Management of pellucid marginal corneal degeneration

A retrospective study to ascertain the management of pellucid marginal corneal degeneration (PMCD).

Sixteen patients (average age 42.6 years) presented with PMCD. PMCD was bilateral in 13 and unilateral in 3 patients. Eight eyes underwent surgery. Nineteen eyes were managed non-surgically. Surgery involved corneal wedge excision (WE) (6 eyes), penetrating keratoplasty (PK) (3 eyes) and lamellar thermo-keratoplasty (LTK) (1 eye). Immediate pre-operative average visual acuity (VA) was 6/24, 6/10 and 6/60 with an average pre-operative astigmatism of 11.40 D, 9.75 D and 20.5 D for WE, PK and LTK respectively. After an average post-operative follow-up of 57 months, 66 months and 1 year, the average astigmatism was 8.90 D, 4.63 D and 6.00 D with an average final VA of 6/19, 6/15 and 6/6 for WE, PK and LTK respectively. In the nonsurgical group, at presentation, 40% of eyes had a VA of 6/12 or better. After an average follow-up period of 32.3 months, 80% of eyes had a visual acuity of 6/12 or better. Optical correction was achieved with spectacles and or contact lenses.

Surgical correction for PMCD provides poor long-term reduction of astigmatism. Patients with PMCD may be adequately corrected in the long term by the use of scleral fitted gas-permeable contact lenses.