Long-term follow-up of ocular involvement in hereditary mucoepithelial dysplasia.

An 11-month-old boy with nonscarring alopecia was referred for ophthalmic evaluation because of photophobia from the age of 4 months. Whole-exome sequencing identified a heterozygous mutation in the SREBF1 gene, confirming the diagnosis of hereditary mucoepithelial dysplasia. Ocular examination revealed meibomian gland dysfunction and superficial corneal vascularization and opacity. Impression cytology of the sclerocorneal limbus revealed atypical epithelial cells. The patient received treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eye, and ocular surface inflammation. With appropriate management and close follow-up over 7 years, corneal opacity improved greatly.

Femtosecond thin-flap laser assisted in situ keratomileusis for correction of post-penetrating keratoplasty ametropia: long-term outcome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of femtosecond thin-flap LASIK (femto-LASIK) for correction of refractive error after penetrating keratoplasty in keratoconus-affected eyes. SETTING: a private ophthalmology clinic. DESIGN: Prospective interventional case series. METHODS: This prospective interventional case series enrolled 22 eyes of 22 patients who underwent femto-LASIK for the management of post-penetrating keratoplasty ametropia. The refractive error, uncorrected (UDVA), and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities and vector analysis were reported in short-term and long-term period after surgery. RESULTS: The mean age was 32.7 ± 7.5 years (range, 23 to 47 years) at the surgery time. The average time between PK and femto-LASIK was 42.5 ± 31.7 months. The average follow-up duration after femto-LASIK was 81.2 ± 18.6 months. The mean preoperative UDVA significantly improved from 0.47 ± 0.15 logMAR to 0.35 ± 0.14 logMAR at 12 months (P = 0.048) and 0.4 ± 0.17 at final follow-up exam (P = 0.007). CDVA was 0.22 ± 0.1 at baseline which improved to 0.18 ± 0.15 and 0.15 ± 0.1 logMAR at 12 and 81 months, respectively. (Ps = 0.027, 0.014). The mean cylinder before surgery was - 5.04 ± 1.4D which significantly decreased to -1.5 ± 0.8 D at 12 months postoperatively. (P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in refractive astigmatism from 12 months to 81 months postoperatively (-3.1 ± 2.0, P = 0.002). At the final visit, the efficacy index was 0.83, and the safety index was 1.16. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the short-term outcome indicated that femo-LASIK was effective for correction of post-keratoplasty ametropia during short-term period, a notable regression in its effect was observed in the long-term follow-up. Therefore, the predictability of this technique might decrease in the long-term.

Management of post-keratoplasty ametropia.

Even after a successful corneal transplant, patients experience severe refractive errors, impeding their rehabilitation and satisfaction. Refractive errors can be caused by recipient pathology and corneal thickness, as well as intraoperative factors such as donor-host discrepancy, recipient's eccentric trephination, vitreous length, wound apposition, technique of suturing, and suture material. Also, wound healing and the interim between keratoplasty and suture removal contribute to astigmatism. Lamellar keratoplasty outperforms penetrating keratoplasty in terms of endothelial cell loss and endothelial graft rejection, yet the risk of developing refractive errors is comparable. Nonsurgical interventions such as spectacles and lenses fail to provide desirable vision in cases with high astigmatism and corneal irregularity. When these limitations are encountered, surgical interventions including incisional keratotomy, wedge resection, laser refractive surgeries, intracorneal segments, and intraocular lens implantation are employed. However, occasionally, none of these approaches deliver the desired effects, leading to the need for a repeat keratoplasty.

