BACKGROUND: Surgical therapy for superficial corneal scars, dystrophies, or surface irregularities with the 193 nm excimer laser shows great promise. Depending upon the character of the pathology to be treated, different surgical strategies are required. METHODS: Treatment strategies for three patients with diverse corneal pathology are presented. Focal surface irregularities are treated with small laser spot sizes leaving the epithelium intact. Smooth, uniformly distributed subepithelial anterior stromal pathology is best removed with a large spot size through intact epithelium. When scattered scarring of variable thickness is present, selective epithelial debridement permits improved exposure of irregularities in Bowman's layer and the anterior stroma. RESULTS: Guidelines for selective debridement of epithelium and protection of adjacent and underlying stroma with moderate viscosity solutions enhances the surgeons's ability to obtain a smooth and clear surface while minimizing corneal thinning. Even with these strategies and use of plano disc ablation, net hyperopic shift generally occurs with broad large area therapeutic ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Superficial corneal opacities and irregularities can be surgically treated with the excimer laser as an alternative to the more invasive procedure of lamellar keratoplasty. Treatment failures can then go on to lamellar keratoplasty while successfully treated patients are more rapidly rehabilitated at lower total cost than a lamellar graft. Refinement of treatment strategies to minimize the hyperopic shift and facilitate masking around irregularities will further improve the results.
BACKGROUND: Surgical therapy for superficial corneal scars, dystrophies, or surface irregularities with the 193 nm excimer laser shows great promise. Depending upon the character of the pathology to be treated, different surgical strategies are required. METHODS: Treatment strategies for three patients with diverse corneal pathology are presented. Focal surface irregularities are treated with small laser spot sizes leaving the epithelium intact. Smooth, uniformly distributed subepithelial anterior stromal pathology is best removed with a large spot size through intact epithelium. When scattered scarring of variable thickness is present, selective epithelial debridement permits improved exposure of irregularities in Bowman's layer and the anterior stroma. RESULTS: Guidelines for selective debridement of epithelium and protection of adjacent and underlying stroma with moderate viscosity solutions enhances the surgeons's ability to obtain a smooth and clear surface while minimizing corneal thinning. Even with these strategies and use of plano disc ablation, net hyperopic shift generally occurs with broad large area therapeutic ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Superficial corneal opacities and irregularities can be surgically treated with the excimer laser as an alternative to the more invasive procedure of lamellar keratoplasty. Treatment failures can then go on to lamellar keratoplasty while successfully treated patients are more rapidly rehabilitated at lower total cost than a lamellar graft. Refinement of treatment strategies to minimize the hyperopic shift and facilitate masking around irregularities will further improve the results.