[Prone position ultrasound biomicroscopy for two plateau iris configuration cases with decreased corneal endothelial cells after laser iridotomy].

BACKGROUND: To report a possibility of mechanical injury following laser iridotomy (LI) via the iris surface to the corneal endothelium possibly causing bullous keratopathy. CASE: Subjects were two patients with plateau iris configuration who had been given LI bilaterally. One eye of each patient showed serious decrease in cellular density of the corneal endothelium. Cataract surgery was carried out in these two eyes. We performed ultrasound biomicroscopy in supine and prone positions for eight directions and specular microscopy for nine directions. Data were compared before and after the surgery. Significant endothelial loss was observed in the lower part of cornea in the two eyes. In the same area, the angular part of the plateau iris was attached to the cornea above the Schwalbe line was also shown in prone position. After the cataract surgery, the attachment was relieved, and the cellular density value of endothelium was increased in the lower area while the value was decreased in other areas. Thereafter, the endothelial decrease stopped. CONCLUSION: The contact between the iris root and the corneal endothelium might be one cause of bullous keratopathy in eyes with plateau iris following LI.

Iridocorneal contact as a potential cause of corneal decompensation following laser peripheral iridotomy.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between corneal decompensation following laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) and iridocorneal endothelial contact. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. METHODS: Specular microscopy images of LPI recipients with narrow angles were taken at the central cornea and the 8 midperipheral corneal regions at approximately 3 mm from the center. Eleven eyes of 11 patients had a minimum of ≤ 1600 cells/mm2 among 8 midperipheral corneal endothelial cell densities (ECDs). Radial scans of the angles in the 8 directions were taken with ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in the supine and face-down positions. The minimum and maximum angle opening distance at 750 µm from the scleral spur of the 8 directions were defined as the narrowest and widest angles, respectively. The ECD of the narrowest angle direction was compared with the ECD of the widest angle direction. RESULTS: When UBM was performed with the subject in the supine position, the iris and cornea at the narrowest angle were in contact in only 4 of 11 eyes, while in the face-down position, the iris and the cornea at the narrowest angle were in contact in 10 of the 11 eyes. In the face-down UBM, the midperipheral ECD of the narrowest angle direction was significantly smaller than the midperipheral ECD of the widest angle direction (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The ECD of the narrow angle direction can decrease after LPI. This suggests that corneal endothelial cell damage following LPI may be due to mechanical damage from iridocorneal endothelial contact.

Rate-Determining Process at Electrode/Electrolyte Interfaces for All-Solid-State Fluoride-Ion Batteries.

Developing high-performance solid electrolytes that are operable at room temperature is one of the toughest challenges related to all-solid-state fluoride-ion batteries (FIBs). In this study, tetragonal ß-Pb0.78Sn1.22F4, a promising solid electrolyte material for mild-temperature applications, was modified through annealing under various atmospheres using thin-film models. The annealed samples exhibited preferential growth and enhanced ionic conductivities. The rate-determining factor for electrode/electrolyte interface reactions in all-solid-state FIBs was also investigated by comparing ß-Pb0.78Sn1.22F4 with representative fluoride-ion- and lithium-ion-conductive materials, namely, LaF3, CeF3, and Li7La3Zr2O12. The overall rate constant of the interfacial reaction, k0, which included both mass and charge transfers, was determined using chronoamperometric measurements and Allen-Hickling simulations. Arrhenius-type correlations between k0 and temperature indicated that activation energies calculated from k0 and ionic conductivities (σion) were highly consistent. The results indicated that the mass transfer (electrolyte-side fluoride-ion conduction) should be the rate-determining process at the electrode/electrolyte interface. ß-Pb0.78Sn1.22F4, with a large σion value, had a larger k0 value than Li7La3Zr2O12. Therefore, it is hoped that the development of high-conductivity solid electrolytes can lead to all-solid-state FIBs with superior rate capabilities similar to those of all-solid-state Li-ion batteries.

Successful photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for recurrent choroidal neovascularization beneath the new fovea after macular translocation surgery with 360-degree retinotomy.

PURPOSE: To report a case of successfully treated recurrent choroidal neovascularization after macular translocation surgery with 360-degree retinotomy by photodynamic therapy with verteporfin. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A 76-year-old man developed recurrent choroidal neovascularization at the new fovea after macular translocation surgery with 360-degree retinotomy. RESULTS: Two sessions of photodynamic therapy were applied, which resolved the choroidal neovascularization. Best-corrected visual acuity improved to 20/50 at the 6 and 12 months follow-up. CONCLUSION: Photodynamic therapy may be an option for treatment of recurrent choroidal neovascularization in the new subfoveal region after macular translocation surgery with 360-degree retinotomy.

[Two cases of Senior-Loken syndrome].

BACKGROUND: We report two rare cases of Senior-Loken syndrome, one with fundus lesions simulating Coats disease. CASE 1: A 14-year-old boy had juvenile nephronophthisis and bilateral retinitis pigmentosa with retionochoroidal atrophy and salt and pepper fundus. Electroretinogram (ERG) showed non-recordable changes and the Goldmann perimeter showed ring scotomas. CASE 2: A 14-year-old boy had bilateral retinitis pigmentosa and juvenile nephronophthisis with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Additionally, both eyes showed massive exudates seen in Coats disease in the entire periphery, exudative retinal detachment, proliferative changes in the inferior periphery, yellow opacitas corporis vitrei, keratoconus, and cataract. The left eye had vitreous hemorrhages. Both eyes received vitreous surgery and endophotocoagulation. After the surgery the left eye showed neovascular glaucoma and a cyclophotcoagulation was performed. The massive edema in the superior retina of both eyes disappeared and intra-ocular pressure in the left eye was normalized. However, despite these treatments, both eyes finally had no light perception. CONCLUSION: Case 1 was a typical SLS, and case 2 was a rare one with fundus lesions simulating Coats disease, keratoconus, and cataract. We suspect the exudative changes resulted from various vessel changes and choroidal circulatory disturbance of renal retinopathy, retinal vascular damage, and destruction of blood-retinal barrier with retinitis pigmentosa, the inflammatory changes of vessels, and other things.