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EDTA treats calcified band keratopathy if epithelium is removed
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SAN DIEGO — Calcified band keratopathy can be treated by removing the epithelium and overlaying the offending calcium with an application of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, according to a speaker here.
“Since EDTA cannot penetrate through the intact epithelium, the epithelium overlaying the offending calcium should be removed manually followed by an application of ETDA,” Deepinder K. Dhaliwal, MD, said at the World Cornea Congress.
Deepinder K. Dhaliwal
“Often these patients have a compromised ocular surface with subsequent delayed re-epithelialization. Therefore, subtotal removal of band keratopathy over the visual axis is an acceptable strategy,” Dhaliwal said.
Calcified band keratopathy is a deposition of calcium hydroproxyapatite in the interpalpebral location at the level of the Bowman’s layer that typically starts in the corneal periphery but may start centrally when associated with chronic ocular inflammation, Dhaliwal said.
Diseases associated with calcified band keratopathy are chronic uveitis, hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, mercury exposure, intraocular silicone oil, interstitial keratitis and phthisis bulbi.
“We have found that a 3.75% concentration [of EDTA] is very effective with no clinical signs of toxicity, and this is almost double the dose that is recommended in many textbooks,” Dhaliwal said.— by Nhu Te
Disclosure: Dhaliwal reports financial interests with Abbott Medical Optics, Avedro and Eleven Biotherapeutics.