Dropless Cataract Surgery: The Effect of Intracameral Phenylephrine/Ketorolac Infusion as a Single Agent on Postoperative Outcomes.

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using an intracameral phenylephrine/ketorolac infusion during cataract surgery as a single agent to prevent postoperative pain, inflammation, and other complications. Methods A prospective, single-group feasibility study was conducted in which phenylephrine/ketorolac infusion was administered during cataract surgery and no perioperative topical drops were initially prescribed. Patients underwent optical coherence tomography, corrected distance visual acuity testing, and slit lamp biomicroscopy examination at perioperative visits, during which they also reported symptoms of pain, irritation, and/or photophobia. A goal adverse event (AE) rate was set at ≤5.0%. Results A total of 94 eyes (60 patients) were included in this study. The AE rate was 13.8% (13/94 eyes) with pain/irritation in eight eyes, cystoid macular edema (CME) in three eyes, and corneal edema in three eyes. Conclusions Based on an AE rate goal of ≤5.0%, using intraoperative, intracameral phenylephrine/ketorolac alone was not deemed a feasible alternative to current postoperative eye drop regimens in our clinical setting. However, a 13.8% AE rate is comparable to the rates of postoperative CME, corneal edema, pain, and irritation in the published literature. Thus, more research is needed to truly define this approach as inferior or non-inferior to the current standard of care.

Long-Term Outcome of Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Keratopigmentation: Using Intacs Channels for Precise Pigment Deposition Within the Cornea.

PURPOSE: To describe a long-term outcome of a new technique using the femtosecond laser to assist with keratopigmentation (corneal tattooing). METHOD: Nineteen eyes of 18 patients with a history of significant visual disability related to iris defects underwent femtosecond laser-assisted keratopigmentation (FAK) for functional restoration of their visual disabilities. Postoperative visual acuity and symptomatic resolution were collected during their postoperative visits. RESULTS: After FAK surgery, all patients had improvement in their previous visual-related symptoms. Eighteen of 19 eyes (94%) had improvement in their best-corrected Snellen visual acuity. Eight of 19 eyes (42%) had at least 1 line improvement, 8 of 19 eyes (42%) had at least 2 lines of improvement, and 2 of 19 eyes (10%) had at least 3 lines improvement. The average follow-up period was approximately 60 months. CONCLUSIONS: The FAK technique offers a long-term effective and safe technique for visual disabilities and improves visual acuity in patients with various traumatic iris defects.

Incidence of cystoid macular edema following routine cataract surgery using NSAIDs alone or with corticosteroids / Incidência de edema macular cistóide após cirurgia de catarata de rotina com a utilização de AINEs isoladamente ou com corticosteroides

