Phototherapeutic Keratectomy Results for the Treatment of Corneal Scarring After Pterygium Excision

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the post-treatment corneal changes by corneal topography in patients who underwent phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) to reduce anterior corneal irregularity and corneal scarring after pterygium excision. Materials and Methods: Before and after PTK, K1 (flattest central keratometry), K2 (steepest central keratometry), Kmax (maximum keratometry), corneal astigmatism, ISV (index of surface variance), IVA (index of vertical asymmetry), IHA (index of height asymmetry) and IHD (index of height decantration) values were compared. Results Of the 23 patients included in the study, 16 were male (69.6%) and 7 were female (30.4%), with a mean age of 57.09 ± 11.96 years (23–81 years). After PTK surgery patients were asked to come for check-ups at 1., 3., 6. months and at 1 year.The mean time to PTK after pterygium excision was 5.93 ± 1.39 months (4–9 months) and the PTK values taken at the end of the first year were included in the study. The corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) significantly improved from 0.55 ± 0.28 logMAR (0.10-1.00 logMAR) to 0.46 ± 0.32 logMAR (0.1-1.00 logMAR) after PTK. While the postoperative K1, K2, Kmax and corneal astigmatism values were lower than preoperative values, there was no statistically significant difference compared to preoperative values (respectively p = 0.301, p = 0.060, p = 0.075, p = 0.570). Although ISV, IHA and IHD values were higher than before surgery, the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In 17 patients, the postoperative IVA value was higher than before the operation, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.014). Conclusions PTK can reduce the corneal surface irregularity and the astigmatism in a way that can be corrected with glasses and CDVA will be better. Patients who underwent PTK had a more transparent and more regular cornea.