Does Corneal Topography Using 3-Dimensional Optical Coherence Tomography Suggest Different Subtypes of Terrien Marginal Degeneration?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze corneal topography relative to astigmatism, higher order aberrations, and corneal curvatures in Terrien marginal degeneration using 3-dimensional anterior-segment optical coherence tomography. METHODS: Twenty-nine eyes of 15 Finnish patients from a tertiary referral center had topographic axial power maps classified into 4 patterns by visual grading: crab claw (CC), mixed (M), arcuate (A), and normal. Regular astigmatism, keratometry, higher order aberrations, maximal corneal thinning, apex thickness, and curvature changes relative to best fit sphere toward maximal peripheral thinning were compared. RESULTS: Four, 9, and 12 eyes were classified as CC, M, and A, respectively; 1 as normal with clinical disease; and 3 as normal with unilateral disease. Median follow-up was 2.3 (range, 0-7.2) years. Three eyes changed pattern. Patients with the CC pattern were the youngest when diagnosed, progressed more rapidly, exhibited cavities in superior quadrants with anterior bulging, and had greater higher order posterior aberrations. Patients with the M pattern were older, progressed slower, and showed superonasal asymmetric corneal steepening extending centrally, often with asymmetric bow tie. Patients with pattern A showed little progression and were the oldest when diagnosed, with maximal corneal thinning equally in all quadrants. According to the Wang classification, the median stage was 4, 2, and 2 in CC, M, and A patterns, respectively, whereas it was always 2 by the Süveges classification. CONCLUSIONS: Terrien marginal degeneration is characterized by distinct corneal topographic patterns that differ in tomographic features, suggesting existence of subtypes in addition to different stages of disease. Patients representing CC and M patterns might benefit from more frequent monitoring.

Trends in Keratoplasty Procedures During 2 Decades in a Major Tertiary Referral Center in Finland: 1995 to 2015.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze trends in number, age-adjusted frequency, and type of keratoplasty in a major tertiary referral center, relative to patient and graft characteristics. METHODS: A retrospective registry study of 1574 patients who in 1995 to 2015 underwent keratoplasty in the Helsinki University Eye Hospital (HUEH). Graft type and sequence, patient characteristics, and date of surgery were recorded. Main outcome measures were annual number, type, and age-adjusted frequency of keratoplasty; patient and graft characteristics; graft procurement; and national population-adjusted frequency of keratoplasty. RESULTS: In HUEH, from 1995 to 2015, a total of 2191 keratoplasties were performed with 48% of the grafts procured intramurally; 76% were primary and 24% regrafts. The age-adjusted frequency of primary penetrating keratoplasty decreased by 52% from 0.96 to 0.46 per 100,000. The corresponding frequency of primary Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty increased by 367% from 0.3 to 1.4 after 2006, finally accounting for 68% of primary grafts. Men underwent primary penetrating keratoplasty (median 48 vs. 67 yrs, P = 0.0001) and anterior lamellar keratoplasty (median 37 vs. 46 yrs, P = 0.0015) at a younger age than women. Interval to the first regraft was comparable between sexes (median 2.2 vs. 1.9 yrs, respectively, P = 0.17). The national median population-adjusted frequency of keratoplasties was 3.2 per 100,000 from 2009 to 2015, and HUEH accounted for a median of 69% of them. CONCLUSIONS: The increased frequency of keratoplasty in HUEH resulted from rapid adoption of Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty after 2006 and was facilitated by centralizing graft procurement to HUEH and the National Cell and Tissue Center Regea.

Results 5 to 10 years after cataract surgery with primary IOL implantation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of cataract extraction with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and uveitis-related cataract. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: All consecutive patients younger than 20 years with JIA-uveitis-related cataract undergoing cataract extraction with primary IOL implantation in 1 or both eyes at the Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, from February 2000 to April 2012 were included. Twenty eligible patients with 26 operated eyes were identified; 14 were girls and 6 were boys. All patients had a follow-up of 5 years and 13 patients (16 eyes [65%]) reached 10 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-six eyes of 20 patients were studied. Preoperative median corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 0.05 in decimal notation. Median CDVA was 1.0 at 5 years and 0.9 at 10 years of follow-up. Two eyes did not reach CDVA 0.5 with the operation, and in 2 eyes, CDVA decreased below 0.5 over the period of 3 to 5 years after the operation. Active uveitis during 3 and 12 months preoperatively was a risk indicator for postoperative CDVA <0.5 at 5 years (P = .005 and P = .007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cataract extraction with primary IOL implantation provides long-standing good visual acuity for young patients with well-controlled JIA-related uveitis.

Photoactivated chromophore corneal cross-linking (PACK-CXL) for treatment of severe keratitis.

