PURPOSE: To report the development of progressive hyperopia and astigmatism resulting from peripheral hypertrophic subepithelial degeneration which was treated with superficial keratectomy of the lesion. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A patient with peripheral hypertrophic subepithelial degeneration of both corneas was followed up for a 6-year period. During this time, the patient experienced a slowly progressive increase in hyperopia and astigmatism in both eyes. In the left eye, extension of the degeneration paracentrally resulted in significant hyperopia and astigmatism and a best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/70. Superficial keratectomy was performed and resulted in a dramatic reversal of the hyperopic and astigmatic shift and a best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/30. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral hypertrophic subepithelial corneal degeneration can result in progressive flattening of the central corneal topography in the involved meridians. This flattening can induce a significant hyperopic and astigmatic shift in refraction. This refractive change can be reversed with superficial keratectomy to remove the degeneration.
PURPOSE: To report the development of progressive hyperopia and astigmatism resulting from peripheral hypertrophic subepithelial degeneration which was treated with superficial keratectomy of the lesion. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A patient with peripheral hypertrophic subepithelial degeneration of both corneas was followed up for a 6-year period. During this time, the patient experienced a slowly progressive increase in hyperopia and astigmatism in both eyes. In the left eye, extension of the degeneration paracentrally resulted in significant hyperopia and astigmatism and a best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/70. Superficial keratectomy was performed and resulted in a dramatic reversal of the hyperopic and astigmatic shift and a best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/30. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral hypertrophic subepithelial corneal degeneration can result in progressive flattening of the central corneal topography in the involved meridians. This flattening can induce a significant hyperopic and astigmatic shift in refraction. This refractive change can be reversed with superficial keratectomy to remove the degeneration.
Authors: M Schargus; C Kusserow; U Schlötzer-Schrehardt; C Hofmann-Rummelt; G Schlunck; G Geerling Journal: Eye (Lond) Date: 2014-10-03 Impact factor: 3.775