RESUMO
Purpose:
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of an old procedure (Salleras procedure) in patients with APBK and poor visual prognosis regarding biomicroscopic, histopathologic and tonometric findings.
Patients and Methods:
Eight consecutive patients with APBK were included and followed up for 3 months. Biomicroscopy and tonometry were taken preoperatively and postoperatively (PO 1,3,7,15,30,60 and 90). One patient underwent penetrating keratoplasty and the button was sent to the pathologist.
Results:
All the patients presented corneal healing in 4 weeks. Their main complaint before the procedure (excruciating pain), was completely alleviatet after the corneal healing. There were no IOP increasing out of normal patterns. Histopathologic study showed that the mechanism of action related to this technique is related to formation of a dense connective tissue, that acts as a physical barrier to fluid penetration from the stroma to the epithelium.
Conclusion:
Besides all technology, electrocautery of Bowman's membrane is still a reliable procedure to treat patients with severe pain and poor visual prognosis in APBK.
Key words:
Salleras procedure; Bullous keratopathy; Corneal surgery