PURPOSE: To report our experience with photoactivated chromophore corneal cross-linking (PACK-CXL) for treating keratitis patients. METHODS: This retrospective study consists of 27 eyes of 26 patients with infectious keratitis treated with PACK-CXL at the Helsinki University Hospital between 2009 and 2017. Patients were treated with antibiotics/antifungal medications and underwent PACK-CXL procedure due to lack of clinical response or severe corneal melts. For twenty patients, amniotic membrane transplant (AMT) was done during the same day. Follow-up after cross-linking ranged from 1 week to 12 months. RESULTS: Sixteen infections were related to contact lens wear. Of the 19 eyes showing positive culture, the predominant micro-organism was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9 cases). The average re-epithelization time was 13 days and in 15 cases (56%) the re-epithelization occurred within one week. In 26 eyes, visual acuity increased and seven patients (26%) had a final visual acuity more or equal to 0.5 (20/40) Snellen. CONCLUSIONS: PACK-CXL seems to be a safe and potential option for treating patient with infectious keratitis who do not respond to antibiotic therapy.

Indications and outcomes of keratoplasties in children during a 40-year period.

PURPOSE: To report the indications and the outcomes of keratoplasties in children over four decades. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients aged 16 years or younger who underwent keratoplasty in the Helsinki University Eye Hospital during 1968-2011. Diagnosis, preoperative status, age at the time of surgery, surgical technique, complications and follow-up time were registered. Main outcome measures were visual acuity and graft survival as assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The independent role of risk factors on outcomes was evaluated by Cox multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Forty-eight keratoplasties, 42 penetrating and six lamellar, were performed in 44 eyes of 39 children at the age of 4.5 months to 16 years (median, 12 years). Five patients had bilateral grafts, and five grafts were regrafts. The indication for keratoplasty was injury for 13 grafts, non-traumatic acquired corneal opacities for 11, keratoconus for eight, corneal dystrophy for seven, congenital corneal opacities for six and aniridia for three grafts. The cumulative proportion of clear grafts was 46% at 5 years postoperatively, and the median follow-up time of clear grafts was 5.1 years (range, 0.4-29 years) for 41 penetrating allografts (PKP). Simultaneous intraocular surgery at the time of grafting [hazard ratio (HR) 9.7], corneal vascularization (HR 8.1) and regrafting (HR 5.4) were the main independent risk factors for graft failure in this PKP cohort. The cumulative proportion of clear grafts was 84% at 5 years in the absence of any of these risk factors. PKP for keratoconus and corneal dystrophy yielded clear grafts in 83% of the eyes, and a visual acuity ≥0.3 (Snellen) in 75% of the eyes. Seventeen of the 20 graft failures were due to rejection. CONCLUSIONS: Favourable graft survival was obtained in primary keratoplasties for non-vascularized corneal opacities performed without any other simultaneous intraocular surgery. Visual outcome was favourable in keratoconus and corneal dystrophies and poor in most eyes with injury.

Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Intrastromal Relaxing Incisions After Penetrating Keratoplasty: Effect of Incision Depth.

PURPOSE: To correlate the efficacy of femtosecond laser-assisted intrastromal relaxing incisions after penetrating keratoplasty with the posterior depth of corneal incisions. METHODS: Twenty eyes of 20 patients were treated for regular postoperative penetrating keratoplasty astigmatism. Sutures had been removed and refraction had stabilized. Ultrasound pachymetry was used to calculate incisional depth. Femtosecond laser-assisted paired arcuate incisions were made inside the graft stroma, leaving 90 µm of intact anterior cornea including epithelium. The intact posterior corneal margin was 10% of the measured corneal thickness for 10 patients (10% group) and 125 µm for the remaining 10 patients (125-µm group). Follow-up visits consisted of biomicroscopy, intraocular pressure measurement, fundus examination, and topographic evaluation using anterior segment optical coherence tomography at 1 and 3 months. Postoperative corneal thickness and the depth of incisions were measured with optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Corrected distance visual acuity improved from 0.5 to 0.3 logMAR (Snellen: 20/63 to 20/40, P < .05) in the 10% group and remained constant in the 125-µm group. The refractive cylinder decreased by 34% in the 10% group (range: 0% to 60%), but did not change in the 125-µm group. The topographic anterior cylinder decreased in both groups by 48% (range: 0% to 67%) and 13% (range: 0% to 38%), respectively. The smaller the posterior intact corneal margin, the higher the surgically induced astigmatism (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy of femtosecond laser-assisted intrastromal relaxing incisions is correlated with the posterior depth of the incisions. The deeper incisions were more effective.

Penetrating keratoplasty for corneal amyloidosis in familial amyloidosis, Finnish type.

