Diamond burr polishing for recurrent corneal erosions: results from a prospective randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the use of diamond burr polishing as an in-office treatment for recurrent corneal erosion (RCE).

Methods: A double-masked randomized controlled trial was conducted. Patients with RCE secondary to trauma or anterior basement membrane dystrophy underwent epithelial debridement (ED) or diamond burr superficial keratectomy (DBSK) at the slit lamp. Patients were followed up for 6 months, and the recurrence rates of RCE and visual outcomes were compared.

Results: Forty-eight eyes of 48 patients were recruited. The mean +/- SD age was 38.3 +/- 12.9 years. Twenty-five patients underwent DBSK, and 23 patients received ED alone. There was no significant difference in the baseline demographics between the 2 groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed significantly less major and minor recurrences and less need for repeated surgical interventions in the DBSK group compared with the ED group (P < 0.001). Eyes in the DBSK group also had significantly lower mean magnitude of astigmatism after treatment compared to the ED group (P = 0.021).

Conclusion: Diamond burr polishing is a safe, convenient, and inexpensive treatment option for the management of RCE and resulted in better outcomes compared to simple epithelial debridement.