Debulking corneal biopsy with tectonic amniotic membrane transplantation in refractory clinically presumed fungal keratitis.

The treatment of fungal keratitis (FK) is challenging due to the subacute indolent course, and initial misdiagnosis. In this retrospective case series, we highlight both the diagnostic and therapeutic roles of corneal biopsy together with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in patients with refractory clinically presumed FK. Debulking biopsy and tectonic AMT were performed during the initial presentation. Biopsy specimens were sent for KOH smears and cultures. After KOH smears confirmed the presence of fungal elements, topical voriconazole 1% was prescribed for the first 72 h then tailored according to the clinical response and the culture results. The outcome measures were complete resolution of infection and restoration of corneal integrity. Cases associated with culture proven bacterial keratitis were excluded. Twelve cases were included in the study. KOH smears confirmed the presence of fungal growth in all specimens. Cultures grew Aspergillus in 6/12 cases, sensitive to voriconazole (5/6) and amphotericin (3/6); Fusarium (4/12), sensitive to both voriconazole and amphotericin; and no growth in 2/12 cases. Amphotericin 0.15% eye drops were added to the 7 cases with proven sensitivity and to the remaining 2 culture negative cases. Gradual resolution of infection was seen in all cases after 35.6 ± 7.8 days. In FK, a debulking biopsy simultaneously with AMT help decrease the microbial load, suppress the inflammatory process, support the corneal integrity, confirm the presence of fungal pathogen.

Repeat deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) for failed primary DALK.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of repeat deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) in patients of previous failed DALK. Methods: : A retrospective analysis of records of seven patients who had undergone repeat DALK following the failure of the primary DALK was done. The indications for repeat surgery, time elapsed since the first surgery, and pre- & postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were noted for all the patients. Results: The follow-up period ranged between one- to four-year post repeat DALK. The indication of primary DALK was keratoconus with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) (n = 3), corneal amyloidosis (n = 2), Salzman nodular keratopathy (n = 1), and healed keratitis (n = 1). The need for repeat surgery arose when the BSCVA dropped to less than 20/200. The time interval elapsed since the first surgery ranged from two months to four years. Postoperatively, the BSCVA improved from 20/120 to 20/30 at the end of one-year post repeat DALK in all except one patient. All regrafts were clear at the most recent examination, performed after a mean period of 18 months after the secondary graft. No complication was encountered during the resurgery. The dissection of the host bed was easier in the second surgery owing to weaker adhesions. Conclusion: The prognosis for repeat DALK for failed DALK is excellent, and the outcomes of secondary grafts were comparable to those of primary DALK grafts. Re DALK offers the advantage of an easier dissection and lower chances of graft rejection compared to penetrating keratoplasty.

Infectious Keratitis After Keratorefractive Surgery: Update and Review of the Literature.

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the clinical manifestations, microbiological profile, treatment, and prognosis of corneal infections after different keratorefractive surgery. METHODS: To obtain relevant studies, English-language databases, including PubMed, Ovid Embase, Web of Science, and CLNAHL, were searched from January 1979 to March 2022. The fundamentals of the literature, clinical characteristics, pathogens, and treatments were retrieved for each included article. RESULTS: Eighty-four studies involving 306 infectious eyes were included in this review. Risk factors of potential infection included a history of blepharitis, contact lens usage, and contaminated surgical instruments. The mean onset time was 22.9±38.7 days (range: 1 day to 3 years). The most common organism isolated from infectious keratitis after keratorefractive surgery were Staphylococcus aureus , followed by Mycobacterium and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus . Most of the infections after refractive procedures were sensitive to medical treatment alone, and the ultimate best-corrected visual acuity after medical treatment was as follows: 20/20 or better in 82 cases (37.0%), 20/40 or better in 170 cases (76.5%), and worse than 20/40 in 52 cases (23.5%). Surgical interventions including flap lift, flap amputation, ring removal, and keratoplasty were performed in 120 eyes (44.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Most infections after keratorefractive surgery occur within a week, whereas more than half of the cases after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis happen after about a month. Gram-positive cocci and mycobacterium are the most common isolates. Infections after LASIK, intracorneal ring (ICR) implantation, and small incision lenticule extraction, which primarily occur between the cornea layers, require irrigation of the tunnels or pocket with antibiotics.

