PRK-pTK as a treatment for a patient with Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy.

Purpose: This article reports a case in which Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy was treated with photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) combined with phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK).

Methods: A 20-year-old white woman in good health who had a 2-year history of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy in both eyes was evaluated for refractive surgery to treat myopia. The patient had experienced multiple recurrences of the Thygeson's during the preceding 2-year period. Previous treatment had consisted of topical steroids with good response to therapy but recurrences once the topical therapy was stopped. After discussing different options, the patient underwent uncomplicated PRK-PTK for treatment of her myopia, and her postoperative course was uneventful.

Results: Eight months after undergoing PRK-PTK, the patient has excellent uncorrected visual acuity (20/20 in both eyes) and has experienced no recurrences of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy.

Conclusions: Successful treatment of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy in a patient with a low myopia may be achieved with the use of combined PRK-PTK procedures.