PURPOSE: To analyze the outcome of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) to the first eye for corneal amyloidosis in familial amyloidosis, Finnish type (FAF). DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective, nonrandomized, interventional, noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients with FAF. INTERVENTION: All patients with FAF who had their first PK in Helsinki University Eye Hospital between January 1, 1990, and August 1, 2011, were identified and a retrospective analysis of the patient charts was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraoperative and postoperative complications, graft survival, reason for graft failure, and frequency of regrafting. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 32 months (range, 5-114). After 24 months, the median BCVA was 1.15 on a logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution scale (20/280; mean, 1.1; SD, 0.5) in comparison with the preoperative median BCVA of 1.3 (20/400; mean, 1.3; SD, 0.4). At 24 months, 3 of 18 eyes (17%) had a visual acuity of ≥0.5 (20/63) and 13 of 18 grafts (72%) were clear. Rejection occurred in 6 of 31 primary grafts (19%). Graft failure occurred in 16 of 31 eyes and resulted from surface complications in 11 eyes and additionally from rejection in 5 eyes. Seven eyes needed regrafting (twice in 1 eye). Complications were frequent in the early and late postoperative periods. Presence of preoperative corneal or graft neovascularization was an indicator of a high risk of graft failure and poor visual outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In a minority of FAF patients, PK improves vision. Owing to the high failure risk and guarded visual prognosis after PK, it is important that both the surgeon and the patient have realistic expectations. It may be reasonable to limit PK to cases with bilateral advanced disease. It seems reasonable to optimize ocular surface health and to delay PK.

Treatment of postoperative keratoplasty astigmatism using femtosecond laser-assisted intrastromal relaxing incisions.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of femtosecond laser-assisted intrastromal relaxing incisions for astigmatism management and establish laser treatment parameters. METHODS: Sixteen eyes of 16 patients had regular astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty. All sutures had been removed and the refraction was stabilized. Paired arcuate intrastromal incisions were made 180° apart within the graft stroma with a femtosecond laser preserving the epithelium. Follow-up examinations were performed at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months. RESULTS: The logMAR corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) improved from 0.50 ± 0.29 to 0.32 ± 0.23 (Snellen 20/63 to 20/40). Refractive and topographic anterior cylinders decreased from 6.8 ± 2.2 diopters (D) to 3.7 ± 1.7 D and from 9.5 ± 4.8 D to 4.4 ± 2.1 D, respectively. Stabilization of topographic cylinder was observed 1 month postoperatively. The worse the preoperative CDVA was and the higher the preoperative values for the refractive and topographic cylinders were, the higher the surgically induced changes were. Anterior side cut angles at 90° and 120° produced similar results. A bulge of incision occurred in one eye requiring compression sutures. CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvement in CDVA and refractive and topographic cylinders indicated a good effect of femtosecond laser-assisted intrastromal relaxing incisions in reducing astigmatism. No advantage between 90° and 120° anterior side cut angles was found. No infections were recorded and no patient expressed discomfort.

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography in congenital corneal opacities.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of anterior segment (AS) optical coherence tomography (OCT) in diagnosis and follow-up of children with congenital corneal opacities. DESIGN: Noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Seven consecutive patients with bilateral congenital corneal opacity between 2 days and 2.5 years of age. METHODS: In addition to basic outpatient examination, eyes were imaged using AS OCT. Anterior segment structures and corneal thicknesses were evaluated from the images. Three children also underwent evaluation under anesthesia, including measurement of corneal thickness with ultrasound pachymetry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evaluation of the type and severity of the congenital corneal opacity based on the findings in AS OCT. RESULTS: Thirteen of the 14 eyes could be imaged using AS OCT. The youngest patient studied was only 2 days old. Three distinct phenotypes were found based on the AS OCT findings. Three patients with iridocorneal adhesions were deduced to have type 1 Peters' anomaly, and 2 patients with lenticulocorneal adhesions were deduced to have type 2 Peters' anomaly. The 2 youngest patients had complete corneal opacity with features of corneal staphyloma and marked changes in the AS structures during the first months of life. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior segment OCT was a valuable method in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with congenital corneal opacities. As a fast and noncontact technique, it was applicable even for neonates. It allowed early characterization of the type and the extent of the AS disorder. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Transient corneal thinning in eyes undergoing corneal cross-linking.