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the rate of cystoid macular edema development among cataract surgery patients on four different therapeutic regimens. Methods: The present study is a retrospective analysis of 5,380 eyes following uncomplicated phacoemulsification at Wake Forest University. The study period went from July 2007 to December 2012. Patients received one of four regimens, as follows: postoperative generic ketorolac 0.4% and prednisolone 1%, postoperative name-brand ketorolac 0.45% and prednisolone 1%, postoperative bromfenac 0.09% and prednisolone 1%, preoperative and postoperative bromfenac 0.09% alone. A statistical analysis was performed to assess the differences in rate of cystoid macular edema development among the four different therapeutic regimens. The diagnosis of cystoid macular edema required worsening of vision and evidence of increased macular thickness on optical coherence tomography. Results: The overall rate of cystoid macular edema was 0.82%. Treatment by postoperative generic ketorolac 0.45% and prednisolone 1% demonstrated the highest rate of cystoid macular edema development (2.20% of the cases). Postoperative name-brand ketorolac 0.45% and prednisolone 1% exhibited intermediate rates of cystoid macular edema development (0.90% of the cases). Postoperative administration of bromfenac 0.09% and prednisolone 1% exhibited intermediate rates of cystoid macular edema development (0.44% of the cases). Preoperative and postoperative bromfenac 0.09% alone resulted in the lowest rate of cystoid macular edema development (0.09% of the cases). The rate of cystoid macular edema was significantly lower when bromfenac was used alone vs. either regimen where ketorolac and prednisolone were used (OR 0.043, 95% CI 0.002 to 0.312; p<0.001). Conclusions: Post-cataract surgery cystoid macular edema developed less frequently following topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs regimen compared to the other therapies evaluated. Bromfenac, without corticosteroids, achieved lower rates of cystoid macular edema vs. various combinations of non-ste­roidal anti-inflammatory drugs with corticosteroids.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a taxa de desenvolvimento do edema macular cistóide em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de catarata em quatro esquemas terapêuticos diferentes. Métodos: O presente estudo é uma análise retrospectiva de 5.380 olhos após facoemulsificação não complicada na Wake Forest University. O período do estudo foi entre julho de 2007 e dezembro de 2012. Os pacientes receberam um dos quatro esquemas: cetorolaco genérico pós-operatório 0,4% e prednisolona 1%, cetorolaco 0,45% pós-operatório e prednisolona 1%, bromfenac 0,09% e a prednisolona 1% pós-operatório, bromfenaco 0,09% no pré-operatório e isoladamente no pós-operatório. Uma análise estatística foi realizada para avaliar as diferenças na taxa de desenvolvimento do edema macular cistóide entre os quatro diferentes regimes terapêuticos. O diagnóstico de edema macular cistóide exigiu uma piora da visão e uma evidência de aumento da espessura macular na tomografia de coerência óptica. Resultados: A taxa global de edema macular cistóide foi de 0,82%. O tratamento com cetorolaco genérico pós-operatório 0,45% e prednisolona 1% demonstrou a maior taxa de desenvolvimento de edema macular cistóide (2,20% dos casos). O cetorolaco 0,45% e a prednisolona 1% no pós-operatório exibiram taxas intermediárias de desenvolvimento de edema macular cistóide (0,90% dos casos). A administração de bromofenac 0,09% e de prednisolona 1% no pós-operatório apresentou taxas interme­diárias de desenvolvimento de edema macular cistóide (0,44% dos casos). O bromfenac 0,09% no pré e pós-operatório isoladamente resultou na menor taxa de desenvolvimento de edema macular cistóide (0,09% dos casos). A taxa de edema macular cistóide foi significativamente menor quando o bromfenac foi utilizado isoladamente em relação ao esquema onde cetorolaco e a prednisolona foram usados (OR 0,043, 95% CI 0,002 a 0,312; p<0,001). Conclusões: O edema macular cistóide pós-cirurgia de catarata desenvolveu-se com menor frequência após o tratamento tópico de medicamentos anti-inflamatórios não esteroidais, comparado às outras terapias avaliadas. Bromfenac, sem corticosteróides, alcançou taxas mais baixas de edema macular cistóide vs. Várias combinações em comparação com as várias combinações de drogas anti-inflamatórias não esteroidais com corticosteróides.

Incidence of cystoid macular edema following routine cataract surgery using NSAIDs alone or with corticosteroids.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the rate of cystoid macular edema development among cataract surgery patients on four different therapeutic regimens. METHODS: The present study is a retrospective analysis of 5,380 eyes following uncomplicated phacoemulsification at Wake Forest University. The study period went from July 2007 to December 2012. Patients received one of four regimens, as follows: postoperative generic ketorolac 0.4% and prednisolone 1%, postoperative name-brand ketorolac 0.45% and prednisolone 1%, postoperative bromfenac 0.09% and prednisolone 1%, preoperative and postoperative bromfenac 0.09% alone. A statistical analysis was performed to assess the differences in rate of cystoid macular edema development among the four different therapeutic regimens. The diagnosis of cystoid macular edema required worsening of vision and evidence of increased macular thickness on optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: The overall rate of cystoid macular edema was 0.82%. Treatment by postoperative generic ketorolac 0.45% and prednisolone 1% demonstrated the highest rate of cystoid macular edema development (2.20% of the cases). Postoperative name-brand ketorolac 0.45% and prednisolone 1% exhibited intermediate rates of cystoid macular edema development (0.90% of the cases). Postoperative administration of bromfenac 0.09% and prednisolone 1% exhibited intermediate rates of cystoid macular edema development (0.44% of the cases). Preoperative and postoperative bromfenac 0.09% alone resulted in the lowest rate of cystoid macular edema development (0.09% of the cases). The rate of cystoid macular edema was significantly lower when bromfenac was used alone vs. either regimen where ketorolac and prednisolone were used (OR 0.043, 95% CI 0.002 to 0.312; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Post-cataract surgery cystoid macular edema developed less frequently following topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs regimen compared to the other therapies evaluated. Bromfenac, without corticosteroids, achieved lower rates of cystoid macular edema vs. various combinations of non-ste-roidal anti-inflammatory drugs with corticosteroids.

