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PTK effective in treating Salzmann nodular degeneration with low recurrence rate
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 Azin Abazari |
PHILADELPHIA — Phototherapeutic keratectomy proved effective in treating Salzmann nodular degeneration, according to study results presented here.
"PTK is an effective method of treatment of Salzmann nodular degeneration with low recurrence rates," Azin Abazari, MD, said at the Wills Eye Institute Alumni Conference. "Best corrected vision and degree of astigmatism improved after PTK postoperatively."
Nodules are commonly asymptomatic but may cause mild pain, foreign body sensation, photophobia and, rarely, contact lens intolerance. They may induce refractive error and irregular astigmatism.
The retrospective study included 64 eyes of 51 patients. Mean patient age was 60.6 years. Mean follow-up was 13.2 months. Primary indications for surgery were decreased vision, glare, photosensitivity and contact lens intolerance.
Patients underwent scraping of the corneal epithelium to remove the nodules. After PTK, mitomycin C was applied, the cornea was irrigated and a bandage contact lens was applied.
Mean preoperative logMAR BCVA was 0.31 (Snellen equivalent 20/40). Mean spherical equivalent was -0.5 D, and mean astigmatism was 2.2 D.
Postoperatively, mean logMAR BCVA improved to 0.21 (Snellen equivalent 20/32). Mean spherical equivalent was -1.6 D. Mean astigmatism improved to 1.6 D. Ninety percent of patients were satisfied with surgical outcomes. Recurrence occurred in eight eyes (12.5%); two eyes required further treatment, Dr. Abazari reported.
- Disclosure: Dr. Abazari reported no relevant financial relationships.