prognosis of ulcerative keratitis, good healing and c orneal re-epithelialization were obtained in 6 cases (66%) without any relapse. Severe infectious complications occurred in 1 case (11%) and required a therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. Conclusions Cyanoacr ylate tissue adhesives ave an effective and well tolerated treatment o f peripheral ulcerative keratitis associated with ocular inflammatory diseases. Potential infectious complications impose a strict follow-up .