Examination of corneal microstructure in the quiescent phase of vernal keratoconjunctivitis using in vivo confocal microscopy.

INTRODUCTION: This study investigated the morphological characteristics of corneal microstructure in the quiescent phase of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). METHODS: Twenty patients with quiescent VKC and 25 healthy subjects were included. In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) of the central cornea was performed. Cellular density of each layer and the morphology of subbasal nerve plexus (SBNP) was analysed. Langerhans cell density (LCD), morphology (LCM), and field area (LCF) were also examined. RESULTS: No differences were found either in cell densities nor in SBNP morphology (p > 0.05). LCD, LCM and LCF were significantly higher in the VKC group (p = 0.005, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The severity of papillary hypertrophy had a significant impact on LCD, LCM and LCF (ß-coefficient: 19.541, p < 0.001; ß-coefficient: 0.283, p < 0.001 and ß-coefficient: 595.255, p < 0.001, respectively). DISCUSSION: In quiescent VKC, LCD, LCM, and LCF were increased, and they were associated with the severity of papillary hypertrophy. Alterations of Langerhans cells indicate a subclinical inflammatory process without ocular symptoms.

Fixation stability after surgical treatment of strabismus and biofeedback fixation training in amblyopic eyes.

BACKGROUND: Visual fixation may be affected in amblyopic patients and, moreover, its stability may be associated with the effects of amblyopic treatments on visual performance in patients with strabismus. Therefore, fixation stability is a relevant biomarker that might predict the recurrence of amblyopia after a therapeutic intervention. Microperimetric biofeedback fixation training (BFT) can stabilize visual fixation in adult patients with central vision loss. It was the purpose of the present study to evaluate the effects of BFT on fixation stability in adult amblyopic patients after surgical intervention to treat strabismus. METHODS: Participants were 12 patients with strabismus (mean age = 29.6 ± 8.5 years; 6 females) and 12 healthy volunteers (mean age = 23.8 ± 1.5 years; 9 females). The protocol included ophthalmological and microperimetric follow-ups to measure fixation stability and macular sensitivity. BFT was applied monocularly to four amblyopic eyes either on the spontaneous preferential retinal locus or to a fixation area closer to the anatomical fovea after surgical treatment of strabismus. RESULTS: Baseline measurements showed significantly altered microperimetric average threshold in amblyopic eyes compared to fellow eyes (p = 0.024) and compared to control eyes (p < 0.001). Fixation was unstable in amblyopic eyes compared to control eyes (p < 0.001). Fixation stability did not significantly change after surgical alignment of strabismus (p = 0.805). BFT applied to operated eyes resulted in a more stable fixation with improvements of about 50% after three months of training. CONCLUSIONS: Fixation stability improvements following BFT highlight its potential use in adult amblyopic eyes after the surgical alignment of the strabismus. Future investigations may also consider applying this method in combination with standard treatments to improve vision in amblyopic patients.

