Trigger Factors in Recurrent Corneal Erosion Syndrome

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Diseases
• Ocular Surface Disease

Background:

• Recurrent corneal erosion syndrome (RCES) is a painful condition caused by corneal epithelium or basement membrane abnormalities.
• RCES leads to repeated episodes of sudden ocular pain.
• Understanding RCES triggers is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the primary triggering factors for recurrent corneal erosion syndrome (RCES).
• To correlate clinical symptoms and patient history with diagnostic findings.
• To explore the utility of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in assessing RCES.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records for RCES patients (2013-2017).
• Survey of trigger factors, ocular symptoms, and symptom severity.
• Anterior segment photography and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) imaging.

Main Results:

• Forty patients (average age 46.18) were included; 30% had prior trauma.
• Common triggers identified: fatigue (32.5%) and alcohol consumption (30%).
• AS-OCT revealed stromal hyperreflectivity (94.4%) and epithelial edema (61.1%); blurred vision correlated with absent epithelial BM.

Conclusions:

• Fatigue and alcohol intake are identified as the most frequent RCES triggers.
• AS-OCT findings provide insights into the pathogenesis and progression of RCES.
• AS-OCT may aid in diagnosing and managing RCES, especially concerning visual acuity loss.