PURPOSE: Evaluate the effect of micro puncture with radiofrequency as treatment of symptomatic patients with bullous keratopathy. METHODS: Prospective study in 10 pacients with syntomatic bullous keratopathy and low vision. Micro puncture with radiofrequency was made in areas of the anterior stromal that had an epithelial descompensation. The evaluation of the patients was realized trough clinical examinations (biomicroscopy, pachymetry, tonometry and esthesiometry) and symptom graduation (pain intensity, foreign body sensation, photophobia and insomnia caused by pain). RESULTS: The comparisons of symptoms before treatment and weeks after procedure showed a decrease, in 90% of patients, of the pain, foreign body sensation and insomnia. The measure of corneal sensibility by the Cocher Bonnet esthesiometer presents a reduction in corneal sensibility, among before and after one week of treatment, between 0,5 to 2, in 5 patients. But several weeks after treatment, the corneal sensibility aggrandized in 7 patients, between 0,5 to 2. The corneal thickness evaluation using ultra sonic pachymeter and Goldman tonometer not find important differences. CONCLUSION: The micro puncture with radiofrequency is a valid treatment in order to reduce symptoms in bullous keratopathy.
Corneal diseases; Corneal edema; Corneal stroma; Descemet membrane
