Diagnosis of cytomegalovirus corneal endotheliitis using surgically removed Descemet's membrane and endothelium despite negative results with aqueous humor PCR: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been known to cause unilateral corneal endotheliitis with keratic precipitates and localized corneal edema, iridocyclitis, and secondary glaucoma. CMV endotheliitis is diagnosed based on clinical manifestations and viral examination using qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the aqueous humor. CASE PRESENTATION: An 80-year-old woman was referred to our department for bullous keratopathy. Pigmented keratic precipitates were found in the right eye without significant anterior chamber inflammation. After 8 months there was inflammation relapse with mutton fat keratic precipitates and PCR on aqueous humor was performed, with negative results for CMV, herpes simplex virus, and varicella zoster virus. Keratic precipitates disappeared with steroid instillation, and Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) was performed for the right eye. CMV-DNA was positive at 6.0 × 102 copies/ GAPDH 105 copies in real time PCR of corneal endothelial specimen removed during DSAEK with negative results for all the other human herpes viruses. After diagnosis of CMV corneal endotheliitis, treatment with systemic and topical ganciclovir was initiated and there was resolution of symptoms. No recurrence of iridocyclitis or corneal endotheliitis was observed at 6 months follow up. CONCLUSIONS: This case report suggests that PCR should be performed using the endothelium removed during DSAEK for bullous keratopathy of an unknown cause, even if PCR for aqueous humor yields negative results.

Epikeratophakia for Keratoconus: A Case Report with 30 Years of Follow-Up.

Background: Epikeratophakia is a refractive surgical procedure used to correct aphakic eyes, hyperopia, and keratoconus and is often performed in children. In this report, we present the long-term effects of epikeratophakia on the progression of keratoconus in a patient who underwent surgery. Case Presentation. The patient was a 17-year-old boy with keratoconus who had difficulty wearing hard contact lenses. As a solution, he underwent right eye epikeratophakia with a plano-powered lenticule. We followed up the patient for 30 years. Although the progression of keratoconus ceased in the operated eye, it continued in the nonoperated left eye and resulted in acute hydrops 9 years and 10 months after surgery. Subsequently, 20 years after the operation, anterior-segment optical coherence tomography was performed, which revealed that the progression of keratoconus had been interrupted in the right eye but had continued in the left eye, as evidenced by the parameters of the average and maximum keratometry and thinnest corneal thickness. Conclusions: Herein, we reported the longest follow-up to date of a case of keratoconus, in which one eye was treated with epikeratophakia. The progression of keratoconus was halted in the treated eye but continued in the nonoperated contralateral eye.

Three-year results of accelerated transepithelial cross-linking (30 mW/cm2 × 3 min) for keratoconus: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term efficacy and safety of accelerated transepithelial corneal cross-linking (ATE-CXL) with 30 mW/cm2 × 3 min. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Thirty-four eyes of 23 patients with progressive keratoconus (KCN) recruited within a single centre were enrolled in this prospective interventional study. Exclusion criteria included: history of Descemet's membrane rupture, glaucoma, uveitis, severe dry eye, concurrent corneal infections, and systemic disease that could affect corneal healing. ATE-CXL was performed with 3 min of ultraviolet-A continuous irradiation (30 mW/cm2). Follow-up examinations were scheduled on postoperative day 1; 1 and 2 weeks; 1, 3 and 6 months; and 1, 2 and 3 years. Main outcome measures were maximum corneal power (Kmax), average corneal power (AvgK), steepest corneal power (Ks), central corneal thickness, thinnest corneal thickness, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and endothelial cell density. RESULTS: Mean Kmax, AvgK, Ks, UCVA, BCVA and endothelial cell density did not significantly change over 3 years. The speed of progression obtained by linear regression analysis on corneal parameters (Kmax, AvgK, Ks) improved after ATE-CXL. All baseline parameters correlated with the postoperative Kmax slope. Two eyes underwent ATE-CXL redo because of continued progression after the primary CXL. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of 3-year results of ATE-CXL with 30 mW/cm2 × 3 min. ATE-CXL (30 mW/cm2 × 3 min) was safe and effective for slowing down KCN progression. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This study was registered with ID UMIN000009372 in UMIN-Clinical Trials Registry.

