Safety and Precision of Two Different Flap-morphologies Created During Low Energy Femtosecond Laser-assisted LASIK.

Purpose: Currently, two major principles exist to create LASIK flaps: firstly, a strictly horizontal (2D) cut similar to the microkeratome-cut and secondly an angled cut with a "step-like" edge (3D). The strictly horizontal (2D) cut method can be performed using apparatus such as the low-energy FEMTO LDV Z8 laser and its predecessors which are specific to this type. Alternatively, the low-energy FEMTO LDV Z8 laser's 3D flap design creates an interlocking flap-interface surface which potentially contributes toward flap stability. In addition, the FEMTO LDV Z8 offers flap-position adjustments after docking (before flap-creation). The current study analyzed precision, safety, efficacy, as well as patient self-reported pain and comfort levels after applying two different types of LASIK flap morphologies which were created with a low-energy, high-frequency femtosecond (fs) laser device. Methods: A prospective, interventional, randomized, contralateral eye, single-center comparison study was conducted from November 2019 to March 2020 at the Hamburg vision clinic/ zentrumsehstärke, Hamburg, Germany. Eleven patients and 22 eyes received low-energy fs LASIK treatment for myopia or myopic astigmatism in both eyes. Before the treatment, the eyes were randomized (one eye was treated with the 2D, the other eye with the 3D method). Results: The mean central flap thickness one month after surgery was 110.7 ± 1.6 µm (2D) and 111.2 ± 1.7 µm (3D); P = 0.365 (2D vs 3D). Flap thickness measured at 13 different points resulted in no statistically significant differences between any of the measurement points within/between both groups; demonstrating good planarity of the flap was achieved using both methods. Despite not being statistically significant, the surgeons recognized an increase in the presence of an opaque bubble layer in the 3D flap eyes during surgery and some patients reported higher, yet not statistically significant, pain scores in the 3D flap eyes during the first hours after the treatment. Overall, safety- and efficacy indices were 1.03 and 1.03, respectively. Conclusion: In this prospective, randomized, contralateral eye study, the low-energy fs laser yielded predictable lamellar flap thicknesses and geometry at one-month follow-up. Based on these results, efficacy and safety of the corresponding laser application, that is, 2D vs 3D, are equivalent.

Topographic, tomographic, and corneal wavefront asymmetry in keratoconus: towards an eye asymmetry index EASIX.

PURPOSE: The study aims to explore the intereye asymmetry in normal and keratoconic individuals and to evaluate the discriminant power of single and combined asymmetry parameters. METHODS: This is a retrospective designed study including 414 patients who had Pentacam Scheimpflug topographic and tomographic imaging in both eyes: 124 subjects with bilateral normal corneas evaluated for refractive surgery and 290 with keratoconus. All elevation-, pachymetric-, and volumetric-based data (56 parameters) were electronically retrieved and analyzed. Intereye asymmetry was determined by subtracting the lowest value from the highest value for each variable. The degree of asymmetry between each subject's eyes was calculated with intraclass correlation coefficients for all the parameters. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine predictive accuracy and to identify optimal cutoffs of these values and combinations thereof. RESULTS: In the normal/keratoconus subjects the median intereye asymmetries were 0.30/3.45 for K2 (flat) meridian, 0.03/0.25 for BFS front, 1.00/15.00 for elevation back BFS apex, and 7.00/29.00 for pachy min. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to Rabinowitz's Kmax intereye asymmetry we propose pachymetric, elevation-based, and high-order corneal wavefront intereye asymmetry parameters to improve the diagnostic armamentarium of keratoconus.

