Superficial keratectomy: indications and outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the indications and outcomes of manual blade superficial keratectomy STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, nonrandomized, consecutive case series METHODS: Database search of patients from 2012-2017 who underwent superficial keratectomy was conducted at a tertiary care hospital cornea clinic. Charts of 121 patients (156 eyes) were reviewed who had at least 4 weeks of follow-up and both preoperative and postoperative measurements of best-corrected visual acuity or corneal cylinder. Outcome measures included: patient demographics, surgical indication, prior ocular history, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) changes, corneal and refractive astigmatism changes, recurrence of pathology, additional treatments required, and intraoperative and postoperative complications.

RESULTS: Mean patient age at time of operation was 63.3 (±14.8), 39% were male. Indications included epithelial basement membrane dystrophy, recurrent corneal erosion syndrome, Salzmann nodular degeneration, band keratopathy, and suspected ocular surface neoplasia. In eyes with epithelial basement membrane dystrophy, mean BCVA (20/47 to 20/40, P = 0.033), refractive astigmatism (1.76 ± 1.83 D to 1.15 ± 1.08 D, P = 0.010), and corneal astigmatism (1.44 ± 0.88 D to 1.06 ± 0.88 D, P = 0.022) significantly improved. Twenty-four percent (5/21) of eyes with recurrent erosions had symptoms return at a mean 6.5 months follow-up. No intraoperative complications were noted. The epithelium healed completely in all 156 eyes at final follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Superficial keratectomy is a simple, safe procedure that can be performed for a variety of conditions to improve visual acuity, reduce corneal astigmatism, and alleviate symptoms secondary to ocular surface pathology.