Outcomes of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty in Pythium insidiosum keratitis managed with a combination of antibiotics.

Purpose: To describe the clinical outcomes of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) in patients with Pythium insidiosum keratitis following treatment with anti-pythium therapy (APT) consisting of linezolid and azithromycin. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records from May 2016 to December 2019 of patients with P. insidiosum keratitis was carried out. Patients who were treated with APT for a minimum of 2 weeks and then subsequently underwent TPK were included in the study. Data on demographic characteristics, clinical features, microbiology characteristics, and intraoperative details, postoperative outcomes were documented. Results: A total of 238 cases of Pythium keratitis were seen during the study period and 50 cases that satisfied the inclusion criteria were included. The median of the geometric mean of the infiltrate was 5.6 mm (IQR 4.0-7.2 mm). The patients received topical APT for a median of 35 days (IQR 25-56) prior to surgery. The most common indication of TPK was worsening keratitis (41/50, 82%). No recurrence of infection was observed. An anatomically stable globe was noted in 49/50 eyes (98%). The median graft survival rate was 2.4 months. A clear graft was present in 10 eyes (20%) with a final median visual acuity of 20/125 after a median follow-up period of 18.4 months (IQR 11-26 months). Graft size of less than 10 mm [OR: 5.824 (CI:1.292-41.6), P = 0.02] was found to be significantly associated with a clear graft. Conclusion: Performing TPK following the administration of APT has good anatomical outcomes. A smaller graft of <10 mm was associated with a higher chance of graft survival.

Trachipleistophora hominis: molecular characterization of a rare pathogen causing microsporidial stromal keratitis.

The authors report the clinical and microbiological findings of a unique case of stromal keratitis caused by a rare microsporidium, Trachipleistophora hominis. This case of stromal keratitis was in a 49-year-old male with a history of COVID-19 infection and diabetes mellitus. Corneal scraping specimens revealed numerous microsporidia spores upon microscopic examination. PCR of the corneal button revealed the presence of T. hominis infection, which could be controlled by penetrating keratoplasty surgery. The graft was clear with no recurrence of infection until the last follow-up 6 weeks postsurgery. This is the first case of human stromal keratitis caused by this organism in a post-COVID infection, confirmed by molecular diagnosis.

Conjoint fascial sheath suspension with levator muscle advancement for severe blepharoptosis.

In patients with severe blepharoptosis, the function of the levator muscle is usually weak. Even if a large amount of levator is resected, under-correction and recurrence often occur postoperatively. Frontalis suspension is the first choice for severe ptosis; however, the external orbital lifting force of the frontalis causes non-physiological eyelid movement. Conjoint fascial sheath (CFS) is a fibrous tissue which can provide dynamic movement of upper eyelids and has been applied for the treatment of mild and moderate blepharoptosis in recent years. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of CFS suspension combined with levator muscle advancement for treating severe blepharoptosis. A retrospective study included 44 patients (60 eyelids) with severe ptosis who underwent the modified technique. Preoperatively, levator muscle function and margin reflex distance 1 (MRD1) were measured. Surgical outcomes, symmetry results and complications were evaluated postoperatively. At the 12-18 months follow-up, adequate or normal correction was achieved in 56 eyelids (93.3%), and 37 patients (84.1%) presented good or fair symmetry results. The most common complication was conjunctival prolapse, which was observed in six eyelids (10.0%), followed by lid fold deformity and under-correction. No exposure keratitis was recorded. In conclusion, the modified technique can physically elevate the eyelid with limited tissue injury and is effective for the correction of severe ptosis. Both satisfactory functional and esthetic results were achieved, and severe complications (such as exposure keratitis) were not observed.

