To investigate the association of recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) with sociodemographic factors and associated ocular conditions or systemic diseases.
This nationwide, population-based, retrospective, matched case-controlled study included 98,895 RCE patients, identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code 371.42, were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The age-, sex-, and index date- matched control group included 98,895 non-RCE control group also selected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. Sociodemographic factors and associated ocular conditions or systemic diseases were examined using univariate logistic regression analyses, and continuous variables were analyzed using paired t-test. The odds ratio (OR) of developing RCE were compared using adjusted logistic regression analysis.
Patients with ocular conditions including corneal abrasion, ocular allergic conditions, and corneal dystrophy were more likely to have RCE than the control group (adjusted OR = 63.56, 95% CI = 42.06-96.06, p < 0.0001; adjusted OR = 24.27, 95% CI = 20.51-28.72, p < 0.0001; adjusted OR = 17.10, 95% CI = 5.14-59.93, p < 0.0001, respectively). Patients with systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, and atopy trait have significantly higher ORs for RCE development. Patients residing in either Northern Taiwan or a metropolis city had higher odds of developing RCE; however, there were no significant differences in income or occupation on the probability to develop RCE.
RCE is strongly associated with corneal abrasion, ocular allergic conditions, corneal dystrophy, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, and atopy trait.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of bandage contact lens (BCL) removal on the fourth versus seventh post-operative day following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
METHODS: This study recruited eyes of patients who underwent PRK surgery. The patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups. In Group 1 BCL was removed on the 4th postoperative day, while in Group 2, BCL was removed on the 7th postoperative day. After BCL removal, patients were asked to express their pain score and eye discomfort. At one and three months follow-up examinations, visual acuity scale was assessed. Slit-lamp examination was performed in all visits to evaluate complications.
RESULTS: 260 eyes of 130 patients underwent PRK. The age and sex ratio were not significantly different between the two groups. One month after the surgery, the logMAR uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) were significantly lower in Group 2 (P value = 0.016, 0.001 respectively), however, the UDVA and CDVA were not significantly different after 3 months (P > 0.05). In Group 1, filamentary keratitis (FK) was observed in 10 (7.6%) eyes, 6 (4.61%) eyes were diagnosed with recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) and corneal haze was detected in 3 (2.3%) eyes. However, in Group 2, RCE was observed in 4 (2.3%) and FK was noted in 4 (3.07%) eyes. No haze was seen in Group 2. The difference in rate of complications was statistically significant (14.6% and 6.1% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, P = 0.02). Pain and eye discomfort scores were not significantly different (P > 0.05). There was no major complications including infectious keratitis in either groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Following PRK surgery, BCL removal on the seventh postoperative day yields faster visual rehabilitation and lower rate of postoperative complications with no increase in eye pain, discomfort or infection.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) for recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) caused by trauma, map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy (MDF) or instances without an established cause.
METHODS: Single center prospective longitudinal study. Between January 2003 and November 2006 we treated 89 eyes of 82 patients with PTK. All patients presented with refractory RCE caused either by trauma, MDF or with no established cause. During follow-up (until May 2013), patients, treating ophthalmologists and/or family doctors were interviewed about the patients\' state of health, recurrence of pain, the necessity of further treatments or the occurrence of complications. Five patients died or were lost during follow-up and were thus excluded from the analysis. Freedom of recurrence was estimated using logistic regression analysis using indicator variates for the following three etiologic groups: trauma (55 eyes), MDF (29 eyes) and idiopathic (no established cause; 5 eyes).
RESULTS: Overall 89 eyes of 82 patients were followed-up. Average follow-up among failures and non-failures was 51.56 months (standard deviation (SD) 21.22, range 24 to 91) and 95.25 months (SD 15.99, range 35 to 137 months), respectively. Fifty-seven percent were female and the average age at first PTK was 45.3 years (range: 23 to 70 years). During follow-up, there were 25 recurrences and 15 of these patients received a re-PTK. Compared to patients with a traumatic cause of epithelial erosions, the likelihood of experiencing a recurrence was higher in patients with MDF [odds ratio (OR) 5.48; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.93 to 15.59; p = 0.001]; the OR was 8.81 (95 % CI 1.27 to 61.32; p = 0.028) for patients with an idiopathic cause.
CONCLUSIONS: In view of the available evidence, we want to raise the awareness of those managing patients with MDF and idiopathic causes that, in order to control the disease, recurrent PTK treatments are expected to be necessary more often than in cases of traumatic RCE.