Monocanalicular silicone stent implantation in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction / Monocanalicularis szilikonsztent implantációja könnycsatorna-elzáródással született gyermekekben.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: Csecsemokorban a könnyezés gyakori oka a könnycsatorna veleszületett elzáródása, mely az esetek nagy részében 1 éves korra spontán oldódik. Célkituzés: Retrospektív tanulmányunk célja a monocanalicularis szilikonsztent (Masterka®) implantációjával kapcsolatos eredményeink bemutatása. Módszer: 2015. január 1. és 2020. január 30. között monocanalicularis szilikonsztent implantációján átesett gyermekek adatait dolgoztuk fel. Bevonási kritériumként szerepelt a legalább 6 hónapja fennálló, konzervatív kezelésre nem szuno könnyezés és emiatt elozetesen elvégzett szondázás, mely után a panaszok kiújultak. Kizárási kritérium volt a csontosan elzárt ductus nasolacrimalis és a hibás szemhéjállás. A mutét hatékonyságát a szilikonsztent eltávolítását követo legalább 2 hónap panaszmentességgel definiáltuk. Eredmények: 25 gyermek (10 lány [40%] és 15 fiú [60%]) összesen 30 szemén végeztünk szilikonsztent-beültetést. Az átlagéletkor 4,92 ± 3,03 év (1,5-12 év, n = 25) volt. Minden páciens a születése óta könnyezett. A mutét elott váladékképzodést 20 (66,67%, n = 30), krónikus szemhéj- és kötohártya-gyulladást 10 (33,33%, n = 30) esetben észleltünk. Tompalátást, jelentos astigmiát nem találtunk. A sztentet átlagosan 3,5 ± 1,0 (n = 30) hónap után távolítottuk el. A mutétet követoen 1 héttel 24 (80%, n = 30), 3 hónappal 28 (93,33%, n = 30) és 6 hónappal 24 (88,89%, n = 27) szem volt tünetmentes. Következtetés: A Masterka® implantációja egyszeruen kivitelezheto, kifejezetten hatékony módszer lehet az 1 évnél idosebb gyermekek veleszületett könnycsatorna-szukületének megoldására, különösen olyan esetekben, amikor a korábbi szondázás nem vezetett eredményre, valamint hosszabb szakaszon észlelünk szukületet. Ez utóbbi esetekben megfontolandó lenne a primer szilikonsztent-implantáció is. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(48): 2037-2042. INTRODUCTION: Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction is a common cause of epiphora in infants. In most cases, spontaneous resolution occurs by 1 year of age. OBJECTIVE: Retrospective evaluation of clinical outcomes of monocanalicular lacrimal duct stent implantation (Masterka®). METHOD: Data of patients undergoing monocanalicular silicone stent implantation between 1st January 2015 and 30th January 2020 were evaluated. Inclusion criteria were resistant tearing to conservative therapy which had been persisting at least for 6 months, and previous probing did not resolve the symptoms. Exclusion criteria were associated bony obstruction or eyelid malposition. Treatment success was defined as complete resolution of epiphora at least two months after the procedure. RESULTS: Implantation was performed on 30 eyes of 25 children (10 females [40%] and 15 males [60%]). The mean age was 4.92 ± 3.03 years (1.5-12 years, n = 25). Epiphora was a persistent symptom in every patient since birth. Preoperatively, discharge was observed in 20 (66.6%, n = 30) patients, while chronic blepharitis and conjunctivitis occurred in 10 (33.33%, n = 30) children. Amblyopia or significant astigmatism was not observed in any case. Stent was removed after 3.5 ± 1.0 (n = 30) months. At one week postoperatively 24 (80%, n = 30), at 3 months 28 (93.33%, n = 30) and at 6 months 24 (88.89%, n = 27) eyes were asymptomatic. CONCLUSION: Implantation of monocanalicular silicone stent is effective and easy-to-perform. It can resolve congenital tear duct stenosis, especially where previous probing was not successful and where stenosis is longer or occurs in several localizations. In the latter cases, primary stent implantation should be considered. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(48): 2037-2042.

Dichoptic Spatial Contrast Sensitivity Reflects Binocular Balance in Normal and Stereoanomalous Subjects.

Purpose: To study binocular balance by comparing dichoptic and standard monocular contrast sensitivity function (CSF) in stereonormal and stereoanomalous/stereoblind amblyopic subjects. Methods: Sixteen amblyopes and 17 controls participated. Using the capability of the passive three-dimensional display, we measured their CSF both monocularly and dichoptically at spatial frequencies 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 cpds using achromatic Gabor patches on a luminance noise background. During monocular stimulation, the untested eye was covered, while for the dichoptic stimulation the untested eye viewed background noise. Dichoptic CSF of both eyes was acquired within one block. Results: In patients with central fixation, dichoptic viewing had a large negative impact on the CSF of the amblyopic eye, although it hardly affected that of the dominant eye. In contrast, dichoptic viewing had a small but significant effect on both eyes for controls. In addition, all participants lay along a continuum in terms of how much their two eyes were affected by dichoptic stimulation: by using two predefined contrast sensitivity ratios, namely, amblyopic sensitivity decrement and dichoptic sensitivity decrement, not only did we find a significant correlation between these variables among all participants, but also the two groups were identified with minimum error using a cluster analysis. Conclusions: Dichoptic CSF may be considered to measure visual performance in patients with altered binocular vision, because it better reflects the visual capacity of the amblyopic eye than the standard monocular examinations. It may also be a more reliable parameter to assess the efficacy of modern approaches to treat amblyopia.

