THE INFLUENCE OF EXCIMER-LASER ABLATION ON RECURRENT CORNEAL EROSIONS- A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY

Purpose. We sought to evaluate the effect of excimer laser ablation on wound healing in patients with a history of recurrent corneal erosion s. Methods. In a prospective:, randomized study, 56 patients were trea ted either with epithelial removal only (n = 28) or epithelial removal followed by excimer laser ablation (n = 28). Patients were followed u p at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Visual acuity, refraction , intraocular eye pressure, and patients' symptoms, as well as their d egree, were recorded before and after treatment. A recurrent erosion w as regarded as a treatment failure. A Summit ExciMed 200 was used for the ablation. The laser was set to a 5-mu m ablation by using a 6.5-mm in diameter treatment. Results. With regard to ocular symptoms and re currence of corneal erosions, treatment with excimer laser after epith elial removal was significantly better (p < 0.005) than epithelial rem oval alone on the healing of recurrent corneal erosions. No complicati ons and no change in visual acuity, refraction, or intraocular pressur e occurred. Conclusion. The use of excimer laser ablation after epithe lial removal improved wound healing in patients with recurrent corneal erosions.