Equine pericardium for tectonic globe repair.

PURPOSE: To describe the use of equine pericardium as an off-label temporary emergency treatment of scleral and corneal perforations. METHODS: Three eyes of two male patients aged 34 and 38 years were included, i.e. a case with a history of severe bilateral thermal burn undergoing phacoemulsification complicated by tearing of the main port causing iris exposure and a patient with bilateral corneal perforation secondary to non-infectious corneal melt due to presumed ocular non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug abuse. The equine pericardium patch was soaked in balanced salt solution, trimmed and sutured over the perforated area with interrupted nylon 10-0 sutures. Slit-lamp photographs were taken before and immediately after surgery as well as at 2 and 5 months postoperatively. RESULTS: A watertight closure of the perforation was achieved in both cases. No evidence of infection, severe inflammation, leakage or hypotony was detected throughout the observation period. The first patient developed a pseudopterygium over the pericardium patch 5 months after surgery. The second patient showed at 2 months a bilateral melt of the pericardium and loosening of the sutures. After removal of the latter, a tectonically stable scar was evident in both eyes. CONCLUSION: Equine pericardium offered an effective primary treatment in cases of non-infectious globe perforation and may be considered when other materials, e.g. amniotic membrane, corneal or scleral allografts, are not readily available. Further studies may further elucidate the safety and efficacy profile of this biomaterial in ophthalmic surgery.

Acute Corneal Melting Induced by the Concomitant Use of a Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Agent with an Antiseptic Eye Drop.

INTRODUCTION: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly employed perioperatively to reduce intraoperative prostaglandin release, diminishing pain, preventing miosis, modulating postoperative inflammation, and reducing the incidence of cystoid macular edema (CME). CASE REPORT: A 70-year-old female patient without previous history of ocular or systemic disease was urgently referred to our hospital because of a sudden corneal perforation concerning her left eye (OS). The patient had instilled bromfenac eye drops and antiseptic eye drops twice and four times daily, respectively, for 2 days only, in preparation of scheduled cataract surgery. Slit-lamp examination revealed diffuse inferior corneal melting with a 1 × 2 mm area of full-thickness perforation and a very shallow anterior chamber. Both topical agents were immediately discontinued. Cyanoacrylate glue was applied to seal the perforation and a bandage contact lens was applied together with a topical antibiotic given hourly. Two hours later, the anterior chamber started to reform. The following day, the anterior chamber was fully reformed with a negative Seidel test. At her next follow-up appointment, 1 month later, the glue was detached and the cornea was seen to have successfully healed with only some corneal thinning remaining inferiorly. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative use of topical NSAIDs in combination with antiseptic eye drops may rarely elicit corneal perforation in certain susceptible elderly individuals. Their use should therefore be carefully monitored.

Treatment of Progressive Scleromalacia Perforans by Tectonic Enhancement With Lyophilized Equine Pericardium.

PURPOSE: To describe the off-label use of lyophilized equine pericardium for tectonic enhancement of the sclera in a case of progressive scleromalacia perforans. METHODS: An 82-year-old woman with a history of varicella zoster virus sclerokeratitis presented with a progressively expanding scleral thinning at the superonasal quadrant of the anterior sclera of her left eye. The eye was blind because of intractable glaucoma. To avoid perforation of the exposed choroid, a single layer of lyophilized equine pericardium was sutured over the scleral perforation. After performing a conjunctival peritomy in the involved superonasal area, the pericardium was trimmed, fixated on the anterior sclera with 4 Nylon 9 to 0 interrupted sutures, and tucked underneath the conjunctival pocket. The conjunctiva was adapted with 6 Vicryl 8 to 0 interrupted sutures. RESULTS: The postoperative course was uneventful. At 12 months after surgery, slit-lamp biomicroscopy showed a stable subconjunctival sheet covering the staphyloma, whereas anterior segment optical coherence tomography demonstrated thickening of the ocular wall, suggesting successful integration of the pericardium. CONCLUSIONS: Suturing of equine pericardium over a scleral defect was feasible allowing successful reinforcement of the staphyloma in a case of severe scleromalacia perforans.

Burr-Assisted Peripheral Superficial Keratectomy for the Treatment of Persistent Symptomatic Peripheral Corneal Edema.

