Treatment of marginal corneal ulcers with cryotherapy and conjunctival recession or resection

Thirteen eyes with sterile marginal corneal ulcers were treated with cryotherapy and conjunctival recession or resection. Ulcer progression was ultimately controlled in all cases (mean follow-up of 21 months). One eye with Mooren's ulcer required reoperation to achieve a quiescent state, and two other eyes needed conservative therapy after surgery in order to heal. The eyes required careful observation for ulcer recurrence or problems associated with the original systemic diseases, such as Sjögren's syndrome. In the majority of cases, visual acuity was not affected by the procedure. Light microscopy of the conjunctiva adjacent to the ulcer showed lymphocytes and plasma cells.