Recurrent corneal erosion medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kalsang Dolma, M.B.B.S.[2]
Medical Therapy
Water or saline eye drops tend to be ineffective, as with the eye generally profusely watering, the type of tears being produced have little adhesive property. Rather a better quality of tear is required with higher wetting ability (i.e greater amount of glycoproteins) and so artificial tears (eg viscotears) are applied frequently. Whilst individual episodes may settle within a few hours or days, additional episodes (as the name suggests) will recur at intervals.
Patients with recalcitrant recurrent corneal erosions often show increased levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes.[1] These enzymes dissolve the basement membrane and fibrils of the hemidesmosomes, which can lead to the separation of the epithelial layer. Treatment with oral tetracycline antibiotics (such as doxycycline or oxytetracycline) together with a topical corticosteroid (such as prednisolone), reduce MMP activity and may rapidly resolve and prevent further episodes in cases unresponsive to conventional therapies. [2][3]
References
- ↑ Ramamurthi S, Rahman M, Dutton G, Ramaesh K (2006). "Pathogenesis, clinical features and management of recurrent corneal erosions". Eye. 20 (6): 635–44. PMID 16021185.
- ↑ Hope-Ross M, Chell P, Kervick G, McDonnell P, Jones H (1994). "Oral tetracycline in the treatment of recurrent corneal erosions". Eye. 8 (Pt 4): 384–8. PMID 7821456.
- ↑ Dursun D, Kim M, Solomon A, Pflugfelder S (2001). "Treatment of recalcitrant recurrent corneal erosions with inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase-9, doxycycline and corticosteroids". Am J Ophthalmol. 132 (1): 8–13. PMID 11438047.