Based on family doctor’s recommendation, 25-year-old Riya Mehta*presented to AEHI with eye complaints of blurred vision and difficulty in opening her eyes since one week. This is something she had been suffering intermittently for the last several months. She had a history of injury with a paper edge 6 months ago. She took treatment for that injury from a local doctor. But after that eye injury her eye symptoms of pain, irritation and blurred vision would recur every few weeks especially on waking up in the morning.

Detailed eye evaluation showed that Riya had loose corneal epithelium layer in her left eye while she  had myopia (nearsightedness) in both her eyes for which she was using glasses. While all the other internal structures of her eyes were healthy.

Dr. Vandana Jain, a Cornea, Cataract and LASIK surgeon, examined Riya’s eyes and diagnosed her with Recurrent Corneal Erosion.

Recurrent Corneal Erosion (RCE) is an eye disorder involving the corneal epithelium and epithelial basement membrane that chronically fails to adhere to the underlying corneal layer, which leaves the patient with sudden onset of pain, temporary blindness, and extreme light sensitivity (photophobia). RCE is most commonly occurs due to eye trauma with sharp objects like edge os a paper, pin, nail etc or corneal dystrophy.

Dr. Jain then advised her insertion of Bandage contact lens (BCL) and prescribed her few lubricating eye drops. Riya agreed, and the loose epithelium layer was removed followed by insertion of BCL. Riya was also explained that this treatment requires follow up for regular monitoring of cornea.
At one-month follow up, Riya’s cornea was normal and clear. Her BCL was removed. Further, she was asked to continue the same medicines as prescribed earlier. Thereafter, on every follow up session, her cornea was clear and there was no recurrence of her eye symptoms.

However, several months later, Riya consulted Dr. Jain again with eye pain. When Dr. Jain observed her eyes through the slit lamp and it showed epithelial defect in both the eyes. So, Dr. Jain recommended her photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in both eyes to correct her myopia and phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) in her left eye to treat RCE. This will give the benefit of not just treating her eye problem but at the same time removing her eye power.

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is vision correcting laser treatment for refractive errors like myopia, hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia and astigmatism.  

Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) is a laser based surgical procedure to treat corneal layer scars, corneal surface diseases such as corneal dystrophy and epithelial recurrent erosion syndrome. In PTK laser smoothens the superficial layers of the cornea. Hence, PTK is a medical treatment but it can be combined with PRK.
Subsequent follow-ups showed improvement of her symptoms. She not just regained clear vision without spectacles but also got rid of her recurrent erosion syndrome.

TAKE AWAY MESSAGE

 

• When you suffer an eye injury or trauma, it is important to not just get an immediate eye check-up but to continue to consult your eye doctor if there is recurrence of any eye related symptoms.
• Subsequently, it is also essential to complete the course of medication as prescribed by your eye doctor.
• In recurrent corneal erosions, most often medical treatment works. However in resistant cases PTK, a laser based procedure can be done.

About Dr. Vandana Jain: Dr. Vandana Jain is an expert Cornea and Lasik surgeon. She has a vast experience of performing corneal surgeries like corneal transplantations and laser vision correction procedures. She being a cornea specialist treats patients with all kinds of corneal diseases like corneal tears, keratoconus, corneal infections, eye allergies etc. She believes that the treatment for all kinds of corneal diseases needs to be tailored to the patient’s eye condition and lifestyle.

About Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute:
Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute in Navi Mumbai is one of the best eye hospitals in Mumbai.  Comprehensive eye check-up and the operation theatres are state-of-art and equipped with the best diagnostic and surgery machines. Personalised care, infection free modular operation theatres and beautiful ambience compliment the cutting-edge eye care offered at AEHI. Besides treating patients from Kharghar, Nerul, Vashi and Panvel, patients from all over western India travel to AEHI for world class eye care management.
 
Light sensitivity, blurry vision, eye pain in both eyes, difficulty in opening eyes after waking up, red eyes, recurrent corneal erosion, eye check-up, vision correction surgery, eye specialist in vashi sector 17, eye hospital in navi mumbai, eye specialist in navi mumbai, eye doctor in navi mumbai, eye treatment, eye doctor, eye surgery, PTK, PRK, LASIK

It is important to continue undergoing eye check-up after an eye injury as well as thoroughly follow up with the prescribed medication prescribed by your eye doctor. Advanced eye hospital in Navi Mumbai gives best treatment to a Kharghar woman for recurrent corneal erosion and at the same time treated her eye power with PRK with PTK.