Lately Diagnosed Acanthamoeba Keratitis Manifesting as an Intrastromal Corneal Abscess: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT: A 42-year-old female contact lens wearer presented to a local emergency department with a 3-day history of decreased vision and ocular discomfort in her right eye. She was started on topical fluorometholone and oral acyclovir with initial diagnosis of herpes simplex keratitis. After 3 weeks of worsening symptoms, she was diagnosed with bacterial corneal ulcer and treated with levofloxacin eye drops every 2 hr. After 14 days of no improvement, she was referred to our clinic for further workup. Slitlamp examination demonstrated a solitary dense 3×3-mm infiltration involving anterior and central corneal stroma. The overlying epithelium was intact, and there was no subepithelial infiltration, radial perineuritis, keratic precipitates, or anterior chamber reaction. Corneal sensation was normal. Confocal microscopy and corneal biopsy were definitive for Acanthamoeba infection. The patient received polyhexamethylene biguanide 0.02% every 2 hr and oral ketoconazole 200 mg twice a day, which resulted in improvement in her signs and symptoms within 10 days. The medications were gradually tapered off over 5 months per clinical response. At the 9-month follow-up visit, the best-corrected visual acuity was 5/10 with a superficial central stromal scar at slitlamp examination. Acanthamoeba infection should be considered in contact lens wearers who present with intrastromal corneal abscess.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Keratolimbal Allograft Alone or in Combination With Keratoplasty in Chronic and Delayed-Onset Mustard Gas Keratopathy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term clinical outcome of keratolimbal allograft (KLAL) alone or in combination with keratoplasty, in the management of patients with chronic and delayed-onset mustard gas keratopathy (MGK). METHODS: Patients who had KLAL for MGK with or without corneal transplantation between 2002 and 2016 were recalled to be enrolled in this retrospective interventional case series. The primary outcome was the success rate of the KLAL demonstrated by Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival analysis. The secondary outcomes were postoperative BCVA and the need for further surgery. RESULTS: A total of 108 eyes of 68 patients with MGK underwent KLAL. All patients were male with an average age of 54 ± 6 years with an average follow-up duration of 81.9 ± 38.4 months. Sectoral KLAL alone was performed in 62 eyes (57.4%), combined with lamellar keratoplasty (LKP) in 40 eyes (37%) and combined with penetrating keratoplasty in 6 eyes (5.6%). The cumulative probability of success was 75% within the follow-up duration. The mean duration of successful KLAL survival was 80.6 ± 38 months. 88.1% of these eyes needed only 1 operation to stabilize the ocular surface. Average BCVA did not improve significantly after KLAL alone, except in those accompanied by keratoplasty. KLAL combined with LKP achieved the superior clinical outcome compared with KLAL alone. Infectious keratitis occurred in 6 eyes (5.5%). No adverse event due to postoperative systemic immunosuppression was observed. CONCLUSIONS: KLAL alone or combined with LKP is effective, durable, and visually acceptable in the reconstruction of ocular surface in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency secondary to MGK.

Mini-Conjunctival Limbal Autograft (Mini-CLAU) Using Platelet-Rich Plasma Eye Drops (E-PRP): A Case Series.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to introduce a new method of limbal stem cell transplantation using autologous platelet-rich plasma (E-PRP) eye drops for unilateral total limbal stem cell deficiency. METHODS: Patients with total unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency due to chemical burn underwent mini-conjunctival limbal autograft using autologous E-PRP drops. One small limbal block, measuring 2 × 2 mm, was harvested from the patients' contralateral healthy eye and transplanted to the diseased eye. All patients received E-PRP drops until achieving complete corneal epithelialization. Subsequent corneal transplantation was performed in eyes with significant stromal opacification. Corneal buttons obtained during corneal transplantation underwent immunohistochemistry for the evaluation of limbal stem cell markers (ABCG2 and P63). Visual acuity, epithelial healing, corneal clarity, and regression of corneal conjunctivalization/vascularization were evaluated after surgery. RESULTS: Ten patients with acid (n = 7) or alkali (n = 3) burn were included. The mean follow-up period was 21.7 ± 5.8 months (range, 12-32 months). Corneas were completely reepithelialized within 14.9 ± 3.5 days (range, 11-21 days). Corneal conjunctivalization/vascularization dramatically regressed 1 to 2 months after surgery in all cases, and corneal clarity considerably improved in 7 patients. In the 3 eyes with significant stromal opacification, subsequent optical penetrating keratoplasty was performed. The ocular surface was stable throughout the follow-up period in all eyes. BSCVA improved to 0.60 ± 0.0.32 and 0.46 ± 0.0.25 logMAR in eyes with and without corneal transplantation, respectively, at the final follow-up visit. ABCG2 and P63 markers were detected on corneal buttons after keratoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our clinical and laboratory findings, mini-conjunctival limbal autograft using E-PRP can be considered as a promising alternative to ocular surface reconstruction.

Recurrent Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Intraocular Tumor Extension after Topical Erythropoietin: A Case Report.

