Alcohol Delamination As A Treatment Protocol For Recurrent Corneal Erosions In The Indian Population

To evaluate the efficacy of alcohol delamination as a treatment for recurrent cornel erosions and to determine any post op changes in corneal clarity and refraction

This was muticentric study based on two private hospitals in South and West India.

25 patients participated in this study which adhered to tenets of the declaration of Helinski. All the patients were diagnosed to have recurrent corneal erosions by a corneal consultant. They also had to have a minimum of 3 episodes of epithelial breakdown in the past year. The causative factor was classified as trauma, EBMD or unknown. All  of them were explained about the procedure and signed an informed consent.The procedure involved applying 20%alcohol in a an area pre determined at the slit lamp of the negative staining zone and treating it for 40 seconds. A BCL was applied at the end of the procedure and patients had it removed at 1 week post op. Minimum follow up was 2 yrs. 

There was a slight female preponderence(13 female to 12 male) . with a majority of patients having a traumatic etiology(22 out of 25). Ages ranged from 21 to 59 years. 23 patients had no recurrence post procedure. None of the patients had any haze, scarring or change in refraction post procedure.  procedure. 2 patients had one recurrence in the following year. the intensity and frequency of attacks was reduced. Visual acuity remained same post op. 

Alcohol delamination is a safe and effective procedure for Recurrent corneal erosions . Untike other modalities of treatment, the is no change in refraction or any loss of clarity following this treatment. if necessary this can be the first line of management in these cases. it is however less effective in cases with basement membrane dystrophy ,though the frequency of attacks significantly reduce in those cases as well.