PURPOSE: To report the corneal thinning during and after corneal cross-linking (CXL). DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, single-center observational study. METHODS: Thirty patients (30 eyes; 9 female, 21 male; age, 38 ± 12 years) were consecutively scheduled for CXL between January 23 and July 6, 2009. Twenty-four eyes had progressive keratoconus, 2 had pellucid marginal degeneration, 3 eyes had progressive keratectasia after a LASIK operation, and 1 eye had pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Riboflavin-ultraviolet A (UVA)-induced CXL included the instillation of 0.1% riboflavin drops for 30 minutes followed by riboflavin instillation combined with UVA irradiation for another 30 minutes. Corneal thickness was measured preoperatively, during CXL, and after 1 and 6 months using an ultrasound pachymeter. Changes in the endothelial cell count, corneal steepness, refraction, and visual performance are also given. RESULTS: On average, the corneas thinned 87 ± 40 µm (range, 37-206 µm; 19% ± 7%) during a 60-minute CXL treatment. In 1 patient, the cornea did not swell, even with hypotonic solution such that CXL would be safe. After 1 month, the corneal thickness was lower than the preoperative thickness, but after 6 months, the corneas had regained their original thicknesses. The endothelial cell count and corneal steepness were unchanged after CXL. The UCVA (uncorrected visual acuity) and BSCVA (best spectacle-corrected visual acuity) were improved 6 months after CXL. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal thickness decreases significantly during CXL, even to a level where the health of the endothelium and cornea is jeopardized. Visual performance is improved 6 months after CXL.

[Keratoconus]. / Sarveiskalvon kartiorappeuman uudet hoitomahdollisuudet.

Clinical manifestations of keratoconus include reduced visual acuity, increased astigmatism, thinning of the cornea and protrusion of the cornea, as observed in the shape of the corneal surface. Spectacles are utilized in the treatment of early keratoconus, whereas hard contact lenses or intracorneal support rings are used in more advanced forms of the disease. A corneal transplant operation is applied to a far-advanced keratoconus. Photohardening of the cornea may serve as a suitable preventive treatment.

Cost-utility of routine cataract surgery.

BACKGROUND: If decisions on health care spending are to be as rational and objective as possible, knowledge on cost-effectiveness of routine care is essential. Our aim, therefore, was to evaluate the cost-utility of routine cataract surgery in a real-world setting. METHODS: Prospective assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients undergoing cataract surgery. 219 patients (mean (SD) age 71 (11) years) entering cataract surgery (in 87 only first eye operated, in 73 both eyes operated, in 59 first eye had been operated earlier) filled in the 15D HRQoL questionnaire before and six months after operation. Direct hospital costs were obtained from a clinical patient administration database and cost-utility analysis performed from the perspective of the secondary care provider extrapolating benefits of surgery to the remaining statistical life-expectancy of the patients. RESULTS: Mean (SD) utility score (on a 0-1 scale) increased statistically insignificantly from 0.82 (0.13) to 0.83 (0.14). Of the 15 dimensions of the HRQoL instrument, only seeing improved significantly after operation. Mean utility score improved statistically significantly only in patients reporting significant or major preoperative seeing problems. Of the subgroups, only those whose both eyes were operated during follow-up showed a statistically significant (p < 0.001) improvement. Cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained was euro5128 for patients whose both eyes were operated and euro8212 for patients with only one eye operated during the 6-month follow-up. In patients whose first eye had been operated earlier mean HRQoL deteriorated after surgery precluding the establishment of the cost per QALY. CONCLUSION: Mean utility gain after routine cataract surgery in a real-world setting was relatively small and confined mostly to patients whose both eyes were operated. The cost of cataract surgery per quality-adjusted life year gained was much higher than previously reported and associated with considerable uncertainty.

Localization of local anesthetic solution by magnetic resonance imaging.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of local anesthetic solution by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after combined peribulbar and retrobulbar, superomedial retrobulbar, and sub-Tenon's injection in relation to clinical akinesia. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen patients scheduled for cataract surgery, 5 patients in each group. METHODS: Five patients received combined peribulbar and retrobulbar anesthesia, 5 patients received superomedial retrobulbar injection, and 5 patients had sub-Tenon's injection, all with a combination of bupivacaine 0.75%, lidocaine 2%, and hyaluronidase. The MRI scans were performed before the injection and up to 35 minutes after the injection. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Reliable anesthesia is achieved using a combined peribulbar and retrobulbar block and a relatively great volume of local anesthetic solution, which spreads throughout the orbit, as evidenced by MRI. After superomedial retrobulbar and sub-Tenon's injection, the local anesthetic solution accumulates behind the globe. Sub-Tenon's injection gives good analgesia and slight akinesia with a very small volume. Superomedial retrobulbar injection and combined peribulbar and retrobulbar block provide a similar degree of exophthalmos, which seems to be the result of the volume injected behind the globe.

Late traumatic dislocation of laser in situ keratomileusis flaps.

We present 2 patients with late traumatic laser in situ keratomileusis flap dislocation 8 months and 17 months after surgery. One patient had a sharp trauma that caused a partial laceration and the second patient had a blunt trauma that caused a dislocation of the flap. The corneas were examined with slitlamp microscopy, computed corneal topography, and confocal microscopy. One flap was repositioned surgically; the other was treated conservatively with an eye patch. The final visual outcomes were good and illustrate the benefit of immediate attention and flap repositioning.