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Pilot study shows promise for laser treatment of keratopathies
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PITTSBURGH, Pa. — A fluorescein-guided laser treatment can significantly reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for patients with corneal neovascularization, according to a pilot study.
Y. Jerold Gordon, MD, and colleagues here at the University of Pittsburgh enrolled 15 patients with corneal neovascularization resulting from various infectious and traumatic etiologies in an open, nonrandomized pilot study. They were treated with repeated sessions of intravenous fluorescein, a photosensitizer, combined with blue-green argon laser applications to their abnormal corneal vessels.
Clinical symptoms of blurred vision, photophobia and cosmetic appearance were found to be significantly improved by a subjective assessment survey. There was a trend toward pain reduction, but no apparent reduction in tearing or foreign body sensation. Objective measures observed in slit-lamp examinations appeared to be improved as well.
The researchers, who call the technique fluorescein-potentiated argon laser treatment, suggest a controlled clinical trial be conducted to confirm the improvement observed in the pilot study.
The study is published in Cornea.