Combined Therapeutic Penetrating Keratoplasty and Pars Plana Vitrectomy for the Treatment of Infectious Keratitis Endophthalmitis: Mexican Endophthalmitis Study Group Protocol 4.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the role of combined surgical treatment of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty and pars plana vitrectomy in the anatomical and functional outcome of infectious keratitis endophthalmitis. METHODS: This study reviewed the medical records of 4 participating centers in the United States and Mexico. This study included patients with a clinical diagnosis of infectious keratitis endophthalmitis who had been treated with an early therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty and pars plana vitrectomy as the main treatment for endophthalmitis. From each medical record, the study retrieved demographic data, relevant medical and drug history, baseline clinical manifestation of endophthalmitis, best-corrected visual acuity, and the need for enucleation/evisceration for the control of the infection or any other reason through the follow-up. RESULTS: The study included 48 patients (50.15 ± 20.6 years). The mean follow-up time was 13 ± 0.5 months. The mean best-corrected visual acuity at baseline was 2.1 ± 0.25 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution. At month 12 was 2.09 ± 0.61 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution ( P = 0.9). The overall prevalence of enucleation/evisceration was 8.3% (95% confidence interval: 2.32%-19.98%). The prevalence of a vision of no-light perception was 20.8% (95% confidence interval: 2.32%-19.98%). CONCLUSIONS: Combined surgery for severe cases of infectious keratitis endophthalmitis eradicates the infection in most cases, while significantly improving the overall outcomes.

Surgical management of infectious keratitis.

The successful management of infectious keratitis is usually achieved with a combination of tools for accurate diagnosis and targeted timely antimicrobial therapy. An armamentarium of surgical interventions is available in the acute stage which can be resorted to in a step wise manner or in combination guided by the response to treatment. Simple surgical modalities can facilitate accurate diagnosis e.g. corneal biopsy and alcohol delamination. Surgery to promote epithelial healing can vary from tarsorrhaphy, amniotic membrane transplantation or conjunctival flaps depending on the extent of infection, visual prognosis, availability of tissue and surgeon's experience. Collagen crosslinking has been increasingly utilized with successful results to strengthen the cornea and reduce the infective load consequently the need for further elaborate surgical interventions. It has shown encouraging results specially in superficial bacterial and fungal keratitis but for deeper infections, viral and acanthamoeba keratitis, its use remains questionable. When globe integrity is compromised, corneal gluing is the most commonly used procedure to seal small perforations. In larger perforations/fulminant infections a tectonic/therapeutic graft is advisable. Partial thickness grafts are increasingly popular to treat superficial infection or internally tamponade perforations. Peripheral therapeutic grafts face challenges with potential requirement for a manually fashioned graft, and increased risk of rejection due to proximity to the limbal vessels. Late stage visual rehabilitation is likely to require further surgical interventions after complete resolution of infection and inflammation. A preliminary assessment of corneal sensation and integrity of the ocular surface are key for any successful surgical intervention to restore vision.

Efficacy of treatments for neurotrophic keratopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Management of NK can be difficult, involving a range of treatments with variable efficacy. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of medical and surgical treatments for neurotrophic keratitis (NK). METHOD: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, ClinicalTrial.gov, and ScienceDirect were searched for studies assessing efficacy of NK treatments. We computed random-effect meta-analyses on corneal healing, time to complete healing, and visual acuity changes between baselines and after treatment, stratified on treatment classes. We followed the PRISMA guidelines (registration number CRD42021225721). RESULTS: We included 20 studies: 571 patients and 5 treatment classes (2 surgical and 3 non-surgical). The percentage of patients with complete corneal healing did not differ between specific treatments (nerve growth factor eyedrops (NGF), 75%, 95CI 46 to 104%; autologous serum (AS), 92%, 86 to 98%; neurotization, 99%, 95 to 103%; amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT), 86%, 78 to 94%). All specific treatments had better percentage of complete healing (p < 0.001) than non-specific treatment groups, i.e., mainly lubricants (23%, 14 to 32). Time to complete healing was 24.2 days (5.4 to 43.1) with NGF, 27.6 days (15.2 to 40.0) with AS, 117 days (28.8 to 205.2) with neurotization, and 16.4 days (11.1 to 21.7) with AMT. Only NGF and AMT improved visual acuity. Efficacy outcomes were not affected by sociodemographic (age, sex) nor severity of disease (Mackie stages). CONCLUSION: We confirmed the efficacy of specific treatments in NK. Further comparative trials are needed to investigate the medical and economic benefits of innovative therapies.

