Fine needle diathermy - a choice for managing corneal vascularization.

INTRODUCTION Corneal vascularization develops as a result of various corneal diseases. Fine- needle diathermy (FND) is one of the methods to occlude corneal vessels. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this method in a series of patients with corneal vascularization. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty eight patients with corneal vascularization were treated with FND. The patients were divided into four groups according to etiological factors like pre-keratoplasty (high risk patients), increased keratopathy, recurrent inflammation and postkeratoplasty rejection .The FND was performed under local anaesthesia with the help of a corneal needle of 10-0 monofilament nylon suture. The success of treatment was evaluated in terms of regression and occlusion of corneal vessels. RESULTS The main aim of a complete occlusion of blood vessels was achieved in all patients. The most frequent complication seen was a transient whitening of the cornea especially around the needle entry in nine cases, which cleared within 24 hours. CONCLUSION FND is a simple safe, inexpensive and effective treatment. It can be repeated and used as an alternative therapy for corneal vascularization.