The use of HCT and/or ACE inhibitors significantly increases the risk of non-melanotic skin cancer in the periocular region.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate a possible association between the use of hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) and/or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and the occurrence of periocular non-melanoma skin cancer. METHODS: The files of 929 patients from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf who were surgically treated for suspected periocular malignancy were evaluated retrospectively regarding the occurrence of non-melanoma skin cancer and concomitant medication. To be able to put the data in an overall context, we also analyzed age-matched routine data of the DAK-Gesundheit (DAK-G), a nationwide operating German health insurance company. RESULTS: Of the 929 patient records examined, who underwent surgical excision for suspected non-melanotic malignancy, non-melanocytic skin cancer could actually be determined by histology in 199 patients. In total, 176 patients (103 women, 72 men) had a basal cell carcinoma and 23 patients (16 women, 7 men) suffered from squamous cell carcinoma. The rate of intake of HCT or ACE inhibitors in our patient collective with non-melanotic skin cancer is significantly higher than in the general age-matched population (ORACE: 2.51, p < 0.001; ORHCT: 7.24, p < 0.001, ORBOTH: 4.61, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The rate of intake of HCT or ACE inhibitors is significantly higher in our patient collective with non-melanotic skin cancer compared to the group from the age-matched general population (DAK insured (p < 0.001)) compared to the routine data of the DAK-G. This leads us to the conclusion that taking the medication is associated with an increased risk for non-melanotic skin cancer. We recommend regular skin cancer screening, moderate ordination of photosensitizing medication, but above all comprehensive clarification of possible risks.

[Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction : A real-life study from the first symptoms to the results of surgical treatment]. / Konnatale Tränenwegsstenose : Eine Real-Life-Datenstudie von den ersten Symptomen bis zum Ergebnis der operativen Sanierung.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal timing for surgery of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) is controversially discussed . An aspect that has not yet been studied in this context is the path from first symptoms to the initial diagnosis and surgical treatment with respect to social factors and burden of suffering. The aim of this study was a real-life analysis of the entire course of the disease. METHODS: Monocentric, retrospective study evaluating children with CNLDO (n = 147) who underwent surgery. The minimum follow-up was 3 months (26 ± 14 months). The patient information was collected by telephone using a questionnaire especially created for this purpose. The famelial suffering was measured on a scale of 1-5. RESULTS: Data were collected from 118 parents with a mean follow-up of 26 months. First symptoms occurred at a median age of 1 month. The diagnosis was confirmed through a pediatrician/ophthalmologist after a median of 6 months. An assignment to a referral center for surgical treatment was performed a median of 18 months after the first presentation. The average age of the patients at the time of surgery was 23 months. Surgery before the age of 13 months showed a 100% success rate. The average age of those who needed revision surgery was 27 months (±12 months). The familial suffering was measured as 4.1 points before surgery and 1.3 after surgery. CONCLUSION: This study is the first real-life study, which illustrates the path of CNLDO from the first symptoms to rehabilitation, including influential social factors. Early surgery significantly shortens the suffering of both patients and parents. Considering the low operative risks and excellent success rate of operative treatment, an early consultation at a surgical department is recommended.

A comparison of the lateral tarsal strip with everting sutures and the Quickert procedure for involutional entropion.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To provide evidence of statistically significant difference in the surgical outcome of the lateral tarsal strip with everting sutures (LTS + ES) versus the Quickert procedure (QP) in the treatment of involutional entropion. METHODS: In a prospective randomized comparative trial, 66 eyelids of 52 patients with primary involutional lower eyelid entropion were recruited. Thirty-six eyelids were randomized to QP, and 30 eyelids were randomized to LTS + ES. Surgery was performed by a single surgeon. Postoperative follow-up was scheduled after 2 weeks, 8 and 14 months. Successful surgery was defined as a normal eyelid position at rest and inability to induce entropion on forced eyelid closure at or before the 14-month follow-up visit. RESULTS: A total of 66 eyelids of 52 patients were enrolled in the study. Three patients did not complete follow-up (1 did not attend the 8 months follow-up visit; 2 did not attend 14 months follow-up visit). Of the 63 patients, a single eyelid [success probability 0.97; confidence interval (CI) 0.92-1] in the QP group and two treated eyelids [success probability of 0.93; CI: 0.85-1] in the LTS + ES group had a recurrence of a lower eyelid entropion after 14 months. There was no statistically significant difference in surgical failure between the LTS + ES versus QP (Log-rank test: p = 0.46). CONCLUSION: These data provide strong evidence that success rates at 14 months are similar in patients treated with either techniques (LTS + ES versus QP).