PURPOSE: To describe a simple technique of diamond burr-assisted superficial keratectomy for the treatment of peripheral corneal edema. CASES PRESENTATION: Two patients with persistent symptomatic peripheral corneal edema underwent superficial keratectomy with the use of a diamond ophthalmic burr. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated clinically as well as with anterior segment optical coherence tomography. During the postoperative follow-up period, no adverse events were observed and corneal edema reduced significantly. The patients were asymptomatic, no epithelial cysts could be identified clinically, and visual acuity remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Peripheral superficial keratectomy could be an effective alternative for the treatment of peripheral, symptomatic corneal edema.

Massive iridoschisis after penetrating keratoplasty successfully managed with nd:Yag punctures: A case report.

BACKGROUND: To describe the successful management of a massive iridoschisis after penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus, using the nd:YAG punctures. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old male patient has undergone four penetrating keratoplasties for keratoconus. Nine months after the last surgery, patient presented with massive iridoschisis involving the visual axis. Patient was successfully treated with nd:YAG laser iridopunctures. CONCLUSION: Massive iridoschisis could be a potential complication of keratoconus, especially after penetrating keratoplasty. This condition can be potentially treated with nd:YAG iridopunctures.

New Sutureless, Scleral-Fixated Intraocular Lens (Carlevale, Soleko) Implantation Combined With Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty: An Innovative Surgical Approach.

PURPOSE: To describe a novel technique of combined Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) with implantation of a new scleral fixated, sutureless, posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) (Carlevale, Soleko). METHODS: A new surgical technique description. RESULTS: We describe a novel surgical approach, namely combining implantation of a new scleral-fixated sutureless posterior chamber IOL with DSAEK for the management of IOL dislocation and corneal endothelial decompensation. The existing, dislocated IOL was removed, and 2 scleral radial incisions were performed 180 degrees apart. Two partial thickness scleral pockets were created along each scleral radial incision, followed by a 23 G sclerotomy. The IOL was placed in the posterior chamber by using 23 G vitreoretinal forceps, and each plug was secured under the 2 pockets. A standard DSAEK procedure was then performed. Four months postoperatively, the corneal graft was attached and clear. The Carlevale IOL was well positioned, and an improvement in the patient's vision was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Combining implantation of a new scleral fixated foldable sutureless IOL (Carlevale, Soleko) with DSAEK could represent a viable and effective option for patients with IOL dislocation or aphakia, accompanied by corneal endothelial dysfunction.

Peripheral hypertrophic subepithelial corneal degeneration: clinical aspects related to in vivo confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To report the findings of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in two patients with peripheral hypertrophic subepithelial corneal degeneration (PHSD). METHODS: Case series by restrospective chart review and imaging analysis of AS-OCT and IVCM. RESULTS: Slit lamp examination of the two patients revealed a bilateral subepithelial-elevated fibrous tissue of the superior-nasal quadrant, as well as inferior-nasal in one of the patients. Best corrected visual acuity ranged from 20/25 to 20/15. AS-OCT showed continuous, homogenous, well-demarked hyperreflective subepithelial band associated with hyperreflectivity in the anterior stroma. IVCM demonstrated normal epithelial cell morphology and arrangement and a fibrous structure subepithelial and in the anterior stroma. CONCLUSION: AS-OCT and IVCM can facilitate the diagnosis of PHSD and differentiate it from other corneal entities that present peripheral opacifications.

Intraoperative anterior optical coherence tomography-guided synechiolysis in a post-penetrating keratoplasty patient with peripheral corneal opacification.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) as an adjunctive device for peripheral synechiolysis in a post-penetrating keratoplasty patient. CASE REPORT: A 75-year-old female patient presented for follow-up 9 months after a penetrating keratoplasty in the left eye. She presented with anterior peripheral synechiae involving the graft for three clock hours. Peripheral native cornea appeared totally opaque. Synechiolysis was planned, and intraoperative OCT allowed us to detect nonclinically visible synechiae and to confirm complete synechiolysis immediately after surgery. No postoperative complication was recorded. Two months after surgery, the graft was clear and anterior segment OCT did not reveal any residual synechiae or recurrence. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative OCT is useful to overcome the difficulties in visualization through clinically opaque corneas, as it gives real-time feedback upon the anatomy, the extension of the remaining lesions, and the success of the surgery.

