TY - JOUR
T1 - Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy of Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis
AU - Fraunfelder, Frederick W.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported in part by an Unrestricted Grant to Casey Eye Institute from Research to Prevent Blindness, New York, New York. Dr Fraunfelder is a consultant for Eli Lilly. The author was involved in design and conduct of study; data collection; analysis, management, and interpretation of data; and review and preparation of the manuscript. All patients gave informed consent for surgery and for publication of research findings. Oregon Health & Science University Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval was received and HIPAA compliance was observed.
PY - 2009/2
Y1 - 2009/2
N2 - Purpose: To evaluate the effects of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy on superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK). Design: Interventional case series. Methods: In this clinical practice case series, the effects of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy on SLK were observed. Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy was performed using a Brymill E tip spray (0.013-inch aperture) with a double freeze-thaw technique. All subjects were outpatients who had local anesthesia with a single drop of topical proparacaine. The main outcome measure was the resolution of the disease process after treatment. Results: Four female patients (average age, 64 ± 13 years) and seven eyes with SLK were treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy. Resolution of signs and symptoms occurred within two weeks. Disease recurred in two patients and three of seven eyes, although repeat cryotherapy eradicated SLK in all cases. The repeat cryotherapy was performed at three months postoperatively. There were no adverse ocular events. Conclusions: Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy appears to be an effective alternative treatment for SLK as all subjects studied achieved long-term cures. Repeat cryotherapy may be necessary in some instances and may be performed three months after the first treatment.
AB - Purpose: To evaluate the effects of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy on superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK). Design: Interventional case series. Methods: In this clinical practice case series, the effects of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy on SLK were observed. Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy was performed using a Brymill E tip spray (0.013-inch aperture) with a double freeze-thaw technique. All subjects were outpatients who had local anesthesia with a single drop of topical proparacaine. The main outcome measure was the resolution of the disease process after treatment. Results: Four female patients (average age, 64 ± 13 years) and seven eyes with SLK were treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy. Resolution of signs and symptoms occurred within two weeks. Disease recurred in two patients and three of seven eyes, although repeat cryotherapy eradicated SLK in all cases. The repeat cryotherapy was performed at three months postoperatively. There were no adverse ocular events. Conclusions: Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy appears to be an effective alternative treatment for SLK as all subjects studied achieved long-term cures. Repeat cryotherapy may be necessary in some instances and may be performed three months after the first treatment.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ajo.2008.07.047
DO - 10.1016/j.ajo.2008.07.047
M3 - Article
C2 - 18835475
AN - SCOPUS:58249124602
SN - 0002-9394
VL - 147
SP - 234-238.e1
JO - American journal of ophthalmology
JF - American journal of ophthalmology
IS - 2
ER -