Dysfunctional tear syndrome: dry eye disease and associated tear film disorders - new strategies for diagnosis and treatment.

Dysfunctional tear syndrome (DTS) is a common and complex condition affecting the ocular surface. The health and normal functioning of the ocular surface is dependent on a stable and sufficient tear film. Clinician awareness of conditions affecting the ocular surface has increased in recent years because of expanded research and the publication of diagnosis and treatment guidelines pertaining to disorders resulting in DTS, including the Delphi panel treatment recommendations for DTS (2006), the International Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS) (2007), the Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) Workshop (2011), and the updated Preferred Practice Pattern guidelines from the American Academy of Ophthalmology pertaining to dry eye and blepharitis (2013). Since the publication of the existing guidelines, new diagnostic techniques and treatment options that provide an opportunity for better management of patients have become available. Clinicians are now able to access a wealth of information that can help them obtain a differential diagnosis and treatment approach for patients presenting with DTS. This review provides a practical and directed approach to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with DTS, emphasizing treatment that is tailored to the specific disease subtype as well as the severity of the condition.

Three-millimeter incision descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty using sodium hyaluronate (healon): a survey of 105 eyes.

PURPOSE: To report a Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) insertion technique using sodium hyaluronate (Healon) and describe complication rates, visual acuity, and endothelial cell counts. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 105 eyes in 91 patients undergoing DSAEK. Ninety-three eyes had Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, 11 had bullous keratopathy, and 1 had iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome. We noted pre- and postoperative visual acuity at 3 and 6 months, endothelial cell counts, and complications, including graft detachment rates. Thirty-six of 141 eyes met exclusion criteria of prior incisional corneal, glaucoma, or retinal surgery. RESULTS: Because of graft detachment, 29 of 105 eyes (28%) required a re-bubble procedure at day 1 or week 1. Five of 105 grafts (4.8%) failed. Of note, in the last 35 cases, there were no graft failures and 5 detachments (14%). Twenty-eight percent of patients were 20/40 or better preoperatively compared with 49% at 3 months and 52% at 6 months. Excluding eyes with other ocular comorbidities (34), 62% were 20/40 or better at 3 months and 72% were 20/40 or better at 6 months. Postoperative endothelial cell counts were available for 52 eyes with an average cell loss of 44% at an average of 9.4 months. CONCLUSIONS: DSAEK is an effective treatment for endothelial dysfunction, but the learning curve is steep. Anterior chamber stability, graft positioning, and small incision insertion are advantages to our technique. Disadvantages include a relatively high endothelial loss and dislocation rate. Minimizing endothelial cell loss and graft dislocation continue to be important goals for successful DSAEK.

Bioengineering endothelialized neo-corneas using donor-derived corneal endothelial cells and decellularized corneal stroma.

Corneal transplantation is a common transplant procedure performed to improve visual acuity by replacing the opaque or distorted host tissue by clear healthy donor tissue. However, its clinical utility is limited due to a lack of high quality donor corneas. Bioengineered neo-corneas, created using an expandable population of human donor-derived corneal endothelial cells (HCEC), could address this current shortage. The objectives of this study were to establish HCEC isolation and culture protocols and to investigate the feasibility of bioengineering corneal tissue constructs by seeding the cells on decellularized human corneal stroma. HCECs were removed from the discarded corneas of eye donors by enzymatic digestion. Cells were expanded and evaluated for their expression of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and zona occludens-1 (ZO-1). Donor corneal stromas were cut to 120-200 microm thickness slices using a microtome and then decellularized. Extracellular matrix components and mechanical properties of the scaffolds were measured after decellularization. To engineer neo-corneas, 130 HCEC/mm(2) were seeded on decellularized human corneal stromas. The resulting constructs were placed in growth medium for 14 days and then analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histology, and immunocytochemistry. Seeded cells retain expression of the functional markers Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and ZO-1 and constructs have biomechanical properties similar to those of normal corneas. These results indicate that construction of neo-corneas, using HCECs derived from discarded donor corneas and decellularized thin-layer corneal stromas, may create a new source of high quality corneal tissue for transplantation.

