Bowman Layer Marking for Correct Placement of Corneal Allogeneic Intrastromal Ring Segments.

ABSTRACT: Corneal allogeneic intrastromal ring segments (CAIRS) refer to the placement of allogeneic rings and segments in intrastromal channels within the cornea. Currently, a deepithelialized donor cornea is used as the allogeneic source for CAIRS and the cut ring is turned sideways and implanted so that the thickness can be varied by varying the distance between the concentric trephine blades. In addition, to obtain a greater effect, CAIRSs are preferred to be implanted with the Bowman layer (BL) facing the corneal apex and posterior stroma facing limbally. Being flexible tissue, it is, however, important to prevent twisting and to maintain correct orientation. We describe a simple technique of marking the BL with a gentian violet surgical marker to simplify CAIRS insertion. BL marking allows easy visibility of twists and helps identify improper orientation, thus allowing correct insertion of CAIRS.

Reverse 4-Throw Pupilloplasty for Endothelial Keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the feasibility and applicability of a reverse 4-throw (RFT) pupilloplasty technique for endothelial keratoplasty. METHODS: In RFT, the 9-0 polypropylene suture needle and a 26-Gauge needle pierce the iris tissue from the posterior surface to emerge on the anterior surface along the proximal and distal portion of iris tissue to be apposed, respectively. The 9-0 needle is threaded into the barrel of a 26-Gauge needle and is withdrawn from the eye. The suture loop is withdrawn and the suture end is passed through the loop 4 times. Both suture ends are pulled, which leads to the sliding of the loop inside the eye, thereby apposing the iris tissue with the knot lying on the posterior surface. RESULTS: The procedure was performed in 11 eyes of 11 patients who were scheduled to undergo an endothelial keratoplasty procedure. The anterior segment optical coherence tomography image of the RFT pupilloplasty did not denote any presence of the suture in the anterior chamber or along the anterior surface of the iris plane. No incidence of primary graft failure or graft rejection during the entire follow-up period was reported in any of the eyes. CONCLUSIONS: RFT serves as an effective technique for performing pupilloplasty in endothelial keratoplasty cases without the presence of a knot or suture tail in the anterior chamber.

Optimum pinhole size determination in pinhole pupilloplasty for higher-order aberrations.

PURPOSE: To determine optimal pinhole size (OPS) and establish a relationship with visual acuity (VA) and RMS (root mean square) values in cases with higher-order aberrations (HOAs) undergoing pinhole pupilloplasty (PPP). SETTING: Private practice, India. DESIGN: Prospective, interventional study. METHODS: RMS value for 6-mm-diameter optical zone was determined by Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam). Patients with RMS value >0.3 µm were included. Preoperatively, a hand-held pinhole gauge with varied apertures determined the OPS, and single-pass four-throw technique was used to perform pupilloplasty with Purkinje-1 reflex as a marker for centration. VA with OPS, correlation of RMS values with OPS and pupil size, and Strehl ratio were the main outcome measures. RESULTS: 29 eyes with HOAs were analyzed; all patients chose 1.0 or 1.5 mm as OPS. The mean preoperative and postoperative pupil size was 3.25 ± 0.81 mm and 1.8 ± 0.54 mm ( P = .000), respectively. Postoperative mean pupil size when compared with OPS denoted that 14 eyes had a difference of <0.1 mm, 8 eyes ranged from 0.2 to 0.45 mm, and 7 eyes had ≥0.6 mm (range from 0.6 to 1.8 mm) difference from OPS. Eyes with higher RMS values needed smaller pupil gauge to achieve better VA. Preoperatively, vision with OPS correlated well with preoperative 6-mm RMS HOAs ( r = 0.728; P = .00). Postoperative UDVA correlated well with VA measured with OPS ( r = 0.847; P = .00). The preoperative and postoperative mean Strehl ratio was 0.109 ± 0.07 and 0.195 ± 0.11 ( P = .001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Higher RMS values required a smaller pupil to achieve optimum VA. PPP can help achieve pinhole size in accordance with patient's optimum pinhole requirement.