Topical erythropoietin has been recently introduced for the treatment of avascular conjunctival and scleral lesions. Before this treatment can be routinely used, however, its safety profile and contraindications should be determined. Herein, we report a case of recurrent conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and intraocular tumor extension after treatment with topical erythropoietin for excisional biopsy-induced scleral necrosis. An 87-year-old man underwent excisional biopsy for a conjunctival leukoplakic mass. Histological examination showed a well-differentiated SCC on the postoperative day 10. All borders of the specimen were reported to be involved with tumoral cells. The patient did not receive further surgical intervention or topical mitomycin since he developed surgically induced scleral necrosis on the postoperative day 14. Topical erythropoietin 3,000 IU/mL was started every 6 h, and avascular scleral lesion healed over 21 days of treatment with topical erythropoietin. However, 4 months after complete improvement, the tumor recurred with extension into the anterior chamber. Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed the involvement of sclera, iris root, and ciliary body with blunting of the anterior chamber angle. Orbital extension was not detected in magnetic resonance imaging. Topical erythropoietin administered in eyes with a history of conjunctival SCC could be linked to tumor recurrence and intraocular invasion. We recommend avoiding topical erythropoietin in eyes with existing conjunctival SCC or a previous history of conjunctival SCC that was incompletely removed.

Use of erythropoietin in ophthalmology: a review.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone that regulates hematopoiesis in the human body. The presence of EPO and its receptors in different tissues indicates that this hormone has extramedullary effects in other tissues, including the eye. We focus on the biological roles of this hormone in the development and normal physiologic functions of the eye. Furthermore, we explore the role of EPO in the management of different ocular diseases - including diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, inherited retinal degeneration, branch and central retinal vein occlusion, retinal detachment, traumatic optic neuropathy, optic neuritis, methanol optic neuropathy, nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, glaucoma, and scleral necrosis.

Ophthalmology foundation Ophthalmic Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric (OSCAR) for pterygium surgery.

Background: Pterygium surgery is a procedure commonly performed by ophthalmologists. Valid, objective methods are needed to assess competence in this procedure. Methods: A panel of 5 specialists consisting of members from different regions of the world including Pakistan, United States, Iran, Mongolia and Peru was formed to create a rubric for assessment of pterygium surgery by residents. The assessment rubric was developed using the standard template of Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubrics (OSCARs) previously published. The rubric was designed using a modified Dreyfus model of skill acquisition on a four-point behavioral scale. Results: The rubric consisted of 14 essential steps in pterygium surgery and 5 global indices. The content and face validity of the rubric was refined by repeatedly reviewing the rubric on Googledocs and considering critiques by a panel of 10 cornea specialists from around the world. Each step was divided into four levels, from novice to competent. The skill required for each level was described specifically to help decrease rater subjectivity. Conclusions: The OSCAR for pterygium surgery has face-validity and can be used effectively for both teaching and assessing ophthalmology residents in training programs across the world.

Topical Erythropoietin for Treatment of Scleral Necrosis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of topical erythropoietin for the treatment of scleral necrosis. METHODS: This study enrolled eight consecutive patients with scleral necrosis due to previous ocular surgery, rheumatoid arthritis-associated necrotizing anterior scleritis, and thermal and chemical burns. Conventional treatments failed to heal avascular scleral lesions in all eyes. Patients were treated with topical erythropoietin (3000 IU/mL) four times a day. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 37.6 ± 15.5 years. The interval between the development of scleral necrosis and initiation of topical erythropoietin was 25.6 ± 12.0 days. The necrotic sclera completely healed within 31.9 ± 16.9 days in all patients. The avascular lesions did not recur, and there was no evidence of side effects during the study. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that topical erythropoietin could be safely used to manage scleral necrosis. Randomized clinical trials are needed to further explore the efficacy of this intervention in patients with avascular scleral lesions.

Pterygium: an update on pathophysiology, clinical features, and management.

Pterygium is a relatively common ocular surface disease. The clinical aspects and the treatment options have been studied since many years ago, but many uncertainties still exist. The core pathologic pathway and the role of heredity in the development of pterygium are still attractive fields for the researchers. The role of pterygium in corneal irregularities, in addition to the refractive properties of pterygium removal, has been increasingly recognized through numerous studies. The association between pterygium and ocular surface neoplasia is challenging the traditional beliefs regarding the safe profile of the disease. The need for a comprehensive clinical classification system has encouraged homogenization of trials and prediction of the recurrence rate of the pterygium following surgical removal. Evolving surgical methods have been associated with some complications, whose diagnosis and management are necessary for ophthalmic surgeons. According to the review, the main risk factor of pterygium progression remains to be the ultraviolet exposure. A major part of the clinical evaluation should consist of differentiating between typical and atypical pterygia, where the latter may be associated with the risk of ocular surface neoplasia. The effect of pterygium on astigmatism and the aberrations of the cornea may evoke the need for an early removal with a purpose of reducing secondary refractive error. Among the surgical methods, conjunctival or conjunctival-limbal autografting seems to be the first choice for ophthalmic surgeons because the recurrence rate following the procedure has been reported to be lower, compared with other procedures. The use of adjuvant options is supported in the literature, where intraoperative and postoperative mitomycin C has been the adjuvant treatment of choice. The efficacy and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents and cyclosporine have been postulated; however, their exact role in the treatment of the pterygium requires further studies.

