Lamellar crescentic resection for pellucid marginal corneal degeneration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of lamellar crescentic resection in pellucid marginal corneal degeneration.

METHODS: Patients with pellucid marginal corneal degeneration who underwent lamellar crescentic resection from 1995 to 2000 at Labbafinejad Medical Center were assessed. Diagnosis was based on clinical findings of slit-lamp microscopy and confirmed by corneal topography and pachymetry.

RESULTS: Fifteen eyes of nine patients (six male and three female) were operated. Mean patient age was 32 years (range 25 to 41 yr). Preoperatively, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 20/200 to 20/500 with a range of 12 to 26 D of against-the-rule astigmatism (mean 19.00 D). Follow-up ranged from 13 to 57 months (mean 35 mo). Postoperatively, patients had with-the-rule astigmatism: mean 16.00 D at 6 weeks and 10.50 D at 6 months. In the second postoperative year, mean with-the-rule astigmatism was 4.30 D. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 in 71% of eyes at final follow-up. No significant complications occurred during the study period.

CONCLUSION: Lamellar crescentic resection was a safe and effective non-penetrating surgical method to manage pellucid marginal corneal degeneration, however, visual recovery was relatively prolonged.