Cornea Procedures

Debridement

When the outermost epithelial layer of the cornea and the layer just below it are irregular, a debridement may be performed to smooth the corneal surface.

Diseases that are commonly treated by debridement include the following:

Recurrent Erosion Syndrome, an inherent weakness between the epithelium and membrane below it, where cells may spontaneously loosen or slough, causing an erosion.
Anterior basement membrane dystrophy (map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy), a hereditary genetic abnormality of the epithelium and basement membrane that leads to scar tissue deposition. If the dystrophy is mild, debridement is performed. If it is more advanced, a superficial keratectomy is performed.
Herpes Simplex Virus infection of the epithelium that is recalcitrant to medication can be debrided or scraped away in order to facilitate healing.
Other anterior opacities not involving deeper layers of the cornea.

Anterior disease of the cornea can cause dryness, irritation, pain, recurrent erosions, or irregular astigmatism. These symptoms can affect activities of daily living and quality of life. Initial treatment, like lubrication and other medications, is focused on minimizing symptoms. If conservative measures do not work, surgical options can be considered.

The debridement procedure can be performed in the office. After the eye surface is numb, the epithelial cells are scraped away. The manual smoothing is performed with a blunt, hand-held instrument, allowing precise control over the tissue being removed. A mechanical burr instrument that finely and evenly smoothes the corneal surface. A bandage contact lens is the placed on the eye to protect the healing cells and minimize post-operative discomfort. Eye drops are applied regularly and healing time is generally 4-6 weeks.

Each patient's eye is different. The description above may not apply to every individual situation. Your doctor will perform a full evaluation and discuss her findings thoroughly. A treatment regimen will be planned and re-evaluated throughout follow-up visits. Please contact your doctor if you feel you have dry eyes or if you have any concerns or questions regarding your ocular health.

As cornea specialists in DFW, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dr. Koreishi and Dr. Ple-plakon strive to provide the best cornea care, availability, and patient education.