Management of corneal complications in vernal keratoconjunctivitis: A review.

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic, bilateral, allergic conjunctivitis with episodes of acute exacerbations. Although VKC has a self-limiting course, chronic recurrent inflammation can cause long-term visual impairment due to corneal complications including shield ulcers, infectious keratitis, keratoconus, corneal opacities, and limbal stem cell deficiency. The initial step in the management of corneal involvement is medical treatment of the acute stage of VKC and prevention of recurrences. Giant papillae not responding to medical treatment can be removed surgically in the case of corneal involvement. Shield ulcer with no inflammatory plaque usually heals with appropriate medical therapy. For shield ulcer with inflammatory plaque, however, surgical debridement with or without amniotic membrane transplantation might be necessary. Keratoconus may develop in chronic and severe VKC. An annual evaluation of these patients with corneal topography and/or tomography is essential for early detection of keratoconus and its timely management that includes collagen cross-linking and intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation. Corneal transplantation may be required in the advanced stage of keratoconus. Both penetrating keratoplasty and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty can result in excellent visual outcomes in keratoconic eyes with concomitant VKC. Appropriate management of inflammation in the perioperative period is crucial for achieving successful outcomes after corneal transplantation. Limbal stem cell deficiency, a rare complication of long-standing and severe VKC, might be treated with living-related conjunctival limbal allograft.

Topical Erythropoietin as a Novel Treatment for Necrotizing Scleritis After Pterygium Surgery: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: To share our initial experience with the innovative use of topical erythropoietin for the treatment of necrotizing scleritis manifesting immediately after pterygium excision surgery. METHODS: This study enrolled 3 patients who developed necrotizing scleritis immediately after undergoing pterygium excision. All cases with pterygium were primary, and topical mitomycin C and conjunctival autografts were used at the time of surgery. Noninvasive therapy that included ophthalmic lubricants and topical and systemic corticosteroids failed to improve the avascular scleral lesions. The patients were prescribed erythropoietin-containing drops (3000 U/mL) every 6 hours in addition to topical antibiotics and lubricant. The effect of topical erythropoietin on the healing process of avascular scleral lesions was investigated, and its ocular and systemic side effects were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 69.0 ± 14.8 years, and 2 of the 3 eyes belonged to male subjects. The time between pterygium surgery and presentation to our clinic was 33.0 ± 14.7 days. There were no infectious causes or underlying systemic diseases in any of the cases. After treatment with topical erythropoietin for an average of 34.3 ± 20.3 days, the lesions were completely vascularized in all 3 eyes without any ocular or systemic adverse effects. The patients were followed up for an average of 126 ± 94 days after discontinuation of erythropoietin. There was no evidence of recurrence during the last examination in any of the eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Topical erythropoietin might be a safe and an effective method for treating cases of necrotizing scleritis that manifests immediately after pterygium surgery.

Effects of topical erythropoietin on healing experimentally-induced avascular scleral damage in a rabbit model.

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of topical erythropoietin on the healing process of induced necrotizing scleritis and to evaluate the ocular side effects of this treatment modality in a rabbit model. Necrotizing scleritis was induced in 8 New Zealand albino rabbits. The animals were then randomly divided into one of two groups: a treated group administered a topical erythropoietin-containing cellulose-based gel every 8 h or a control group treated with a cellulose-based gel without erythropoietin every 8 h. The sizes of the lesions measured at different time points were compared between the groups. After three months, the rabbits' eyes were enucleated and histologically and immunohistochemically evaluated for angiogenesis and apoptosis. The lesions were completely vascularized in all eyes of the treated group and 50% of eyes of the control group. The mean interval from the induction of scleral necrosis to a complete improvement was 28 days in the treated group and 62.5 days in the control group (P = 0.04). Histological examination revealed that erythropoietin enhanced the improvement of necrotizing scleritis by stimulating angiogenesis and reducing apoptosis. Neovascularization of the cornea, iris, or retina was not observed in the treated group. We observed a significantly faster recovery to complete improvement of necrotizing scleritis in rabbit eyes treated with erythropoietin compared to those of the control group. Treated eyes had a higher rate of complete healing and had no ocular safety concerns. This therapeutic modality represents a promising treatment for scleral necrosis following various types of ocular surgery.