Scheimpflug Densitometry After DMEK Versus DSAEK-Two-Year Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To compare the course of Scheimpflug corneal densitometry (CD) after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) versus Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). METHODS: Fifty-four DMEK and 25 DSAEK cases without previous corneal surgery, complicated intraoperative or postoperative course, or vision-limiting ocular comorbidities were included. Pseudophakic eyes of age-matched subjects were recruited as controls (n = 20). Scheimpflug CD of the optically relevant zones (0-2 and 2-6 mm), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell density, and central corneal thickness were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. RESULTS: CD of the optical zone decreased from 34.4 ± 9.4 grayscale units (GSU) before to 19.2 ± 2.7 GSU at 24 months after DMEK. Respectively, CD decreased from 34.0 ± 13.4 GSU before to 21.2 ± 2.5 GSU at 24 months after DSAEK. Mean central CD in group 3 was 18.1 ± 1.3 GSU. Compared with DSAEK, DMEK cases showed lower central CD at 3 and 6 months (P ≤ 0.012) but not at 12 and 24 months postoperatively. DSAEK showed higher CD values throughout the postoperative period compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001). DMEK showed higher CD compared with controls at 3, 6, and 12 but not at 24 months after surgery (P = 0.152). Postoperative BCVA was significantly better after DMEK for every examination time point. No difference in endothelial cell density was found between DMEK and DSAEK at any time point. CONCLUSIONS: DMEK showed lower CD and better BCVA compared with DSAEK in the first 6 postoperative months. Notably, although CD reached similar levels in the midterm after both DMEK and DSAEK, BCVA remained significantly better after DMEK.

Trends in Indications and Techniques of Corneal Transplantation from 1999 through 2015 at a Tertiary Referral Center in Athens, Greece.

INTRODUCTION: During the past decade, novel techniques of corneal transplantation allowing faster and better restoration of vision have emerged. The present cohort study describes a shift of indications and techniques that has occurred in the field of corneal transplantation over a 17-year period in Greece. METHODS: All patients undergoing keratoplasty between January 1999 and December 2015 at an academic tertiary referral center in Athens, Greece, were retrospectively reviewed. The annual incidence of keratoplasty indications and techniques was recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1382 keratoplasty procedures were included. Leading indications were bullous keratopathy (BK) (37.5%), followed by allograft rejection (17.7%), corneal scar (12%), keratoconus (KC) (10.3%), and Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED) (8.8%). A decreasing trend was observed for KC (P=0.009) and an increasing trend for BK (P=0.003) and FED (P=0.001). In 2015, the incidence of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) had decreased from 100% (1999 to 2009) to 21.4%; for cases with isolated pathology of the corneal endothelium, DSAEK was the preferred technique (59.8%), while the respective rate of DMEK was 18.8%. CONCLUSION: Herein, we observed an increasing trend of endothelial pathology among keratoplasty indications as well as a major shift in preferred techniques due to a wide adoption of the new EK procedures.

Spontaneous closure of macular holes developed after pars plana vitrectomy.

PURPOSE: To report a small, retrospective, noncomparative case series (3 patients) of idiopathic macular holes with spontaneous closure in previously vitrectomized eyes. METHODS: The first patient developed a macular hole 14 months after vitrectomy for penetrating ocular trauma. In the rest of the patients, the macular holes were documented ten days and two months after vitrectomies for retinal detachment. RESULTS: In all cases the macular holes resolved spontaneously 2 years, 6 and 9 months after their documentation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations placed by the small sample of studied patients, it seems that spontaneous closure of macular holes developed after vitrectomy can happen as part of their natural course. Both pathogenetic and repair factors involved in macular hole can act spontaneously in a vitrectomized eye.

Detection of nonexudative choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks using optical coherence tomography angiography.

PURPOSE: To present a case of nonexudative choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks in a patient with pseudoxanthoma elasticum. The lesion was monitored over an 8-month period with the use of optical coherence tomography angiography. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: The neovascular tissue area increased by 0.160 mm2 over a period of 8 months without any sign of exudation seen on optical coherence tomography or fluorescein angiography. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of a nonexudative choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks. Given that once a patient with angioid streaks develops choroidal neovascularization in one eye there is a high risk of bilateral involvement within a short amount of time, optical coherence tomography angiography can prove a useful tool for monitoring such lesions over time.