diff --git a/blink/internal/fixer/rules/symplify_docblock.go b/blink/internal/fixer/rules/symplify_docblock.go
index 8980782c48..fed20bea60 100644
--- a/blink/internal/fixer/rules/symplify_docblock.go
+++ b/blink/internal/fixer/rules/symplify_docblock.go
@@ -133,7 +133,9 @@ func (FixTagTypo) Fix(s *tokens.Stream) bool {
 type TypeToVarTag struct{}
 
 var (
-	typeTagRe                 = regexp.MustCompile(`@type\b`)
+	// only "@type" at the start of a doc line (after an optional /**, /* or *),
+	// never inside a description - mirrors TypeToVarTagFixer #81
+	typeTagRe                 = regexp.MustCompile(`(?m)^(\s*(?:/\*{1,2}|\*)?\s*)@type\b`)
 	typeToVarSingleAsteriskRe = regexp.MustCompile(`^/\*(\n?\s+@var)`)
 )
 
@@ -155,7 +157,7 @@ func (TypeToVarTag) Fix(s *tokens.Stream) bool {
 		if !typeTagRe.MatchString(t.Value) {
 			continue
 		}
-		nc := typeTagRe.ReplaceAllString(t.Value, "@var")
+		nc := typeTagRe.ReplaceAllString(t.Value, "${1}@var")
 		nc = typeToVarSingleAsteriskRe.ReplaceAllString(nc, "/**$1")
 		s.Set(i, token.Token{Kind: token.DocComment, Value: nc})
 		changed = true
diff --git a/blink/internal/fixer/rules/symplify_docblock_test.go b/blink/internal/fixer/rules/symplify_docblock_test.go
index 561dbac0e4..b2ebe0fa21 100644
--- a/blink/internal/fixer/rules/symplify_docblock_test.go
+++ b/blink/internal/fixer/rules/symplify_docblock_test.go
@@ -37,6 +37,15 @@ func TestTypeToVarTag(t *testing.T) {
 	idempotent(t, TypeToVarTag{}, got)
 }
 
+// TestTypeToVarTagSkipsDescription leaves "@type" inside a description untouched,
+// only rewriting it at the start of a doc line (mirrors #81).
+func TestTypeToVarTagSkipsDescription(t *testing.T) {
+	src := "<?php\nclass A {\n    /**\n     * Matches only \"@type\" at the start of a line\n     */\n    public $x;\n}\n"
+	if got, changed := apply(t, TypeToVarTag{}, src); changed || got != src {
+		t.Fatalf("@type in a description must not change: %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
 // TestMergeDocBlockStart folds an empty leading line into the /** opener.
 func TestMergeDocBlockStart(t *testing.T) {
 	got, changed := apply(t, MergeDocBlockStart{}, "<?php\nclass A {\n    /*\n     *\n     * @var int\n     */\n    private $x;\n}\n")