Manifestations and Treatment of Adult-onset Symptomatic Optic Pathway Glioma in Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

This report describes the diagnosis and treatment of a 27-year-old patient with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) and late progression of a pre-existing optic pathway glioma (OPG) that caused significant reduction in vision. OPG is one of the diagnostic criteria for establishing the diagnosis of NF1. Most common findings of NF1 are café-au-lait spots, axillary and inguinal freckling of the skin, iris hamartoma (Lisch nodules), and tumors of the central nervous system and peripheral nerves. We successfully applied a modified International Society of Paediatric Oncology chemotherapy regimen for low-grade glioma in children with carboplatin dose adjustment according to the area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve calculation. During and after the chemotherapy, a clear improvement of the visual capacity was achieved. Age-adapted chemotherapy for symptomatic adult-onset OPG in patients with NF1 should be considered in individual cases.

Tomographic and Biomechanical Scheimpflug Imaging for Keratoconus Characterization: A Validation of Current Indices.

PURPOSE: To analyze the potential benefit of the newly developed Tomography and Biomechanical Index (TBI) for early keratoconus screening. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the discriminatory power of the corneal tomography Belin/Ambrósio Enhanced Ectasia Display (BAD-D) index and the newly developed Corvis Biomechanical Index (CBI) and TBI to differentiate between normal eyes, manifest keratoconus eyes (KCE), very asymmetric keratoconus eyes with ectasia (VAE-E), and their fellow eyes with either regular topography (VAE-NT) or regular topography and tomography (VAE-NTT) were analyzed by applying the t test (for normal distribution), Wilcoxon matched-pairs test (if not normally distributed), and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). The DeLong test was used to compare the area under the ROC (AUROC). Further, the cut-offs of the analyzed indices presented in a study by Ambrósio et al. from 2017 were applied in the study population to enable a cross-validation in an independent study population. RESULTS: All indices demonstrated a high discriminative power when comparing normal and advanced keratoconus, which decreased when comparing normal and VAE-NT eyes and further when analyzing normal versus VAE-NTT eyes. The difference between the AUROCs reached a statistically significant level when comparing TBI versus BAD-D analyzing normal versus all included keratoconic eyes (P = .02). The TBI presented with the highest AUROCs throughout all conducted analyses when comparing different keratoconus stages, although not reaching a statistically significant level. Applying the cut-offs presented by Ambrósio et al. to differentiate between normal and VAE-NT in the study population, the accuracy was reproducible (accuracy in our study population with an optimized TBI cut-off: 0.72, with the cut-off defined by Ambrósio et al. 0.67). CONCLUSIONS: The TBI enables karatoconus screening in topographical and tomographical regular keratoconic eyes. To further improve the screening accuray, prospective studies should be conducted. [J Refract Surg. 2018;34(12):840-847.].

Keratoconus Screening With Dynamic Biomechanical In Vivo Scheimpflug Analyses: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

PURPOSE: This proof-of-concept study was designed to analyze the ability of in vivo biomechanical corneal analyses with the corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology (CorvisST; Oculus Optikgeräte, Wetzlar, Germany) to differentiate between normal eyes and eyes with manifest keratoconus after strictly eliminating the potential confounding factors intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT). METHODS: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, after pairwise matching for CCT and IOP, 29 normal eyes and 29 keratoconic eyes (one eye from each patient) were selected as study population. Older CorvisST parameters and the new Corvis Biomechanical Index (CBI), including several biomechanical and one tomographic parameter, as well as an adjusted CBI (aCBI) (including only biomechanical parameters), were compared regarding their discriminative ability between both groups. RESULTS: None of the CorvisST parameters of the former software version demonstrated statistically significant differences between normal and keratoconic eyes. On the other hand, the CBI and aCBI reached accuracies of 0.91 and 0.93, respectively, to discriminate between CCT- and IOP-matched normal and keratoconic eyes (CBI: [AUC/sensitivity/specificity]: 0.961/0.90/0.93; aCBI: [AUC/sensitivity/specificity]: 0.986/0.93/0.93). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the concept of keratoconus screening with the CorvisST is effective in differentiating keratoconic from non-keratoconic eyes. The next steps will be testing the indices in subclinical keratoconus cases and hopefully combining biomechanical analyses with already established topography and tomography indices to further improve current keratoconus screening. [J Refract Surg. 2017;33(11):773-778.].