When the savior becomes a demon: Silicon oil synechia-induced glaucoma.

Background: Silicon oil is an important adjunct for achieving internal tamponade in the treatment of retinal detachment. Silicone oil tamponade often leads to narrowing of the angle and development of adhesions between the iris and anterior chamber angle structures, with consequential elevation of the intraocular pressure. The video showcases the management of these challenging scenarios. Purpose: To highlight the management of early synechial closures due to silicon oil tamponade. Synopsis: The video highlights the management of early synechial closure following silicon oil tamponade. Surgical pupilloplasty has been demonstrated to break the peripheral anterior synechias on intraoperative gonioscopy as well as on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Performing pupilloplasty in the early phase of development of peripheral anterior synechias (PAS) helps to break the existing synechias and prevent angle closure and sequential deterioration of vision. Highlights: Surgical pupilloplasty helps to relieve the post silicon oil-induced secondary angle closure glaucoma by breaking the peripheral anterior synechias and significantly opening the anterior chamber angles. Online Video Link: https://youtu.be/xe2NGlhPBF4.

Decompensated cornea with epithelial and stromal edema.

A 66-year-old patient underwent surgery for congenital cataract in both eyes in her first year of life without implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL). In 1994, at the age of 39 years, both eyes received secondary Kelman multiflex-style angle-fixated anterior chamber IOLs (AC IOLs). The surgeries were followed by retinal detachments in both eyes, in the left eye in the same year and in the right eye 4 years later, which were successfully repaired. The patient presented with a decompensated cornea with epithelial and stromal edema in the left eye. The AC IOL axis was oriented from 5- to 8-o'clock position with the haptic contacting the cornea. The distal portion of the inferior-nasal haptic was deeply buried and entrapped in a broad iridocorneal synechia extending between 6- and 8-o'clock positions. The synechia also caused adjacent pupillary distortion and pigment leaf eversion (Figure 1JOURNAL/jcrs/04.03/02158034-202205000-00021/figure1/v/2022-04-22T173532Z/r/image-tiff). The AC IOL in the right eye was well positioned, and the cornea was clear with an endothelial cell count (ECC) of 2160 cells/mm2 and central corneal thickness (CCT) of 650 µm. No ECC was obtainable in the left eye, and CCT was 775 µm (Figure 2JOURNAL/jcrs/04.03/02158034-202205000-00021/figure2/v/2022-04-22T173532Z/r/image-tiff). Visual acuity was 0.8 corrected in the right eye and hand motion in the left eye. Both eyes were normotonic. On optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, a broad iridocorneal synechia was visible with a canal corresponding to the deeply buried haptic end of the AC IOL (Figure 3JOURNAL/jcrs/04.03/02158034-202205000-00021/figure3/v/2022-04-22T173532Z/r/image-tiff). Abundant condensed cortical material (Soemmerring's ring) was found behind the iris and above the ciliary body. What would be your surgical options to rehabilitate the patient's left eye considering corneal decompensation caused by haptic contact of an angle-fixated AC IOL and capture of 1 haptic within an iridocorneal synechia extending along 2 clock hours?

Minimally Invasive Micro Sclerostomy (MIMS) Procedure: A Novel Glaucoma Filtration Procedure.

