Implementation of the Corneal Sweep Test in the Diagnosis of Recurrent Corneal Erosion: A 2-Year Retrospective Study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and epidemiology of recurrent corneal erosion within a clinical population using standard diagnostic techniques and a new technique called the corneal sweep test (CST).

A retrospective chart review was conducted on 58 eyes of 51 patients with the diagnosis of recurrent corneal erosion from July 2018 to June 2020. All underwent a thorough history and physical examination. The CST was performed as a confirmatory test and on any patient who lacked visible corneal pathology.

The CST was necessary on 49 of the 58 eyes to help confirm the diagnosis of a corneal erosion. Among them, 34 had an occult corneal erosion, which is defined as having a normal-appearing cornea on slitlamp examination but found to have loose corneal epithelium with the CST. Clear corneal cataract surgery (28 eyes, 48.2%) was the most common presumed mechanism of injury, with 20 (71.4%) developing symptoms only after cataract surgery. All 20 eyes had an erosion located directly over a clear corneal cataract incision.

The CST is a new and effective technique to help diagnose corneal erosions in the absence of visible corneal findings. Clear corneal cataract surgery is an under-recognized but important risk factor to consider because the incision can be the source for an erosion. Using the CST could lead to a paradigm shift in the way clinicians approach RCEs and patients with a persistent ocular pain syndrome.