Electrolysis for corneal opacities in a young patient with superficial variant of granular corneal dystrophy (Reis-Bücklers Corneal Dystrophy)

PURPOSE: To report the efficacy of electrolysis as a treatment of corneal opacities in a young patient with the superficial variant of granular corneal dystrophy. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: An 11-year-old boy presented with subepithelial opacities in both eyes. His visual acuity was 0.2 in the left eye; he received corneal electrolysis under topical anesthesia. RESULTS: The electrolysis, which required only 5 minutes, resulted in the disappearance of the subepithelial opacities. His visual acuity improved to 0.4 on the next day and was 1.0 eight months later. The corneal curvature and thickness were not altered by the electrolysis. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal electrolysis proved to be an effective treatment for subepithelial opacities, and we recommend electrolysis as an effective and simple treatment for young patients with SGCD.