PRCIS: Intermediate-term results suggest that ab interno Minimally Invasive Micro Sclerostomy (MIMS) stent-less subconjunctival filtration procedure is a promising treatment option for patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG). PURPOSE: MIMS is a novel ab interno, stent-less, subconjunctival filtration procedure. This study set to investigate the safety, performance, and efficacy of MIMS in OAG patients. METHODS: Prospective, open-label, single arm clinical trial with intrasubject comparisons. Study participants were adults with OAG who were candidates for a filtration procedure. Patients were operated by a single surgeon (A.A.) in Chennai, India. Following mitomycin-C pretreatment, ab interno MIMS procedure was performed alone or combined with phacoemulsification surgery. Procedure-related complications and adverse events were assessed. Primary outcomes: patients (%) achieving an intraocular pressure (IOP) ≥5 mm Hg and ≤18 mm Hg, and an IOP reduction of >20% as compared with baseline, with or without hypotensive medications, with no need for recurrent surgery. RESULTS: Twenty-one phacoemulsification-MIMS and 10 standalone MIMS procedures were performed. Mean age was 63.94±6.33 years. Mean duration of MIMS was 1:58±0:25 (min:s). Scleral tunnels were achieved in all cases. No device malfunctions, intraoperative complications, or serious adverse events were reported. Five (16.12%) patients presented with iris clogging 1 to 24 weeks following procedure. Two were treated with laser and 3 required trabeculectomy. Mean IOP change from baseline at 24 weeks was 47.4% (31.2 to 16.4 mm Hg, P<0.0001, n=23). The mean difference was -14.8 mm Hg (95% confidence interval: -17.6, -11.9) with no statistically significant differences between groups. Qualified success was achieved in 21 (84%), 17 (74%), and 13 (93%) after 12, 24, and 52 weeks, respectively. Complete success was achieved in 17 (68%), 13 (57%), and 8 (57%) after 12, 24, and 52 weeks, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The interim results suggest that MIMS procedure may be a simple and effective surgical option for early OAG patients requiring target IOP in high teens although iris clogging of incision site is the major concern with this procedure.

i-PDEK: Microscope-integrated OCT-assisted pre-Descemet endothelial keratoplasty.

Four patients with pseudophakic corneal edema were subjected to pre-Descemet endothelial keratoplasty (PDEK) under the direct guidance of microscope-integrated optical coherence tomography (i-OCT). i-OCT facilitated successful type 1 big bubble formation during donor preparation, debridement of the hypertrophic epithelium, planning and placement of surgical wounds, descemetorrhexis with removal of remnant Descemet membrane tags, and identification of correct donor orientation and interface details. It was also possible to discern the stability of intraocular lens, flat iris configuration, adequate stromal hydration, and wound apposition on i-OCT. Preoperative visual acuity was counting fingers (50%), 0.78 logMAR (25%), and 1.48 logMAR (25%), whereas postoperative visual acuity was 0.6 logMAR (50%) and 0.3 logMAR (50%). At 6-months of follow-up, all grafts were clear and well attached, the mean central corneal thickness, graft size, graft thickness, and endothelial cell loss were 557.25 ± 13.45 µm, 7.75 ± 0.20 mm, 25.5 ± 2.64 µm, and 21.6 ± 0.02%, respectively. To conclude, i-OCT helped during various surgical steps of PDEK.

Pinhole pupilloplasty after previous radial keratotomy.

The multiple radial stromal deep corneal incisions placed in radial keratotomy (RK) lead to higher-order aberrations and pose a surgical challenge to performing any further corrective procedure on the cornea because of fear of inducing an incisional dehiscence. A method to perform pinhole pupilloplasty (PPP) in the setting of previous RK is presented. Application of pinhole optics by performing PPP leads to significant improvement in image quality and helps to optimize visual potential in post-RK cases.

Glued intraocular lens in eyes with deficient capsules: retrospective analysis of long-term effects.