Examination of corneal deposits in nephropathic cystinosis using in vivo confocal microscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography: an age-dependent cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Presence of corneal cystine crystals is the main ocular manifestation of cystinosis, although controversial findings concerning the corneal layer with the highest density have been reported. The aim of this study was the analysis of the characteristics of crystal arrangement in different corneal layers and the assessment of corneal morphological changes with age. METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out in three children and three adults who had nephropathic cystinosis and corneal cystine depositions. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination including best corrected distance visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, in vivo confocal microscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography. An evaluation of the depth of crystal deposits and crystal density in different corneal layers was also performed. Due to the low number of subjects no statistical comparison was performed. RESULTS: Anterior segment optical coherence tomography images revealed deposition of hyperreflective crystals from limbus to limbus in each patient. Crystals appeared as randomly oriented hyperreflective, elongated structures on in vivo confocal microscopy images in all corneal layers except the endothelium. In children the deposits occurred predominantly in the anterior stroma, while in adults, the crystals were mostly localized in the posterior corneal stroma with the depth of crystal deposition showing an increasing tendency with age (mean depth of crystal density was 353.17 ± 49.23 µm in children and it was 555.75 ± 25.27 µm in adults). Mean crystal density of the epithelium was 1.47 ± 1.17 (median: 1.5; interquartile range: 0.3-2.4). Mean crystal density of the anterior and posterior stroma of children and adults was 3.37 ± 0.34 (median: 3.4; interquartile range: 3.25-3.55) vs. 1.23 ± 0.23 (median: 1.2; interquartile range: 1.05-1.35) and 0.76 ± 0.49 (median: 0.7; interquartile range: 0.4-1.15) vs. 3.63 ± 0.29 (median: 3.7; interquartile range: 3.45-3.8), respectively. Endothelium had intact structure in all cases. Some hexagonal crystals were observed in two subjects. CONCLUSIONS: In vivo confocal microscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography confirmed an age-related pattern of crystal deposition. In children, crystals tend to locate anteriorly, while in adults, deposits are found posteriorly in corneal stroma.

[Results after graded recession of inferior oblique muscle in strabismus sursoadductorius]. / Az alsó ferde szemizom dozírozott transzpozíciójának hatásossága strabismus sursoadductorius esetén.

Introduction: Idiopathic strabismus sursoadductorius is characterized by an overaction of the inferior oblique (IO) muscle, with elevation of the eye in adduction. This can result in chronic headache, eye pain, diplopia and abnormal head posture. Aim: Presentation of clinical results after graded recession of inferior oblique overaction (IOOA) in strabismus sursoadductorius. Method: During a period of 6 years (2012-2017) we performed a dosed transposition of IO muscle in 53 patients in the Department of Ophthalmology of the Semmelweis University and analyzed the clinical results retrospectively. The mean age was 12.8, min-max: 2-51 years. The transposition of the muscle (8 mm, 10 mm or maximal) was performed because of IOOA and was planned depending on the vertical deviation (VD) in maximal adduction. In case of maximal transposition, the insertion of IO was placed under the lateral part of the lower rectus muscle. We evaluated the squint angle in five positions of gaze preoperatively and postoperative 1 week, 1 month and 3-6 months. We examined best corrected visual acuity, binocular vision and complications after surgery. Results: Postoperatively 25 patients had acceptable stereopsis (Titmus 5). Visual acuity remained stable after surgery in all cases. The VD measured in maximal adduction changed with a decrease of 7.5° when 8 mm transposition was performed, and changed with a decrease to 12°, when maximal recession was performed. The mean reduction of VD was 17.8 prism dioptres (PD) after 1 week (p<0.01), 20.5 PD after 1 month and remained stable during a follow-up of 3-6 months. Conclusion: Graded recession of inferior oblique muscle is a suitable proposed procedure in patients with marked strabismus sursoadductorius. The rates of functional under- or overcorrection or other complications are low. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(27): 1064-1069.

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography in patients after successful management of postoperative endophthalmitis following cataract surgery by pars plana vitrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Acute severe postoperative endophthalmitis may lead to severe vision loss. The aim of this study was the analysis of macular microstructure imaged by spectral domain optical coherence tomography in patients after pars plana vitrectomy due to postcataract endophthalmitis. METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out in 17 patients who had cataract surgery in both eyes and underwent unilateral pars plana vitrectomy due to postcataract endophthalmitis. Postoperative best corrected visual acuity was determined in both eyes. Evaluation of macular thickness, macular volume, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and choroidal thickness using enhanced depth imaging technique was performed by spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The measurements obtained in the operated eye were compared to the fellow eye by Wilcoxon matched pair test. Correlation test was performed by Spearman rank order. RESULTS: A mean postoperative best corrected visual acuity of 63 ± 30 ETDRS letters versus 75 ± 21 letters was achieved in the study and fellow eyes, respectively, after a mean of 5.3 ± 4.5 months (p = 0.1). The mean macular thickness was 320.6 ± 28.8 µm SD in the study eyes compared to 318.4 ± 18.8 µm in the fellow eyes (p = 0.767). No differences were noted in macular volume (p = 0.97) and in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (p = 0.31). Choroidal thickness was significantly lower in the study eyes compared to the fellow eyes (p = 0.018). Epiretinal membrane was found in 7 eyes after endophthalmitis, while in the fellow eyes only in 3 cases (p = 0.13, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSION: Choroidal thickness decreased significantly after endophthalmitis, but there was no functional correlation with the changes in choroidal microstructure. The development of epiretinal membranes may be associated with either vitrectomy or endophthalmitis in the history. Absence of other significant structural and morphological findings shows that successful treatment may guarantee good clinical results even in long term after this severe postoperative complication.