Pellucid marginal corneal degeneration.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Diseases
• Refractive Surgery

Background:

• Pellucid marginal corneal degeneration (PMCD) is a rare, progressive corneal ectatic disorder.
• It is characterized by peripheral corneal thinning and apical protrusion, typically affecting the inferior cornea.
• Understanding its clinical features and outcomes is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with PMCD.
• To analyze the associations, complications, and treatment outcomes in a cohort of PMCD patients.
• To evaluate the efficacy of various visual rehabilitation methods, including surgical interventions.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case series was conducted, reviewing charts of 58 patients (116 eyes) with PMCD.
• Data collected included patient demographics, age of presentation, symptoms, systemic associations, and ocular history.
• Clinical findings, topographic features, visual acuity, refractive errors, and treatment outcomes were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The study included 45 males (77.6%) and 13 females (22.4%), with a mean age of 34.0 years.
• Inferior PMCD was observed in 85.3% of eyes, with superior PMCD in 14.7%.
• Associated conditions included keratoconus (10.3%) and keratoglobus (12.9%), with hydrops occurring in 6.0% of eyes. Visual acuity improved in 55.3% with correction.

Conclusions:

• PMCD predominantly affects males and is associated with significant astigmatism and a high rate of hydrops.
• Most patients achieve functional vision with spectacles or contact lenses.
• Surgical options like lamellar keratoplasty can improve vision but often leave residual astigmatism.