Phototherapeutic Keratectomy in Macular and Granular Dystrophy: Two-year Results

To evaluate two-year outcomes of phototherapeutic keratectomy in granular and macular dystrophy and to investigate the effects of dystrophy type on results.

Sixty-three patients who underwent phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) for granular and macular dystrophy in the cornea funit of the University of Health Sciences Beyoglu Eye Research and Training Hospital were evaluated retrospectively. Patients under 18 years of age, patients with a follow-up period of less than 24 months, and patients who had previously undergone corneal surgery or excimer laser treatment were excluded from the study. Treatment values (ablation depth, optical zone, mitomycin-C (MMC) application time) and complications during and after treatment were recorded. Patients who had a decrease of two or more lines in their BCVA and those with recurrent or increased corneal opacities were considered to have severe recurrences. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively at the 12th and 24th months. The values obtained before and after the PTK were compared with statistical methods.

A total of 41 eyes (27 with granular dystrophy and 14 with macular dystrophy) were included in this study. There were no statistically significant differences between patients with granular dystrophy and macular dystrophy in terms of preoperative UCVA and BCVA, MMC application time, and follow-up period (p > .05). The mean age of patients with macular dystrophy was statistically smaller than that of patients with granular dystrophy (p = .04). The amount of ablation applied to macular dystrophy was statistically higher than for granular dystrophy (p = .03). The mean UCVA and BCVA showed statistically significant improvements at the 24th postoperative month (p < .5). There was no statistically significant difference between the UCVA and BCVA values of the patients with granular and macular dystrophy at the 12th and 24th months after the procedure. No recurrence was observed in any patient after 24 months. However, when the follow-up continued, severe recurrence was encountered in 2 patients with macular dystrophy at 26th and 40th months. Re-treatment procedures were needed in these two patients who had severe recurrence.

Phototherapeutic keratectomy is an effective and safe option for treatment in both granular and macular corneal dystrophy. Recurrence is a more common problem in patients with macular dystrophy, and recurrent therapies or keratoplasty methods are needed more frequently.