Eight-years Egyptian experience of Boston type I keratoprosthesis following failed penetrating keratoplasty or ocular surface disease.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome and complications after implantation of the Boston type I keratoprosthesis (Kpro) in two groups of eyes. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed records of 28 eyes with failed Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) (Group A) and 31 eyes with severe ocular surface diseases who implanted Kpro. Follow-up was performed for a mean 37 months. Primary outcomes were Kpro retention and visual improvement, secondary outcomes included the occurrence of complications as endophthalmitis, retro-prosthesis membrane (RPM), intraocular pressure (IOP) abnormalities, posterior capsule opacification (PCO), graft thinning and extrusion. RESULTS: Visual improvement was achieved in 20 eyes in Group A, and in 19 eyes in Group B. In group A, the prosthesis was retained in 25 eyes, while prosthesis retention in Group B was in 26 eyes. Group A had higher rates of PCO, high IOP, soft IOP, and graft thinning. Group B had higher risk of RPM, and endophthalmitis. Two eyes in Group A, and Five eyes in Group B required redo procedure. CONCLUSION: The Boston Kpro type I is an effective procedure in eyes with high risk of keratoplasty failure and in severe ocular surface diseases, it has a high retention rate, higher in cases following failed PKP.

Expanded use of transconjunctival orbitotomy in management of different orbital tumors at different locations.

PURPOSE: To assess the surgical outcomes of transconjunctival approach in management of different orbital tumors at different locations. METHODS: This prospective, non-comparative, clinical interventional study was conducted in the period between March 2017 and January 2020 and included 61 patients with histologically proved orbital tumors. In all cases, a conjunctival incision near the fornix was made depending on the tumor location as revealed by CT or MRI. A traction suture was applied to one or two relevant recti muscles to guide the globe toward the desired direction. Blunt orbital dissection was made toward the tumor until exposing its anterior surface. The procedure was considered successful if the predetermined decision (total excision with improved clinical manifestations for benign and biopsy for diagnosis in malignant tumors) was achieved without causing permanent complications. The procedure was considered a failure if the predetermined decision was not achieved or if permanent complications developed. RESULTS: The patients were divided into: Group A of 47 patients (77.05%) with benign tumors and Group B of 14 patients (22.95%) with malignant tumors. The overall success rate of the approach was 98.36% (60 out of 61 patients), while failure occurred in one case (1.64%). CONCLUSIONS: The transconjunctival orbitotomy is an excellent approach to manage different tumors at different orbital locations with rapid recovery and maximum cosmetic results. It is the only approach that can access intra-conal, mid-orbital tumors whatever their relation to the optic nerve without crossing it.

Ru106 brachytherapy for management of choroidal melanoma: do we need to adjust total dose according to the new NIST calibration measurement?

PURPOSE: To detect the need of adjusting the apical total dose according to the new NIST calibration measurement introduced by BEBIG Isotopen und Medizintechnik GmbH for the treatment of choroidal melanoma. As the total radiation dose should not be individualized depending on errors pf previous calibration but can be applicable if based on a radiosensitivity test that was able to predict the final response of tumor to radiation for each particular patient. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with choroidal melanomas were treated between November 2002 and July 2004 at "Suzanne Mubarak Eye Tumor Centre", National Eye centre Rod-EL Farag, Cairo, Egypt. The prescribed dose was calculated according to the new NISTcalibrated dosimetry introduced by BEBIG, but without dose modification by using a conversion factor F(type,z) from the ASMW calibrated measurement to the NIST calibrated measurement that have been calculated depending on the plaque type and the distance z from the inner concave plaque surface along the central axis. For the treatment of choroidal melanoma in this study the apical dose ranged from 9000-10400cGy with a mean of 9855 +/- 385. RESULTS: After a follow up period from 12-28 months (median of 19 months) there was a local control rate of 100 % and the three years actuarial disease specific survival was 95% as only one patient died of liver metastases. Fourteen patients had a best corrected pre-treatment visual acuity of better than 6/60 in the affected eye. At the last follow up available, useful visual acuity of>0.5 was preserved in 7 of the patients. CONCLUSION: Recalculation of the apical total dose (mostly increasing of the total dose) according to the conversion factor F(type,z), suggested by BEBIG after the new NIST calibration measurement, does not seem to have an effect on both local control and survival, in this study.