Patient Education

What is recurrent erosion syndrome and how is it treated?

Loosening of the surface layer of the cornea can cause mild to severe pain, depending on the amount of damage. The pain usually develops during the night or on wakening in the morning, and can recur. Trauma to the eye, such as from a fingernail or a tree branch, or certain cornea dystrophies, predisposes to these painful episodes. Recurrent erosions often respond to treatment with eye drops and ointments. If not, they may be treatable with anterior stromal micropuncture, diamond burr polishing of the cornea or with laser surgery.