PURPOSE: To assess the long-term (6-12 years) results and complications of glued transscleral-fixated intraocular lens (IOL). SETTING: Dr. Agarwal's Eye Center, Chennai, India. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Eyes with glued IOL of more than 5-year follow-up were evaluated. Visual acuity (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR]), IOL tilt, corneal topography, corneal endothelial cell density, intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness, central foveal thickness, and ocular residual astigmatism (ORA) were evaluated. RESULTS: Overall, 91 eyes (63 patients) with mean postoperative 8.2 ± 2.3 years were analyzed. The duration was 10 to 12 years in 31 eyes (34%), 9 years in 14 eyes (15.3%), and 6 to 9 years in 46 eyes (50.5%). No subscleral haptic was visible in 50% eyes. Mild, moderate, and severe grade of haptic visibility was noted in 33.5%, 9.4%, and 7%, respectively. The corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 0.50 ± 0.50 logMAR. Clinically, no tilt was seen in 87 eyes (95.6%), whereas detectable tilt was seen in 4 eyes (4.3%). The optical coherence tomography microtilt was 0.8 ± 1.7 and 0.4 ± 1.2 degrees in 90- and 180-degree axes, respectively. The mean iris vault was 0.45 mm, and the mean ORA was 1.10 ± 1.00 diopter. Complications were glaucoma (7.6%), IOL luxation (4.4%), retinal detachment (3.2%), macular edema (4.3%), corneal decompensation (3.2%), uveitis (2.1%), and uveitis-glaucoma-hyphema syndrome (1%). Haptic reposition (3.2%), retinal detachment surgery (3.2%) keratoplasty (1%), pupilloplasty (2.1%), and IOL explantation (1%) were the second surgeries performed. CONCLUSIONS: Glued IOL has shown good anatomical and functional stability with minimal incidence of vision-threatening complications on long-term.

Trocar assisted nonappositional repair of iridodialysis.

PURPOSE: To describe trocar-assisted method of Nonappositional repair of iridodialysis. METHODS: The technique described involves placement of a 25 G trocar at the limbus wherein the lumen of the cannula works as a guide to introduce a double arm polypropylene suture attached to the long arm needle thereby preventing any accidental entrapment of corneal fibers into the needle. RESULTS: The technique was performed in 7 cases and no entrapment of corneal tissue was observed while maneuvering the suture needle through paracentesis incision during an iridodialysis repair procedure. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography demonstrated closure of the limbal trocar wound at 1-week follow-up. No incidence of wound leak or Descemets membrane detachment was observed. CONCLUSION: The technique allows performing iridodialysis repair in technically challenging situations by directing the needle appropriately and preventing any undulating movement inside the anterior chamber. The trocar-assisted method serves as an effective method to perform non-appositional iridodialysis repair.

Pinhole Pupilloplasty for Higher Order Aberrations: Assessment of Visual Quality and Depth of Focus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate visual quality and depth of focus under photopic and mesopic light conditions of patients treated with pinhole pupilloplasty (PPP) for corneal higher order aberrations. METHODS: This was a prospective, noncomparative, interventional series and PPP was performed with a single-pass four-throw procedure in 14 eyes of 14 patients. After PPP, patients were analyzed with the Clinical Trial Suite machine (M & S Technologies, Inc) that offers a standardized method of recording visual quality. The luminance levels of 85 and 3 cd/m2 were set for photopic and mesopic lighting conditions, respectively, and uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity were recorded for distance (4 m), intermediate (66 cm), and near (44 cm). Low contrast acuity (LCA) at 10% and mesopic contrast sensitivity function (CSF) with glare on and off at four spatial frequencies of 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 cycles per degree (cpd) and defocus curve were assessed. RESULTS: Under photopic and mesopic conditions, a significant difference was observed postoperatively in uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity for distance, intermediate, and near. The defocus curve demonstrated extended depth of focus that ranged from +1.50 to -2.50 diopters and LCA at 10% demonstrated significant improvement for all cases. For mesopic CSF, a significant improvement was noted at spatial frequencies of 3 and 6 cpd with glare on. With glare off, an improvement was seen at spatial frequencies of 1.5, 3, and 6 cpd, but not at 12 cpd. CONCLUSIONS: Early results demonstrate that PPP provides improved visual quality and extended depth of focus and can be a useful option in cases with higher order aberrations. [J Refract Surg. 2020;36(12):812-819.].

