Concomitant Varicella Zoster Virus and Cytomegalovirus Corneal Endotheliitis in an Immunocompetent Patient.

PURPOSE: To describe an immunocompetent patient with corneal endotheliitis caused by concomitant infection of cytomegalovirus and varicella zoster virus (VZV). CASE PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old immunocompetent woman was referred to our hospital because of persistent corneal endotheliitis in the left eye. Slit-lamp examination revealed mild conjunctival injection, localized stromal corneal edema with underlying pigmented keratic precipitates, and inferior superficial corneal neovascularization. Anterior chamber examination revealed grade 2+ inflammatory cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of aqueous humor supported a diagnosis of concomitant cytomegalovirus and VZV corneal endotheliitis. Treatment comprised oral valganciclovir and oral acyclovir for 6 weeks. During 12 months of follow-up, the cornea was clear, keratic precipitates were absent, and anterior chamber inflammation was resolved. No recurrences were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Untreated corneal endotheliitis can cause corneal decompensation and permanent endothelial cell loss. Dual infection must be considered in patients with corneal endotheliitis, particularly those with inadequate treatment responses. Timely detection of causative agents and administration of an appropriate treatment regimen can prevent corneal damage.

Corneal Perforation as a Complication of Fungal Interface Infectious Keratitis after Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty.

Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) is a surgical intervention for corneal diseases that do not affect the endothelium. The creation of an interface between the donor graft and recipient bed is a typical feature of DALK. Interface infectious keratitis (IIK) is an uncommon complication that originates at this point of contact. The onset of IIK following lamellar keratoplasty can cause delayed visual loss and subsequent endophthalmitis, with primarily fungal etiology (e.g., Candida spp.) and occasionally bacterial etiology. Infection of the lamellar interface may be attributed to contamination of the donor material or to precipitating factors such as loose sutures, persistent epithelial defects, and prolonged topical steroid use; fungal IIK is frequently resistant to medical treatment. Here, we describe the previously unreported occurrence of corneal perforation as a complication of fungal IIK after DALK. A 26-year-old otherwise healthy woman underwent uneventful DALK for advanced keratoconus in the left eye. She was discharged with instructions to apply topical prednisolone acetate and topical moxifloxacin. Culture of the donor corneoscleral rim showed growth of Candida glabrata, although the patient exhibited no clinical signs of infection. Approximately 3 months later, the patient exhibited mild blurring of vision in her left eye. Therefore, treatment was modified to topical amphotericin B and oral voriconazole. One week later, the patient developed multiple, sheath-like whitish creamy infiltrates, primarily in the lamellar interface; a positive Seidel test result indicated the presence of corneal perforation. As treatment for IIK, excisional penetrating keratoplasty (PK) was performed, followed by topical amphotericin B and topical prednisolone acetate treatment. During 12 months of follow-up after PK, the corneal graft was clear and there was no clinical evidence of recurrent keratitis. Prompt excisional PK prevented the progression of IIK to endophthalmitis in our patient. Early intervention with excisional PK should be considered when a diagnosis of fungal IIK is suspected in a patient with a positive donor rim culture, and in whom the condition does not respond to medical treatment. This early intervention is essential to prevent delayed treatment, which could result in corneal perforation and endophthalmitis, with ultimately poor visual outcomes.

Episcleritis as a possible presenting sign of the novel coronavirus disease: A case report.

PURPOSE: In this report, we describe a case of episcleritis that appeared to be the first sign of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). OBSERVATIONS: A 29-year-old man with no prior medical condition presented with a complaint of redness and foreign body sensation in his left eye, which started two days before his consultation. He had no history of decreased vision, pain, photophobia, discharge, ocular surgery, or trauma. He had no symptoms in his fellow eye nor did he have any systemic symptoms. External examination of his left eye revealed a sectoral nasal conjunctival and episcleral injection and a clear cornea. There was no scleral edema. A diagnosis of episcleritis was made based on clinical grounds and topical fluorometholone 0.1%. was started. Three days later, the patient presented with headache, shortness of breath, cough, and fever (39.2 °C). Real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction test of his nasopharyngeal swab returned a positive result for COVID-19. The patient was then admitted for observation and supportive therapy. After five days, fever, respiratory and ocular symptoms were markedly improved and the patient was discharged and advised to isolate at home for 14 days. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: This is the first report that describes episcleritis as a possible presenting sign of COVID-19. Understanding the association between ocular signs/symptoms and COVID-19 can aid in the diagnosis of the viral infection and can help in limiting its transmission.

MicroPulse Transscleral Laser Therapy with Kahook Dual Blade Excisional Goniotomy and Goniosynechialysis Combined with Phacoemulsification for Angle-Closure Glaucoma: A Case Report.

