Results of Conjunctive Flap in Patients with Active Corneal Ulcer

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

3 Medical Student, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Bacterial corneal ulcer is a serious urgent and is one of the most important causes of eye morbidity; its delayed diagnosis and treatment lead to decrease or loss of vision. In some cases, conjunctive flap is the choice treatment. It has prolonged history and due to new therapeutic method, its application has reduced. It is a controversy about indication of conjunctive flap in active corneal ulcer; so we decided to investigate results of this procedure in patients with active corneal ulcer.Methods: A retrospective study was performed for 80 patients with active corneal ulcer treated by conjunctive flap in Feiz hospital in Isfahan during 2004-2005. Demographic data and results of conjunctive flap including good response, reoperation, keratoplasty was gathered from patient's files. Relation of age, gender and results was studied by chi-square test.Results: Eighty three patients were studied. The mean age of patients was 62.1 ± 19.3 years. The range of 70-79 years old had maximum and 40-49 years old had minimum frequency. Fifty seven patients (68.7%) were men and 26 (31.3%) were women. Student’s t-test showed no significant difference between men and women mean age. In addition, no different in frequency distribution in two groups was found by chi-square test. 67 patient (80.7%) had acceptable response, 12 (14.5%) needed reoperation and 4 patients (4.8%) needed keratoplasty. The mean age of those respond to treatment was 63.5 ± 19 years, of those who needed reoperation was 57 ± 20.6 years and of those who needed keratoplasty was 55 ± 2 years. Response to treatment was seen in 46 men (80.7%) and in 21 women (80.8%). Eight men (14%) and 4 women (15.4%) needed reoperation and, 3 men (5.3%) and 1 woman (3.8) needed keratoplasty.Conclusion: According to our findings, conjunctive flap surgery is not recommended in active bacterial corneal ulcer.

Keywords


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