![keratoconus pellucid marginal degeneration keratoconus pellucid marginal degeneration](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/rosek2part1-120101061812-phpapp01/95/rosek2-part1-28-728.jpg)
Nine eyes of 5 patients aged 51.8☘.47 years were fitted. We assessed the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before and after fitting with SPOT, keratometric data and tolerability of the scleral lenses.
#Keratoconus pellucid marginal degeneration series
We report a case series of 5 patients with PMD and unsatisfactory refractive correction managed at Clermont-Ferrand university hospital from January to December 2018 fitted with customized SPOT scleral lenses.
![keratoconus pellucid marginal degeneration keratoconus pellucid marginal degeneration](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/pellucidmarginaldegeneration-150823023703-lva1-app6891/95/pellucid-marginal-degeneration-27-638.jpg)
If you have any questions about Pellucid Marginal Degeneration or are in need of Specialty Contact Lenses including Scleral Contact Lenses, please contact our office.To assess visual improvement in patients with pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD) after fitting with SPOT® scleral contact lenses (Scleral Protection & Ocular Treatment, Laboratoires d'Appareillage Oculaire, Amphion-Les-Bains, France). These unique lenses rest of the white of the eye and are very comfortable and well tolerated. Instead, very large diameter hard lenses called Scleral Contact Lenses (seen above) are the standard of care. Their small size causes these lenses to slide too far down over the “beer belly.” Since the area of thinning is so peripheral with Pellucid Marginal Degeneration, small diameter hard lenses like the Rose 2K are not effective. However, most of the time, this condition is simply treated with Specialty Contact Lenses. Sometimes the thinning is so severe that a corneal transplant or Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP) is indicated. Like keratoconus, if progression is noted, Cornea Cross Linking is appropriate to arrest the disease. Some severe complications with this condition are possible, such as acute corneal compromise (called Hydrops) or corneal rupture. How is Pellucid Marginal Degeneration Treated? Keratoconus has a very characteristic “cone” shaped area of thinning and bulging as seen with corneal topography.īy striking contrast, Corneal Topography with Pellucid Marginal Degeneration is very aptly described as “kissing doves” or the “crab claw.” Corneal Topography is the gold standard for diagnosing both Keratoconus and Pellucid Marginal Degeneration, as well as differentiating the two conditions. Under a microscope, these two conditions look quite similar. This presentation is often referred to as a “beer belly” cornea. Instead we see an overall sagging of the inferior cornea. Thinning in this area doesn’t result in a cone shaped area of bulging. This narrow band of peripheral thinning occurs from about 4 to 8 o’clock on cornea. While Pellucid Marginal Degeneration has a thin crescent shaped area of bulging at the bottom of the cornea (top of page). Keratoconus has a very characteristic cone shape bulge (above). However, structurally, these two conditions cause corneal thinning and bulging in very different ways. How Is Pellucid Marginal Degeneration Different from Keratoconus?īoth Pellucid Marginal Degeneration and Keratoconus are diseases of cornea ectasia, meaning corneal thinning and bulging. Most of the time this condition is bilateral (both eyes), but it can occur in just one eye. Like Keratoconus, the thinning and bulging of the cornea is usually progressive and often times severe. This condition usually begins in the 2nd to 4th decade of life. Nor does there appear to even be a genetic component. There is also no links to other eye conditions. There is no gender, racial, ethnic, geographic, or socioeconomic links. In other words, there’s simply no reason why it develops. Pellucid Marginal Degeneration appears to be completely idiopathic. What Causes Pellucid Marginal Degeneration? However, most professionals agree that Pellucid Marginal Degeneration is a unique disease that presents specific challenges with specialty contact lenses. Often times this condition is confused with Keratoconus and shares many of its characteristics and prognosis. Pellucid Marginal Degeneration or PMD is a bilateral (both eyes), non-inflammatory corneal disease characterized by severe inferior crescent shaped thinning.