Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.56(5) > 1010267

Choi, Jung, Seo, Kim, and Kim: Comparison of Nd:YAG Laser versus Conservative Management in the Treatment of Recurrent Corneal Erosion

초록

Purpose:

To compare the treatment effects of neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser and conservative management in treatment of recurrent corneal erosion.

Methods:

Twenty-three eyes that received Nd:YAG laser treatment and 24 eyes that underwent conservative management including hyperosmotic agent were retrospectively reviewed for the rate and frequency of recurrence, presentation, time to recurrence, final visual acuity and complications.

Results:

The rate of recurrence in eyes treated with Nd:YAG laser was 56.5% and that in eyes with conservative management was 50.0%. The difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.654). However, 10 of 12 eyes that recurred after conservative treatment presented with macroform erosion at the time of recurrence, whereas 5 of 13 eyes that recurred after Nd:YAG laser had an accompanying epithelial defect ( p = 0.041). After the Nd:YAG laser treatment or conservative treatment, 64.1% and 60.5% of the eyes, respectively, remained free from recurrence 1 year after treatment, however the success rate decreased over time ( p = 0.649). The final visual acuity in the group that received Nd;YAG laser treatment was 0.05 ± 0.06 log MAR and 0.09 ±0.08 log MAR ( p = 0.649) in the group that received conservative management. None of the patients in either group experienced complications of corneal scarring.

Conclusions:

The difference in the recurrence rates between Nd:YAG laser treatment and conservative treatment were not statistically different, however, the severity of recurred episodes were milder in the eyes that received Nd:YAG laser treatment.

References

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Figure 1.
Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrating the time to recurrence after treatment with Nd:YAG laser (bold line) and after conservative management (dashed line). Nd:YAG = neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet.
jkos-56-687f1.tif
Table 1.
Demographic characteristics and clinical features of the patients treated for recurrent corneal erosion
Variables Nd:YAG laser treatment (n = 23) Conservative management (n = 24) p-value
Age (years) 41.39 ± 14.15 37.63 ± 18.40 0.437*
Sex (n, %)      
  Male 9 (39.1) 14 (58.3) 0.188
  Female 14 (60.9) 10 (41.7)  
Laterality (n, %)      
  Unilateral 16 (69.6) 21 (87.5) 0.168
  Bilateral 7 (30.4) 3 (12.5)  
Cause (n, %)      
  Trauma 12 (52.2) 14 (58.3) 0.671
  Nontraumatic or unknown 11 (47.8) 10 (47.7)  
Prior ocular surgical history (%) 2 (8.7) 2 (8.3) 1.000
Location of the lesion (n, %)      
  Center 2 (8.7) 8 (33.3) 0.072
  Periphery 21 (91.3) 16 (66.7)  
Initial presentation (n, %)      
  Macroform erosion 17 (73.9) 13 (54.2) 0.159
  Microform erosion 6 (26.1) 11 (45.8)  
Follow-up (range, months) 29.52 ± 19.47 (6-59) 20.46 ± 13.20 (6-49) 0.096§

Values are presented as mean ± SD unless otherwise indicated.

Nd:YAG = neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet.

* Paired t-test;

Chi-square test;

Fisher’s exact test; § Mann-Whitney test.

Table 2.
Outcomes of Nd:YAG laser treatment and conservative management
Variables Nd:YAG laser treatment (n = 23) Conservative management (n = 24) p-value
Recurrence (n, %) 13 (56.5) 12 (50.0) 0.654*
Presentation at recurrence      
  Macroform erosion 5 10 0.041
  Symptoms only or microform erosion 8 2  
Time to recurrence (months) 17.00 ± 20.34 11.67 ± 11.90 0.437
Postoperative frequency (episodes/year) 0.72 ± 1.25 0.52 ± 0.72 0.495
Final visual acuity (log MAR) 0.05 ± 0.06 0.09 ± 0.08 0.110

Values are presented as mean ± SD unless otherwise indicated.

Nd:YAG = neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet.

* Chi-square test;

Fisher’s exact test;

Paired t-test.

Table 3.
Percentage of eyes without recurrence over time after treatment with either Nd:YAG laser and conservative management
Percentage of eyes without recurrence Nd:YAG laser treatment (n = 23) Conservative management (n = 24)
1 year after treatment (%) 64.1 60.5
2 years after treatment (%) 46.1 45.4

Overall comparison: p-value = 0.649.

Nd:YAG = neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet.

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