Purpose:
Effectiveness of phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) in the treatment of recurrent cornea erosions and the comparison of the results of two different treatment protocols.
Material-Methods:
Between 2001 and 2005 years, 24 eyes of 19 patients with recurrent cornea erosions and PTK application were included in to the study. Patients were divided into two groups ccording to the depth of ablation. During PTK application; 17 eyes (14 patients) ablated 15 micron constituted grup 1; 7 eyes (5 patients) ablated 6 micron constituted grup 2. During the treatment no complication was observed in any of the patients.
Results:
Follow up period was 43,4 (±22,6) months in group 1, 18,8 (± 4,5) months in group 2. Epithelization developed in 3,17 (± 0,52) days in group 1, 3,00 (± 0,57) days in group 2 after the treatment (p>0,05). Spheric equvelant change was +0.92 (± 0.24 ) in group 1; +0.18 (±0.18) diyopters in group 2 (p<0,05, Mann Whitney-U test). During the follow up period two recurrences (%11.76) in group 1 and one recurrence (%14.28) in group 2 developed.
Conclusion:
PTK is an effective way of treatment in recurrent cornea erosions. Hypermetropic shift develops in deep ablations. Superficial ablation has the same effectivenes while leading to minimum hypermetropic shift.
Keywords: Recurrent cornea erosions, Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK), Ablation Depth