Excimer Laser Phototherapeutic Keratectomy

Clinical Outcome and Recurrence of Epithelial Basement Membrane Dystrophy after Phototherapeutic Keratectomy

“…It is therefore important to conduct a thorough examination to identify signs of EBMD based on corneal morphology in the absence of RCE. 26,27 In PTK treated eyes, epithelial removal was performed with a laser in 22 cases (42%) where the epithelium was smooth, similar to the method reported by Dinh et al 8 While there are a few reports of laser epithelial removal prior to PTK for EBMD, 5,6,8,24,28 the number of patients in these studies was small and the effect of epithelial removal method on outcome could not be examined. In this study, we found a borderline-significant trend towards a greater chance of recurrence with laser epithelial removal.…”

Photorefractive keratectomy with mitomycin-C for the combined treatment of myopia and subepithelial infiltrates after epidemic keratoconjunctivitis

“…In addition, LASIK can reactivate subepithelial infiltrates in the area of the laser ablation. 19,20 In the past, PRK treatment for residual myopia and subepithelial infiltrates without the use of MMC has had variable success, with resolution of the infiltrates centrally but recurrence in the periphery. In other cases, significant recurrences have been seen centrally in patients with subepithelial infiltrates after EKC.…”

Lamellar Keratectomy Using an Automated Microkeratome

“…Excimer laser PTK has been evaluated in clinical trials since 1990 as a replacement procedure for lamellar keratectomy, lamellar keratoplasty, and penetrating keratoplasty. 7 Although good therapeutic results have been achieved with PTK, hyperopic refractive error remains a persistent problem, with some reports noting hyperopic shifts as great as 16 or 17 D. 6,7 Because hyperopia increases when depth of stromal ablation exceeds 85 to 100 m, the role of PTK is limited in many anterior stromal lesions. Reactivation of latent HSV is also a risk when performing excimer laser photoablation, and such reactivation has been noted in case series of patients treated with PTK.…”

“…Reactivation of latent HSV is also a risk when performing excimer laser photoablation, and such reactivation has been noted in case series of patients treated with PTK. 7 One experimental study suggests that the risk of HSV reactivation increases eightfold after anterior corneal photoablation. 15 The cause of complications after excimer laser photoablation is partially understood.…”