Contact lens assisted corneal cross linking in thin ectatic corneas - A review.

Contact lens-assisted corneal cross-linking (CACXL) was introduced by Jacob et al. in 2012 for treating thin keratoconic corneas using riboflavin soaked soft contact lens to artificially increase the functional corneal thickness. It is advantageous over other thin corneal cross-linking techniques as it works independent of swelling properties of the cornea, is an epi-off technique and does not require additional time, additional expensive equipments or special solutions. The only additional requirement as compared to all other techniques is a UV barrier-free soft contact lens (SoflensTM, B&L) which is easily available and inexpensive. Advantages include simplicity, easy adaptability, early visual rehabilitation, good visual outcomes, safety, and efficacy. Progression rates are acceptable and the need for re-treatment has been low. CACXL can help regularize corneal shape and may be used in isolation or synergistically with Intracorneal ring segments (ICRS) or Corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segments (CAIRS). It gives about 70% stiffening as compared to standard Dresden protocol CXL in less ideal porcine eye studies. Murine eye models that closely mimic thin corneas and show greater cross-linking effect as compared to porcine eyes may be a better model for evaluation of CACXL, however further studies are needed. Care should be taken in selecting the right kind of contact lens. Proper technique should be followed, especially by confirming thinnest functional pachymetry to be above 400 microns intra-operatively before application of UV-A. The sub-contact lens riboflavin film should be avoided as also an excessively thick supra-contact lens riboflavin film and too many re-applications.

Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of angioid streak associated choroidal neovascular membrane (AS-CNV): a Zambian case series.

This case series illustrates clinical features and treatment outcomes of angioid streak associated CNV (AS-CNV) in 3 consecutive patients. Mean age of patients was 43.2 years with one female patient. Bilateral CNV was present in one patient. Comet-tail lesions were present in all cases. No underlying systemic association was found in any of the patients. All patients were treated with 3 loading doses of anti-VEGF injections (ranibizumab in two and aflibercept was used in one case). Subretinal fluid resolved in all cases with no recurrence of CNV activity at mean follow-up of 10.75 months. AS-CNV in Zambian eyes responds favourably to anti-VEGF injections.

Persistent asymptomatic vitreous cyst with ten years follow-up: A case report.

Asymptomatic free floating vitreous cyst with macular coloboma constantly been stable for 10 years is a rarely reported case. Here, we report a case of 30-year-old male who presented to us with best corrected visual acuity of 6/12 and 6/18 in right and left eye, respectively. On slit-lamp examination anterior segment was normal. His fundus examination showed a solitary free floating cyst in the vitreous in right eye and bilateral macular coloboma. Blood tests for toxoplasmosis and cysticercosis were negative. The patient had no symptoms, so we decided to follow the patient without any treatment.

A new normal with cataract surgery during COVID-19 pandemic.

Cataract is the second leading cause of preventable blindness on the globe. Several programs across the country have been running efficiently to increase the cataract surgical rates and decrease blindness due to cataract. The current COVID-19 pandemic has led to a complete halt of these programs and thus accumulating all the elective cataract procedures. At present with the better understanding of the safety precautions among the health care workers and general population the Government of India (GoI) has given clearance for functioning of eye care facilities. In order to facilitate smooth functioning of every clinic, in this paper, we prepared preferred practice pattern based on consensus discussions between leading ophthalmologists in India including representatives from major governmental and private institutions as well as the All India Ophthalmological Society leadership. These guidelines will be applicable to all practice settings including tertiary institutions, corporate and group practices and individual eye clinics. The guidelines include triage, use of personal protective equipment, precautions to be taken in the OPD and operating room as well for elective cataract screening and surgery. These guidelines have been prepared based on current situation but are expected to evolve over a period of time based on the ongoing pandemic and guidelines from GoI.