PTK to cure RCE caused by PRK?

[JeffN]

I've had RCE for a little over two years now and have tried just about everything (stromyl puncture, gels, pills, drops) and it seems the last thing to try would be PTK. My question is does trying PTK even make sense? My eyes were perfectly fine before PRK, no dryness and after the surgery severe dry eye and recurrent erosions. It sounds like RCE can be triggered by a "traumatic event" to the eye, which must have been the PRK surgery.

So how exactly is having PTK going to fix it? I've had my epilthelium scraped off and also had a stromyl puncture but it always heals back and I still get recurrent erosions. It sounds like PTK essentially does the same thing, removes the epilthelium in hopes that it will grow back with a stronger bond. I'm not sold on that concept whatsoever though. Anyone in a similar situation have success with PTK?

[Lucy]

Jeff, I had RCE caused by Lasik in one eye. I did many things, but never PTK. I had Lasik 10 years ago and there are newer things now, not sure my doc knew how to do PTK at the time. I did, however, have my cornea scraped. It didn't really cure the problem and my epi was still a mess.

You need to research PTK very well. You also need to have a doc very skilled in this procedure. Maybe someone on here has had it done. Lucy

[liz56]

Hi,

I, too, suffer from RCE's but not from having had LASIK. I cannot answer your question about how effective PTK is, because I have not had that procedure. However, look around this thread on RCE's, because there are some discussions about PTK.

The reason I have not had PTK for my problem is that I cannot find definitive information about long-term (after two or three years) effects. in fact, most studies only go one year.

Sorry that I cannot be of greater help than this.

--Liz

[2catsonEmerald]

I've had PTK

I've had PTK surgery for RCE - about 1-1/2 years ago. Don't do it. My corneal specialist told me it would help. Well, it's been worse since I had it done. I've had more erosions than I used to have and they are much more severe. I used to be able to deal with the erosions, they were just very uncomfortable and my eye watered for a about a week. The ones I have now are horrific, it feels like I have razor blades in my eye and I have to patch it because any movement is so painful. I have to keep it patched for about 5 days then it takes about 2 or 3 more days to get my vision back. And it seems everytime this happens my vision gets more blurry. After the PTK, there was a blurry spot in my eye, now with each erosion, it's getting worse. I usually go 7 months where my eye is fine, then I wake up one day and bam! extreme pain and back to an eye patch for a week!! I would recommend not doing the PTK surgery...