Impact of rigid gas-permeable contact lens on keratometric indices and corneal thickness of keratoconus eyes examined with anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE/AIM: Detecting keratoconus (KC) progression helps determine the surgical indication for corneal cross-linking (CXL). This retrospective observational study aimed to examine changes in keratometric indices and corneal thickness in patients with KC who used rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved 31 eyes (31 patients) diagnosed with KC. No patient had used RGP or any other type of contact lenses for at least 1 month. Corneal topographic data were obtained using three-dimensional anterior segment optical coherence tomography before and after >1 month of RGP lens use. RESULTS: The average and maximum keratometry values changed after using an RGP lens (-1.05 ± 1.92 D, p < 0.01 and -1.65 ± 4.20 D, p = 0.04, respectively); the spherical component of the anterior corneal surface became significantly smaller (p = 0.02). No change was observed in the central or thinnest corneal thickness values. Keratometric changes were greater in eyes with severe KC than in those with moderate KC (p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Keratometry and spherical components of the anterior corneal surface values decreased after RGP lens use; keratometric changes were greater in eyes with severe KC than in those with moderate KC. Corneal progression indices, including corneal thickness, posterior keratometry, and irregular astigmatism values, mostly remained unchanged. It is important to consider these findings when evaluating corneal topography of KC and preparing CXL.

Comparison of efficacy and safety of accelerated trans-epithelial crosslinking for keratoconus patients with corneas thicker and thinner than 380µm.

PURPOSE: Accelerated trans-epithelial cross-linking (ATE-CXL), a therapy to halt keratoconus progression, has the merit of widening the indications for thinner corneas (<380 µm). Since a hypotonic solution affects the swollen cornea, corneas of <380 µm thickness at preoperative measurement can be an indication for ATE-CXL. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the efficacy and safety of ATE-CXL for keratoconus between corneas with thicknesses <380 µm and ≥380 µm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four eyes of 27 patients who underwent ATE-CXL (30 mW/cm2; 3 minutes) with completion of a 24-month follow-up, were enrolled and divided into two groups: Group 1, thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), <380 µm (n = 10) and Group 2, TCT, ≥380 µm (n = 24). A hypotonic solution was administered to Group 1 until the corneal thickness increased by >380 µm before UV-A irradiation. We measured uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), maximum and average keratometric values (Kmax and AveK), central corneal thickness (CCT), TCT by anterior segment optical coherence tomography, and corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) using specular microscopy. The changes from baseline to 24 months postoperatively between the two groups were compared accordingly. RESULTS: The changes in Kmax and AveK from baseline to 24 months in Group 1 (ΔKmax: -7.8 ± 7.7 D, ΔAveK: -4.3 ± 6.1 D) showed significant decreases compared to those in Group 2 (ΔKmax: 0.2 ± 3.0 D, ΔAveK: 0.6 ± 2.7 D) (p = .004 and p = .001), and there were no significant changes from baseline to 24 months postoperatively in UCVA, BCVA, CCT, TCT, and ECD in both groups. CONCLUSION: ATE-CXL is effective and safe for keratoconic corneas in both groups. The effect of reducing keratometric values was greater in the group with thinner corneas.

Prediction of keratoconus progression using deep learning of anterior segment optical coherence tomography maps.

BACKGROUND: To predict keratoconus progression using deep learning of the color-coded maps measured with a swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (As-OCT) device. METHODS: We enrolled 218 keratoconic eyes with and without disease progression. Using deep learning of the 6 color-coded maps (anterior elevation, anterior curvature, posterior elevation, posterior curvature, total refractive power, and pachymetry map) obtained by the As-OCT (CASIA, Tomey), we assessed the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of prediction of keratoconus progression in such eyes. RESULTS: Deep learning of the 6 color-coded maps exhibited an accuracy of 0.794 in discriminating keratoconus with and without progression. For a single map analysis, posterior elevation map (0.798) showed the highest accuracy, followed by anterior curvature map (0.775), posterior corneal curvature map (0.757), anterior elevation map (0.752), total refractive power map (0.729), and pachymetry map (0.720), in distinguishing between progressive and non-progressive keratoconus. The use of the adjusted algorithm by age subgroups improved to an accuracy of 0.849. CONCLUSIONS: Deep learning of the As-OCT color-coded maps effectively discriminates progressive keratoconus from non-progressive keratoconus with an accuracy of approximately 85% using the adjusted age algorithm, indicating that it will become an aid for predicting the progression of the disease, which is clinically beneficial for decision-making of the surgical indication of corneal cross-linking (CXL).