PHOTOTHERAPEUTIC KERATECTOMY - RESULTS IN 12 EYES

We report a series of 12 eyes which underwent phototherapeutic keratec tomy with the Excimer laser Aesculap Meditec (model Mel 60). Mean foll ow up was 11 months (range 3 to 19 months). Six types of corneal patho logic lesions were treated: recurrent corneal erosions, corneal scars after herpetic keratitis, anterior stromal dystrophy, band keratopathy , mucous plaque, and scar after viral infection. Epithelium healed wit hin the first post-operative week in 83.3 % of cases. The goal of trea tment was achieved in 75 % of cases (100 % of therapeutic success for recurrent corneal erosions and 66.6 % for superficial corneal opacitie s). The main undesirable effects were postoperative pain, delayed reep ithelialization (16.6 %), hyperhopic shift, haze and increased intraoc ular pressure attributed to topical corticosteroids (16.6 %). One pati ent (8.3 %) lost more than two lines of visual acuity. The results, th e limits and the undesirable effects of phototherapeutic keratectomy a re discussed from our experience and data found in the literature.