What is the best treatment for recurrent corneal erosion?
AUG 31, 2015
Question:
I suffered a paper cut corneal abrasion (scratch or a cut on the front, clear window of the eye) two years ago and it was tiny and inferior to the lens (I am a pediatrician). It was treated and watched for a year when they said it was healed. It still occasionally becomes painful and symptomatic when I am busy with patients and the (erosion I assume) lasts for about 8 hours at a time. Please advise on what is the best treatment.
Answer:
You have a condition known as recurrent corneal erosion syndrome, when the outermost layer of the cornea doesn’t stay attached correctly to the corneal tissue below. It occurs in some patients after a corneal abrasion. In some cases it can occur months to years after the original injury, as what happened in your case. An over-the-counter drop known a Muro 128, which comes in 2 or 5% solution, can be used four times a day along with the ointment version at nighttime before going to bed. After one to two months of therapy, the erosion condition should improve. If it does not improve, you need to see an ophthalmologist to see whether a surgical treatment needs to be performed for the erosion. They can treat with a bandage contact lens in conjunction with either a stromal puncture or superficial keratectomy procedure (removal of corneal tissue). Another procedure known as diamond burr keratectomy is the most definitive procedure for correction of erosions but it is slightly more invasive. Your eye doctor will be familiar with treatments of recurrent erosion syndrome since it is a very common thing they see.