Table 1.

Summary of the treatment modalities adopted for epithelial ingrowth following different ocular procedures^47–66

Study	Surgical procedure/condition	Number of cases	Treatment modality	Outcome
Stark47	NA	12	Photocoagulation on the iris followed by excision of involved iris tissue Vitrectomy Transcorneal and transscleral cryotherapy An intraocular air bubble was used to provide an insulating effect and a more effective, controllable freeze	Visual acuity of 6/12 (20/40) or better
Naumann and Küchle48	NA	NA	Complete excision of all epithelial layers with a full-thickness corneoscleral graft	NA
Nagra and Raber49	Corneal transplant	1	Argon laser photocoagulation applied to the surface of the iris Intraoperative peeling of the epithelial membrane from the surface of the lens ECCE with PCIOL via an open-sky technique through a repeat PKP opening in the cornea	16 months corneal transplant was clear with no signs of rejection or epithelialisation across the endothelial surface, iris or intraocular lens
Tomlins et al50	Cataract surgery	1	Intracameral 5-FU failed Diode laser cycloablation	Poor visual prognosis
Vinciguerra et al51	Cataract surgery		Irrigation/Aspiration phaco probe Copious irrigation with BSS Ethanol for 1 min Diluted 0.02% mitomycin Continuous 10–0 nylon suture	1 week Visual acuity remained 20/50
Lindfield et al52	LASIK	2	Nd:YAG laser	Complete resolution with no recurrence
Kucukevcilioglu and Hurmeric53	LASIK	1	Nd:YAG laser	15 months Total regression
Thulasi et al54	SMILE		Multiple failed interventions such as two flap lifts, epithelial scrapings and flap edge suturing After removal of the epithelial cells from the surface, periphery and interface, the liquid sealant (ReSure; Ocular Therapeutix, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA) was applied to the flap edges using a foam-tipped applicator. Solidification of the sealant then occurred within 20 s, becoming a soft, pliable hydrogel	Decreased corneal haze and no recurrence
Ni et al55	Cataract surgery and subsequent uneventful (DSAEK) ACIOL	2	Anterior chamber 5-FU in a concentration of 1000 μg/0.1 mL was mixed with 0.1 mL of viscoelastic Two injections of 5-FU	Epithelial downgrowth resolved but recurred after 2 months and treated with PKP GDD DSAEK 5 months later no recurrence
Chen et al56	LASIK	12	Mechanical debridement of the ingrowth and placement of fibrin tissue glue	No complications No loss of vision
Chan et al57	SMILE	1	Scrapping and irrigation of the interface pocket Adjuvant collagen crosslinking	Corneal haze subsided and became visually insignificant
Kymionis et al58	LASIK	1	Combined PRK and CXL	12 months no recurrence or progression of ectasia
Gupta et al59	Chronic corneal neovascularisation	14	Intrastromal bevacizumab (0.05–0.1 mL of 2.5 mg/0.1 mL) 1–3 injections/eye prior to corneal grafting	No evidence of recurrence of neovascularisation or graft rejection in the transplant group
Khurana et al60	Pterygium surgery and phacoemulsification	1	No treatment	NA
Jenkins et al61	Combined cataract and DMEK	1	Nd:YAG laser	Four months No recurrence
Hata-Mizuno et al62	PKP Cataract surgery	1	PKP	↑IOP postoperatively, and glaucoma drops were applied Ahmed glaucoma valve (FP-7 model) Third PKP
Kankariya et al63	SMILE	3	Manual debridement after fashioning a flap using the CIRCLE software	No recurrence in all three cases
Dua et al64	NA	NA	Mechanical removal with alcohol swab application	Risk for infection
Salari et al65	Glaucoma surgery	1	One dose of weekly intracameral MTX (400 mg/0.1 mL)	No recurrence
de Rojas Silva et al66	SMILE	1	De-epithelialisation of an area of 6 mm	One month 20/20

ACIOL, anterior chamber intraocular lens; BSS, balanced salt solution; CXL, corneal crosslinking; DMEK, Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty; DSAEK, Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty; ECCE, extracapsular cataract extraction; 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil; GDD, glaucoma drainage device; Iˆ, Increased; IOP, intraocular pressure; LASIK, laser in situ keratomileusis; MTX, methotrexate; NA, not applicable/not available; Nd:YAG, neodymium-yttrium aluminium garnet; PCIOL, posterior chamber intraocular lens; PKP, penetrating keratoplasty; PRK, photorefractive keratectomy; SMILE, small incision lenticule extraction.