ĐẶC ĐIỂM LÂM SÀNG TRÓC BIỂU MÔ GIÁC MẠC TÁI PHÁT TẠI BỆNH VIỆN MẮT TRUNG ƯƠNG

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics of patients with recurrent corneal epithelial erosion (RCEE). Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on patients diagnosed with RCEE at the Vietnam National Eye Hospital between April and August 2025. Results: The mean age was 33.93 ± 12.34 years (range: 13–67), with the 30–60 age group accounting for 56.7%. Males represented 60.0% of cases. Symptom onset occurred upon awakening in 90.0% and during the night in 10.0%. The recurrence interval was ≤ 3 months in 36.7%. Prolonged electronic device use (> 6 hours/day) was reported in 83.3%. Common predisposing factors included previous corneal trauma (56.7%), dry eye (70.0%), and Meibomian gland dysfunction (50.0%). The most frequent symptoms were sharp pain (96.7%), followed by redness (90.0%), tearing (83.3%), blurred vision (80.0%), and photophobia (73.3%). Before treatment, most patients had moderate visual acuity (20/80–20/50, 60.0%), while 20.0% had good and 20.0% had poor vision. Lesions were predominantly located in the inferior one-third of the cornea (73.3%), followed by the interpalpebral region (the middle one-third: 23.3%) and upper one-third (3.3%). Microform erosions were more common (60.0%) than macroform (40.0%). Misdiagnosis occurred in 56.7% of cases, most frequently as simple corneal epithelial abrasion (64.7%). Conclusions: RCEE typically presents with acute pain and redness upon awakening, predominantly affects working-age population with excessive use of electronic devices, and is strongly associated with corneal trauma, dry eye, and Meibomian gland dysfunction. Lesions are usually located in the inferior cornea, and misdiagnosis with other epithelial disorders remains common.