Trans-iris fixation of dislocated in-the-bag intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: The aim of this article is to describe the safety and efficacy of trans-iris suture fixation for the management of late dislocation of in-the-capsular-bag intraocular lenses following uncomplicated cataract surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven eyes of 11 patients with late in-the-capsular-bag intraocular lens dislocation following uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery were recruited in the study. The dislocated intraocular lens-capsular bag complex was sutured to the iris at two points 180° apart using 9-0 polypropylene sutures on long needles. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 67 ± 6 years. Seven eyes had pseudoexfoliation syndrome, one eye had Marfan syndrome, and another eye had a traumatic cataract; no risk factor was identified for intraocular lens dislocation in two eyes. A capsular tension ring had been implanted during cataract surgery in four eyes. In six eyes, the posterior chamber intraocular lenses were one-piece foldable while the remaining were three-piece intraocular lenses. Compared to the preoperative value, corrected distance visual acuity was significantly improved postoperatively (p < 0.005). Intraoperative hyphema occurred in two eyes. Pupil ovalization was observed in all eyes. Mean endothelial cell count decreased by 4 ± 1.7% after intraocular lens fixation. The capsular bag-intraocular lens complex was stable and well-centered in the pupillary area in all eyes at the final follow-up examination which was performed 16 ± 4 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Trans-iris fixation is a simple and effective procedure for management of late intraocular lenses-capsular bag complex dislocation, without major complications.

Peripheral Hypertrophic Subepithelial Opacities of Corneal Grafts After Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To investigate possible underlying etiologies of the development of peripheral graft hypertrophic subepithelial opacities (PGHSO) and to evaluate the effects of these opacities on visual outcomes after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). METHODS: This prospective, interventional case series enrolled 29 eyes with keratoconus that underwent DALK and developed PGHSO (group 1). The control group consisted of 32 eyes with keratoconus that underwent DALK during the same period and had a clear graft at the final examination (group 2). Possible underlying risk factors for the development of PGHSO were investigated, and postoperative refractive and topographic outcomes were compared between the 2 study groups. RESULTS: Eyes of group 1 had well-defined elevated peripheral subepithelial opacities of the corneal graft, originating from the donor-recipient junction. The central 4-mm area of the graft was clear in all eyes of this group. Compared with the controls, group 1 had flatter grafts at postoperative month 1 and a longer time interval from surgery to initial suture removal. The 2 study groups were comparable in other investigated factors, including the severity of keratoconus, surgical technique, duration of topical steroid use, and donor quality. No significant differences were observed between the case and control groups in postoperative visual acuity and graft surface regularity. CONCLUSIONS: Graft flattening during the early postoperative period and prolonged time interval from surgery to initial suture removal might be factors predisposing to the development of PGHSO. This complication did not affect postoperative visual outcomes when the central 4-mm area of the graft remained clear.

Ocular Manifestations and Management of Autoimmune Bullous Diseases.

Autoimmune bullous diseases with ocular involvement consist of a group of systemic entities that are characterized by formation of autoantibodies against the proteins of the epithelial basement membrane zone of the conjunctiva. Mostly, the elderly are affected by these diseases. The characteristic patterns of mucocutaneous involvement and the specific tissue components targeted by these autoantibodies are differentiating features of these diseases. Ocular pemphigus vulgaris exhibits intraepithelial activity, whereas the autoimmune activity in linear immunoglobulin A disease, mucous membrane pemphigoid, and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita occurs at a subepithelial location. Given the increased risk for blindness with delays in diagnosis and management, early detection of ocular manifestations in these diseases is vital. The precise diagnosis of these autoimmune blistering diseases, which is essential for proper treatment, is based on clinical, histological, and immunological evaluation. Management usually includes anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications. Inappropriate treatment results in high morbidity and even potential mortality.

