The Longterm Evaluation of Recurrent Corneal Erosion

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: It is known that the recurrent corneal erosion is a common disease, but its treatment is quite difficult. New concept of the pathogenesis of recurrent corneal erosion has emerged. And new therapeutic trial has been applied and its effect has been great. We review the trend of therapy to propose a new treatment modality of the disease. METHODS: Thirty-one patients who were diagnosed and treated for recurrent corneal erosion in ophthalmology department of our hospital from May.1994 to May. 2001. were selected. The distribution of age, sex, the causative factor of the disease, treatment modality, duration of therapy and the complication of disease in these patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The peak age of recurrent corneal erosion was 40s to 50s. The most common causes of recurrent corneal erosion were trauma, chronic use of eyedrops is also one of the causes of recurrent corneal erosion. The treatment includes simple eye patch (41.93%), therapeutic contact lens (22.58%) and excimer laser (35.48%). The mean duration of treatment was 10.2 days and recurrence rate was 15.94%. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, recurrent corneal erosion does have organic causative factors and the disease can be well-treated with conservative therapy such as simple patch and wearing of contact lens. The surgical techniques such as excimer laser therapy have also brought successful outcome in the patients with corneal erosions of more than 6 weeks'duration.