Accurate intraocular lens power calculation after myopic laser in situ keratomileusis, bypassing corneal power.

PURPOSE: To describe a novel method for calculating intraocular lens (IOL) power after myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) without using the inaccuracies of the post-LASIK corneal power. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Wake Forest University Eye Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA. METHODS: This retrospective chart review comprised 9 eyes of 9 patients who had phacoemulsification after LASIK using our method for IOL calculation. This new method assumes the patient never had myopic LASIK to calculate IOL power and then targets the IOL at the pre-LASIK amount of myopia. The pre-LASIK keratometry values, pre-LASIK manifest refraction, and the current axial length are placed in the Holladay formula, bypassing the post-LASIK corneal power. In theory, assuming that the patient had satisfactory LASIK results, the correct IOL can then be determined. RESULTS: The mean spherical equivalent postoperative refraction was +0.03 diopter (D) +/- 0.42 (SD) (range -0.625 to +0.75 D). In all 9 eyes, our method consistently chose the most accurate and precise IOL compared with other methods. CONCLUSIONS: The new method of calculating IOL power after LASIK provided excellent results and the most accurate and precise results to date.

A case of acanthamoeba keratitis as a result of a cosmetic contact lens.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of Acanthamoeba keratitis that resulted from a cosmetic contact lens purchased from an unlicensed vendor. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 26-year-old man developed Acanthamoeba keratitis from a cosmetic contact lens and ultimately required a penetrating keratoplasty. The patient then developed angle-closure glaucoma and required a trabeculectomy. CONCLUSIONS: This case shows the potential ocular danger involved with unauthorized sale of cosmetic contact lenses.

Ocular surface injury from a microwave superheated liquid.

PURPOSE: To describe the ocular surface injury resulting from a microwave superheated liquid. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 40-year-old man sustained an ocular surface injury from a microwave superheated liquid. The injury resulted in limbal stem cell damage requiring an autograft limbal stem cell transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: We are unaware of previous reports of microwave superheated liquids resulting in ocular injury. Microwave superheating of liquids is a potential ocular danger that should be brought to the attention of both ophthalmologists and their patients.

Effect of environmental factors on myopic LASIK enhancement rates.

PURPOSE: To determine whether environmental factors affect laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) enhancement rates. SETTING: Wake Forest University Eye Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. METHODS: This retrospective chart review comprised 368 consecutive eyes of 191 myopic patients who had LASIK by the same surgeon (K.A.W.). All patients had surgery in 2000 with the Visx Star S2 excimer laser. Refractive outcome, visual acuity, and enhancement rates were monitored closely for 1 year. Fifty-seven eyes (15.5%) had an enhancement procedure. Using enhancement procedure or percentage of correction as the outcome measure, factors that were suspected to affect LASIK results and the need for enhancement were examined; specifically, age, eye, sex, pachymetry, corneal curvature (K), preoperative spherical equivalent, ablation depth, and environmental factors (procedure room temperature, procedure room relative humidity, outdoor temperature, and outdoor relative humidity). RESULTS: Using univariate and multivariate analysis, LASIK enhancement rates strongly correlated with the following variables: procedure room humidity (P =.003; odds ratio [OR] = 1.093; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.030-1.160), 2-week preoperative mean outdoor humidity (P =.011; OR = 1.054; 95% CI, 1.012-1.096), outdoor temperature (P =.0059; OR = 1.039; 95% CI, 1.011-1.068), and age (P =.0497; OR = 1.034; 95% CI, 1.001-1.070). The percentage of correction strongly correlated with the following variables: procedure room humidity (P =.021), 2-week preoperative mean outdoor humidity (P =.001), outdoor temperature (P =.0052), and room temperature (P =.017). CONCLUSIONS: The 2-week-preoperative mean outdoor relative humidity, procedure room relative humidity, outdoor temperature, and procedure room temperature may have to be considered during LASIK planning. The effect of these environmental variables on LASIK outcomes warrants further evaluation.