PURPOSE: To report the efficacy and safety of MicroPulse transscleral laser therapy (TLT) and Kahook Dual Blade excisional goniotomy and goniosynechialysis combined with phacoemulsification for chronic angle-closure glaucoma (ACG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 39-year-old hyperopic female with a known history of ACG presented with a 2-week history of blurry vision, headache, and photophobia in the right eye (RE) following surgical peripheral iridectomy at another hospital. On examination, her uncorrected visual acuity was 20/50 in the RE, and 20/25 in the left eye (LE). Goldman applanation tonometry revealed an intraocular pressure (IOP) of 51 mmHg in the RE and 12 mmHg in the LE. Ocular examination of the RE revealed conjunctival hyperemia, corneal edema, shallow anterior chamber, posterior synechia, mid-dilated non-reactive pupil, and early cataractous changes. Anterior segment examination findings in the LE were normal except for a shallow anterior chamber. Gonioscopy revealed a closed angle (Schaffer grade 0) with 360° peripheral anterior synechia in the RE and a narrow angle (Schaffer grade 2) in the LE. The cup-to-disc ratios were 0.5 RE and 0.3 LE. The patient underwent MicroPulse TLT with phacoemulsification, Kahook Dual Blade-assisted goniosynechialysis, and excisional goniotomy in the RE. RESULTS: At the 1-year follow-up, her IOP remained stable without the need for antiglaucoma medications. No further optic nerve or visual field deterioration was noted. CONCLUSION: MicroPulse TLT combined with phacoemulsification and Kahook Dual Blade-assisted goniosynechialysis and excisional goniotomy safely reduced IOP and the need for antiglaucoma medications in chronic ACG, avoiding the complications associated with incisional glaucoma surgery.

Combined Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy (GATT) with Ab Interno Canaloplasty (ABiC) in Conjunction with Phacoemulsification: 12-Month Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To report the surgical outcomes of combined gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) with ab interno canaloplasty (ABiC) in conjunction with phacoemulsification for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, interventional, non-comparative case series included POAG patients who underwent combined GATT and ABiC in conjunction with phacoemulsification performed between January 2018 and August 2018. Main outcome measures include surgical success rate, changes in intraocular pressure (IOP), number of antiglaucoma medications, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and complications. RESULTS: We enrolled twenty eyes of 19 patients in our study. The mean age was 61.2 ± 6 years, and all the patients completed a 12-month follow-up. The overall success rate was 100%. The mean baseline IOP was 19.75 ± 4.68 mmHg, and at 12 months, the mean IOP was 13.30 ± 1.30 mmHg (IOP reduction of 32.7%). The baseline number of antiglaucoma medications was 3.4 ± 0.6 (range: 2 to 4 medications), and after 12 months follow-up, the number was reduced to 1.1 ± 1.0 (range: 0 to 2 medications). The CDVA for all 20 eyes was 0.85±0.58 LogMAR at baseline, and 0.16±0.30 LogMAR at 12-month follow-up. Only six eyes developed hyphaema, which had cleared by the first postoperative month, and three eyes needed medical treatment for postoperative IOP spikes. CONCLUSION: The 12-month results of our study suggest that combined GATT with ABiC in conjunction with phacoemulsification is a safe and effective alternative in decreasing the IOP and number of antiglaucoma medications in POAG patients.

Outcomes of MyoRing Implantation in Eyes with Keratoconus in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: "A Single-Arm Cohort Study".

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of MyoRing implantation in eyes with keratoconus managed at a tertiary eye hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This one-armed historical cohort study included keratoconus patients operated for MyoRing implant. The cases were assessed before and 6 months after surgery. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spherical equivalent (SE), central corneal thickness (CCT), and corneal curvature (Kmean) were noted and measured before and 6 months after the intervention. Intra- and postoperative complications were noted. RESULT: We studied 12 eyes of 12 patients with moderate keratoconus. The median of Kmean was 50.6 mm (IQR 47.54; 52.5) and 44.5 mm (IQR 42.5; 46.8) before and 6 months after surgery. The change in Kmean was significant (P=0.002). The median spherical equivalent (SE) was -5.1D (interquartile range (IQR) 7.1; -3.6) and -0.6 (IQR -2.1; 0.8) before and 6 months after surgery. The difference in SE was significant (Wilcoxon signed-rank test P=0.004). The CCT was 447 ± 34 µm and 444 ± 30 µm before and 6 months after surgery, respectively. The CCT change was not significant (P=0.26). The UCVA and BCVA improved by 2 or more lines in 9 (75%) eyes, remained stable in 2 (16.7%) eyes, and decreased in 2 (16.7%) eyes. CONCLUSION: MyoRing implant seems to be a safe and effective procedure to manage low and moderate keratoconus. The outcomes could be further enhanced by additional procedures such as collagen cross-linkage and photorefractive keratectomy if warranted.