AIM： To evaluate the outcomes of alcohol delamination（ALD） of the corneal epithelium for the treatment of recurrent corneal erosion syndrome（RCES） and to implement a standardized treatment protocol for this condi...AIM： To evaluate the outcomes of alcohol delamination（ALD） of the corneal epithelium for the treatment of recurrent corneal erosion syndrome（RCES） and to implement a standardized treatment protocol for this condition utilizing evidence based practice and the findings of an internal audit. METHODS： A retrospective analysis of 42 eyes of 40 patients diagnosed with RCES who were treated with ALD between January 2006 and March 2016 was conducted. Patients had 20% alcohol applied to the cornea with the use of a well for 40 s. Patients were reviewed one week later in the Outpatient Department. Outcome criteria were established based on standards from other studies in the medical literature. These included, a treatment success rate of at least 72%（defined as complete resolution of symptoms one month after treatment）, a postoperative complication a rate of 〈5%（mainly infective keratitis, and subepithelial haze）, and the absence of any detrimental effect on visual acuity in ≥95% of patients. RESULTS： The mean age at the time of ALD was 41.17±13.44 y. Patients were followed for an average of 12.8±15.65 mo. The majority were female（52.5%, n=21） and the majority of eyes treated with ALD were left eyes（62.9%, n=26）. Trauma was the primary aetiology in our study population. Treatment was successful in 73.8%（n=31） of eyes and in 75%（n=30） of patients. Recurrence occurred in 26.2% of eyes at a mean of 10.41±12.63 mo post treatment. CONCLUSION： ALD is an efficacious and cost-effective primary surgical intervention for RCES.展开更多
文摘AIM： To evaluate the outcomes of alcohol delamination（ALD） of the corneal epithelium for the treatment of recurrent corneal erosion syndrome（RCES） and to implement a standardized treatment protocol for this condition utilizing evidence based practice and the findings of an internal audit. METHODS： A retrospective analysis of 42 eyes of 40 patients diagnosed with RCES who were treated with ALD between January 2006 and March 2016 was conducted. Patients had 20% alcohol applied to the cornea with the use of a well for 40 s. Patients were reviewed one week later in the Outpatient Department. Outcome criteria were established based on standards from other studies in the medical literature. These included, a treatment success rate of at least 72%（defined as complete resolution of symptoms one month after treatment）, a postoperative complication a rate of 〈5%（mainly infective keratitis, and subepithelial haze）, and the absence of any detrimental effect on visual acuity in ≥95% of patients. RESULTS： The mean age at the time of ALD was 41.17±13.44 y. Patients were followed for an average of 12.8±15.65 mo. The majority were female（52.5%, n=21） and the majority of eyes treated with ALD were left eyes（62.9%, n=26）. Trauma was the primary aetiology in our study population. Treatment was successful in 73.8%（n=31） of eyes and in 75%（n=30） of patients. Recurrence occurred in 26.2% of eyes at a mean of 10.41±12.63 mo post treatment. CONCLUSION： ALD is an efficacious and cost-effective primary surgical intervention for RCES.
