• Users Online: 32898
  • Home
  • Print this page
  • Email this page
PREFERRED PRACTICE
Year : 2020  |  Volume : 68  |  Issue : 12  |  Page : 2856-2866

Phototherapeutic keratectomy: Indications, methods and decision making


1 Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK
2 LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
3 Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Pravin K Vaddavalli
Director, Cornea Institute, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Road No 2, Bankjara Hills, Hyderabad 50034
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1524_20

Rights and Permissions

Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) involves treating anterior corneal lesions by superficial corneal ablation using an excimer laser (193 nm). Some of the commonly treated conditions include recurrent corneal erosions (RCE), corneal dystrophies, spheroidal degeneration, keratoconus, and corneal scars. We discuss various techniques of PTK including large area PTK, focal PTK, and multifocal PTK and alternatives to PTK. Masking agents like hyaluronate, methylcellulose, and dextran are recommended to help achieve a better outcome when ablating irregular corneal surfaces. Antifibrotic agents like mitomycin C reduce the chances of recurrence of the disease, apart from minimizing the postoperative scarring. Some of the complications include induced hyperopia and irregular astigmatism, haze, recurrence, and corneal thinning. However, earlier postoperative recovery, possibility of a repeat procedure, and ability to control the depth of ablation make PTK a promising, minimally invasive alternative to keratoplasty in cases with anterior corneal pathologies.


[FULL TEXT] [PDF]*
Print this article     Email this article
 Next article
 Previous article
 Table of Contents

 Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
 Citation Manager
 Access Statistics
 Reader Comments
 Email Alert *
 Add to My List *
 * Requires registration (Free)
 

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed3628    
    Printed58    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded301    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 7    

Recommend this journal