Effect of Donor Graft Thickness on Clinical Outcomes after Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of donor graft thickness on postoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), refractive outcomes, endothelial cell density (ECD) and function, intraocular pressure (IOP), and postoperative complications after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). METHODS: This retrospective, interventional case series enrolled 77 eyes of 64 patients who underwent DSAEK with or without simultaneous cataract surgery. Clinical outcomes, including BSCVA, refraction, keratometric astigmatism, IOP, and ECD were assessed at the final follow-up examination. Univariate analyses were used to investigate the effects of postoperative donor graft thickness on clinical outcomes and complications. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 62.3 ± 15.6 years, and the patients were followed for 26.2 ± 20.9 months postoperatively. The mean postoperative central graft thickness was 102.4 ± 31.6 µm. In the univariate analysis, postoperative central graft thickness was significantly associated with postoperative IOP (P = 0.005), central recipient thickness (P = 0.002), and ECD (P = 0.016). No significant association was found for central graft thickness with postoperative BSCVA (P = 0.70), spherical equivalent refraction (P = 0.33), keratometric astigmatism (P = 0.27), graft detachment (P = 0.16), graft decentration (P = 0.17), high IOP (P = 0.53), or endothelial rejection (P = 0.88). CONCLUSION: This study failed to demonstrate any significant correlation between graft thickness and BSCVA. Attempting to minimize graft thickness might not have the desired outcome regarding endothelial cell density and function. Increased graft thickness could negatively impact the accuracy of IOP measurements after DSAEK.

Goldmann applanation tonometer versus ocular response analyzer for measuring intraocular pressure after congenital cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare intraocular pressure measured using the Goldmann applanation tonometer with that measured using the ocular response analyzer after congenital cataract surgery. METHODS: This study included 113 eyes of 64 patients who underwent lensectomy and vitrectomy. In all, 36 eyes remained aphakic after surgery. Intraocular lens implantation was performed at the time of surgery in 47 eyes and secondarily in 30 eyes. Corneal hysteresis, corneal resistance factor, and cornea-compensated intraocular pressure were measured. The influences of independent factors on the difference between the cornea-compensated intraocular pressure and intraocular pressure measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer were investigated using linear regression analyses. Agreement between the two tonometers was investigated using the Bland and Altman and 95% limits of agreement analysis. RESULTS: Central corneal thickness, corneal hysteresis, and corneal resistance factor were 591.2 ± 53.3 µm, 10.83 ± 2.27 mmHg, and 11.36 ± 2.14 mmHg, respectively. Cornea-compensated intraocular pressure (16.75 ± 4.82 mmHg) was significantly higher than intraocular pressure measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer (14.41 ± 2.27 mmHg, p < 0.001). Central corneal thickness (p = 0.02) and corneal hysteresis (p < 0.001) were identified as the main predictors of difference between cornea-compensated intraocular pressure and intraocular pressure measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer readings. A 95% limits of agreement for cornea-compensated intraocular pressure and intraocular pressure measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer was between -4.86 and 9.53 mmHg in the entire group. Cornea-compensated intraocular pressure showed the best agreement with intraocular pressure measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer in the primary pseudophakic subgroup as compared to the other subgroups. CONCLUSION: The Goldmann applanation tonometer and ocular response analyzer cannot be used interchangeably for measuring intraocular pressure after congenital cataract surgery. The difference between the cornea-compensated intraocular pressure and intraocular pressure measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer was primarily affected by central corneal thickness and corneal hysteresis. Among the subgroups, the primary pseudophakic subgroup had the thinnest cornea and the highest corneal hysteresis values and demonstrated the best agreement between the two tonometers.

Refractive Stability After Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty for Keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term stability of subjective refraction after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) performed in keratoconus-affected eyes. METHODS: This retrospective, comparative interventional case series analyzed the data of 73 eyes in 69 patients with keratoconus who underwent DALK. Only patients with clear grafts who had all sutures removed for at least 12 months were enrolled. The corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and manifest refraction were measured several months after all sutures were removed. The CDVA, spherical equivalent refraction, refractive astigmatism, and vector components of refractive astigmatism (J0 and J45) were recorded and compared at different time points. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 28.3 ± 8.3 years at the time of keratoplasty. No significant changes in the CDVA were observed during the follow-up period. Spherical equivalent refraction measured at 1 month (-3.18 ± 3.41 D) and 3 months (-4.29 ± 4.26 D) after complete suture removal differed significantly from that measured at the last examination (-4.70 ± 3.75 D; P = 0.001 and 0.03, respectively). This measurement stabilized from 6 months after complete suture removal onward. Refractive astigmatism and its vector components (J0 and J45) did not change over time after complete suture removal. CONCLUSIONS: Refraction stabilized 6 months after complete DALK suture removal. Therefore, postponing refractive surgery until this time is advisable to manage post-DALK refractive errors.