The Effect of Topical 10% N-acetylcysteine on Refractory Filamentary Keratitis.

Lim, Hwa Rang; Koh, Jae Woong

doi:2019.60.12.1134

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > Volume 60(12); 2019 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2019;60(12):1134-1139.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2019.60.12.1134 Published online December 15, 2019.

The Effect of Topical 10% N-acetylcysteine on Refractory Filamentary Keratitis.

Hwa Rang Lim, Jae Woong Koh

Department of Ophthalmology, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea. ophkoh@hanmail.net

난치실모양각막염에서 10% N-acetylcysteine 점안액의 효과

임화랑 · 고재웅

조선대학교 의과대학 안과학교실

Correspondence: Jae Woong Koh,
Email: ophkoh@hanmail.net

Received: 4 July 2019 • Revised: 19 August 2019 • Accepted: 6 December 2019

Abstract

PURPOSE
To analyze the effects of topical 10% N-acetylcysteine on patients with refractory filamentary keratitis. METHODS: The present study included 29 eyes from 20 patients diagnosed with filamentary keratitis. We analyzed the cause of filamentary keratitis, types of treatments, symptom scores, number of filaments, fluorescein staining, degrees of remission, and recurrence of the disease. RESULTS: A total of 19 eyes treated with filament removal, therapeutic contact lenses, topical antibiotics, topical steroids, topical 0.05% cyclosporine, artificial tears, and punctal plugs showed improvements. Topical 10% N-acetylcysteine was added to 10 patients who did not respond to the usual treatment for more than 1 month. Seven eyes showed a complete remission of disease at an average of 56.22 ± 24.52 days. Two eyes showed a partial remission with less than 1–2 fillaments. One eye stopped 10% N-acetylcysteine treatment because of an irritable sensation. CONCLUSIONS: Topical 10% N-acetylcysteine was an effective treatment for refractory filamentary keratitis.

Key Words: Filamentary keratitis;N-acetylcysteine