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Advanced Surface Ablation in a Patient With Suspect Topography: A Case Report
Rodrigo Vilares Morgado1, Jaime Guedes2, Ana Margarida Ferreira1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, PRT.
Cureus
|June 14, 2024
Summary
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) showed a 10-year positive outcome in a patient with a prior incorrect keratoconus diagnosis. This highlights PRK
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Corneal Surgery
- Refractive Surgery
Background:
- Keratoconus (KC) is a contraindication for laser vision correction due to ectasia risk.
- Accurate diagnosis and imaging are crucial for refractive surgery candidates.
- Atypical corneal topography may present challenges in diagnosis.
Observation:
- This report details a 10-year clinical outcome of advanced photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
- The patient had a previous misdiagnosis of keratoconus (KC).
- Advanced surface ablation was performed despite the prior KC diagnosis.
Findings:
- The 10-year follow-up demonstrated successful clinical outcomes with PRK.
- The patient did not develop corneal ectasia, a known complication.
- This case suggests PRK may be viable for select KC or atypical topography cases.
Implications:
- Multimodal imaging and patient education are vital for informed refractive surgery decisions.
- Minimizing iatrogenic ectasia is a key concern in corneal surgery.
- Correctly identifying surgical candidates can prevent unnecessary denials of refractive procedures.
