Phototherapeutic keratectomy in the treatment of corneal scarring from trachoma.

Trachoma is still one of the world's major blinding diseases. Characteristically, trachoma causes deep scarring of the conjunctiva and tarsus that can result in tear deficiency, trichiasis, and entropion. Another common finding is a diffused corneal opacity that is the end stage of peripheral and central corneal infiltrates. The conventional treatment of the corneal opacities is keratoplasty, which has a guarded prognosis because of severe dryness and trichiasis. We report on our experience in treating patients with corneal trachoma with phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) with the excimer laser.