To compare the treatment effects of neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser and conservative management in treatment of recurrent corneal erosion.

Twenty-three eyes that received Nd:YAG laser treatment and 24 eyes that underwent conservative management including hyperosmotic agent were retrospectively reviewed for the rate and frequency of recurrence, presentation, time to recurrence, final visual acuity and complications.

The rate of recurrence in eyes treated with Nd:YAG laser was 56.5% and that in eyes with conservative management was 50.0%. The difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.654). However, 10 of 12 eyes that recurred after conservative treatment presented with macroform erosion at the time of recurrence, whereas 5 of 13 eyes that recurred after Nd:YAG laser had an accompanying epithelial defect ( p = 0.041). After the Nd:YAG laser treatment or conservative treatment, 64.1% and 60.5% of the eyes, respectively, remained free from recurrence 1 year after treatment, however the success rate decreased over time ( p = 0.649). The final visual acuity in the group that received Nd;YAG laser treatment was 0.05 ± 0.06 log MAR and 0.09 ± 0.08 log MAR ( p = 0.649) in the group that received conservative management. None of the patients in either group experienced complications of corneal scarring.

The difference in the recurrence rates between Nd:YAG laser treatment and conservative treatment were not statistically different, however, the severity of recurred episodes were milder in the eyes that received Nd:YAG laser treatment.