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Updated: May 20, 2026

Anterior High-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography in the Diagnosis and Therapeutic Monitoring of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia
Published on: August 9, 2024
Early onset keratectasia after photorefractive keratectomy in a case showing Vertical D topographic pattern
Antonio Bardocci1, Juan Carlos Abad, Ciro Tamburrelli
1Divisione Oculistica, Ospedale San Pietro-Fatebenefratelli, Rome, Italy. eyedoc.bardocci@gmail.com
Purpose:
We describe a case of early onset keratectasia after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in a patient with Vertical D topographic pattern in one eye and suspected keratoconus in the other eye.
Methods:
A 31-year-old woman underwent bilateral PRK: attempted correction was -8.00-2.00 × 30° in her right eye (RE) and -4.50-1.50 × 150° tabo in her left eye (LE). Preoperative corneal thickness was 512 µm in the RE and 520 µm in the LE. Preoperative topography showed an asymmetric bow-tie pattern and skewed axis in RE and a Vertical D pattern in LE. Intended maximum ablation was 91 µm in RE and 66 µm in LE.
Results:
Three months postoperatively the patient showed early topographic signs of bilateral keratectasia, evolved to manifest keratectasia after six years.
Conclusions:
Although rare after PRK, keratectasia may occur even following moderate (66 µm) surface ablation in eyes with Vertical D topographic pattern in one eye and controlateral suspected keratoconus.

