Hello Marianne, I was diagnosed with map dot fingerprint dystrophy. My corneas where damaged and irregular as the epithelium would easily detach and/or damage. My first symptoms where severe pains (the nerves underlying the epithelium were exposed when there was another erosion. Like a tootache, but then in the eyes. The epithelium would regrow but irregular. This caused blurry vision. Drops and ointments were not sufficient to manage the map dot fingerprint. Also my daily life was depressing with the continuing pains caused by the erosions and damages. Bandage lenses where also insufficient to control the situation. Even with the bandage lenses damages would occur. I was on painkillers most of the time (tramadol). I went to two eye hospitals where I live and basically they told me my cornea where a mess (i could agree) and one hospital proposed the epithelium debridement (first escalation) which means the epithelium is mechanically scraped from the eye. The other hospital advised immediate laser treatment (ptk). This is normally the next step if the mechanical debridement does not give a good result. The PTK means a laser burns the epithelium away. They also offered a bowman layer transplant, but that is still an experimental treatment (at least over here in the Netherlands). Anyway, however the removal of the epithelium is done; it will regrow quickly (couple of days) and the purpose of the procedure is that a clean and smooth new epithelium will regrow and stick better to the underlaying layer. I opted for for the mechinacal removal as my dokter advised it is the least intrusive and during the procedure also micropunctures will be done. Basically a needle that will be sticked in your eye a couple of dozens times with the purpose that it will create scartissue and the new epithelium will stick better as well. The mechanical removal is basically just a small knife that scrapes the epithelium away. Also the eyes where polished with some instrument. All was done by hand by a docter. I was warned that pain after the procedure would be severe. But I was already used to very severe pain so I found it managable. I asked a few docters what if the map dot fingerprint returns? The answers I got was that after the treatment only very few patients would return and then they will just do the procedure again. Now I am a couple of months further and my left eye is OK and the bandage lens is out. The right eye is still somewhat problematic (lens still in) but by far not as severe as before the procedure. The cornea is still somewhat irregular in the right eye (not as thick on all places yet as it should be totally smooth like a mirror). An option for this eye could be the laser treatment still. That was offered and I will discuss during my periodic control in the eye hospital on March 23rd. I hope this helped. If not please let me know (I am not a native english speaker). All the best.