Epidemiological and clinical analyses of corneal transplants performed in a reference eye center in Recife, Brazil.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the epidemiological and clinical profiles of corneal transplants performed in a reference eye center in Recife, state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study collected epidemiological and clinical data from the medical records of patients who underwent keratoplasty at the Altino Ventura Foundation between January and December 2017. RESULTS: A total of 356 procedures were performed in 327 patients, of whom 165 (50.5%) were female. The mean age at surgery was 50.9 ± 22.6 years (range, 10-89 years). Most patients (n=152 [46.5%]) were from the capital and metropolitan areas. The mean waiting time for keratoplasty was 52.4 ± 58.9 days (range, 0-460 days). The main indications for keratoplasty were infectious keratitis (n=88 [24.7%]), keratoconus (n=80 [22.5%]), and previous transplant failure (n=75 [21.1%]). Penetrating keratoplasty was the most common surgical technique performed (n=213 [59.9%]) and more frequently performed in men (n=132 [76.7%]), whereas posterior lamellar transplant (n=143 [41.1%]) was more frequently performed in women (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Infectious keratitis was the main indication for keratoplasty, which was similarly performed in economically active adults of both sexes. Penetrating keratoplasty was more frequently performed in men and lamellar transplants in women.

Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty for Corneal Edema and Visually Significant Descemet Membrane Scrolls Due to Syphilitic Keratitis.

ABSTRACT: The presence of Descemet membrane scrolls is an uncommon finding reported in syphilitic interstitial keratitis. We herein describe a novel surgical strategy for this entity; this report demonstrates that Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty surgery can be performed with excellent visual outcomes in the event of corneal edema as a late sequela of syphilitic keratitis.

Large-Diameter Penetrating Keratoplasties are Mostly Due to Very Severe Infectious Keratitis and Cannot Always Prevent Secondary Enucleation.

PURPOSE: To report the indications and outcomes of penetrating keratoplasties with a graft diameter > 8.5 mm in severe corneal diseases at the Department of Ophthalmology at Saarland University Medical Centre. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective (6 years), descriptive, and observational. METHODS: Thirty-five large-diameter penetrating keratoplasties (LDPKPs) in 27 patients (mean age, 62 ± 22 years) were performed from March 2010 to December 2016. The indication for surgery, number of previous corneal transplantations, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before surgery, intraocular pressure, graft status, and BCVA at last follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: Infectious keratitis represented 83% of the indications (of those, 45% fungal). The mean corneal graft diameter was 10.8 ± 1.7 (min 8.75, max 15.0) mm. Twenty-three eyes (65% absolute) had at least one previous penetrating keratoplasty (mean graft size, 9.2 ± 1.6 mm). The mean pre-surgery BCVA was 1.96 ± 0.23 logMAR. With a mean follow-up period of 20.2 ± 13.4 months, the mean BCVA was 1.57 ± 0.57 logMAR at last follow-up. Overall, 12 grafts (35%) remained clear until the last follow-up, and in 23 grafts (65%), the primary disease recurred, or corneal decompensation developed. Up to the last follow-up, 6 eyes (17%) had to be enucleated. CONCLUSIONS: In complex cases of infectious keratitis requiring a LDPKP to remove the complete pathology and preserve eye integrity, the visual outcomes are generally expected to be poor, not only because of the well-known risks of LDPKP but also because of the consequences of the infectious disease itself. This knowledge is important for adequate counselling of the patient preoperatively.

Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity of Dehydrated Amniotic Membrane in Infectious Keratitis: A Small Retrospective Case Series and In Vitro Study.

PURPOSE: To describe a small case series of infectious keratitis with poor visual outcomes after amniotic membrane (AM) placement and to prospectively evaluate whether AM demonstrates antibacterial activity in vitro against pathogens commonly isolated from infectious corneal ulcers. METHODS: A retrospective case series and in vitro study of antibacterial activity of dehydrated AM using disk diffusion and measurement of inhibitory zones for bacterial assessment and inverted microscopy analysis for Acanthamoeba sp. growth. RESULTS: Three cases of known etiology infectious keratitis are described where the clinical presentation worsened after treatment with AM. In vitro analysis of dehydrated AM, with and without a soft contact lens, demonstrated no inhibition of growth against Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Streptococcus pneumoniae. There was minimal growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus, although these zones of inhibition were much smaller than that surrounding the positive control. For Acanthamoeba sp., solubilized, dehydrated AM did not alter cyst density. CONCLUSIONS: In an in vitro analysis, dehydrated AM did not provide evidence for a potentially clinically meaningful antibacterial effect against organisms commonly isolated from corneal ulcers.

Intermediate outcomes of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty for severe microbial keratitis using glycerol-preserved donor corneas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose: To report the intermediate outcomes of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) performed for severe microbial keratitis using glycerol-preserved corneas during the Corona virus diseases of 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: Retrospective non-comparative case series from April to August 2020 in a network of tertiary eye care centers. Glycerol-preserved tissues were used for therapeutic keratoplasty (TPK). We reviewed the demographics, microbiology, surgical outcomes such as wound integrity, recurrence, graft melt, epithelialization, and complications. Results: A total of 49 eyes that underwent TPK with glycerol-preserved corneal tissues were analyzed. The primary indication was severe microbial keratitis in 47 eyes. The majority was a fungal infection in 33 eyes (67.3%). The mean age was 53.8 ± 12.2 years, with male predominance (3:1). The corneas were stored for an average of 85.5 ± 53 days prior to transplant. The median donor age was 65 years. The grafts were tectonically stable in 32/36 eyes (88.9%) at 1 month and 20/24 eyes (83.3%) at 3 months. The graft melt was noted in three eyes at 1 and 3 months. The recurrence of the infection was noted in four eyes and all were of fungal etiology. The graft epithelialization was delayed with a mean duration of 48.9 ± 25 days after surgery. Post-TPK, raised intra-ocular pressure (>21 mm Hg) was noted in 51.2% at 1 week, 17.4% at 1 month, and 11.8% at 3 months. Conclusion: Glycerol preservation is a reliable alternative with good therapeutic outcomes in the short and interim postoperative period. Delayed epithelialization and secondary glaucoma were the commonest postoperative complications.

[Surgical management of infectious keratitis]. / Khirurgicheskie metody lecheniya infektsionnykh keratitov.

Infectious keratitis is one of the most common causes of blindness worldwide. Despite the existence of a wide arsenal of quite effective antimicrobial drugs, some forms of bacterial and viral keratitis are resistant. Advanced acanthamoeba and mycotic lesions of the cornea, as well as mixed forms of infection usually do not respond well to conservative treatment. In the absence of positive dynamics from the applied etiotropic therapy with observed further progression of the microbial process, there is a risk of corneal perforation and spread of infection to the sclera or deep ocular structures with a high probability of irreversible functional disorders or anatomical death of the eye. In such cases, a timely transition to surgical treatment is necessary in order to maintain structural integrity of the eyeball. For this purpose, corneal crosslinking, microdiathermocoagulation, tissue adhesive, autoconjunctival plasty, amniotic membrane, corneoscleral flap coating, various combinations of these methods, as well as therapeutic keratoplasty are used most often in clinical practice. The choice depends on the etiology, size and depth of the lesion, its localization, prognosis of visual outcomes, somatic status of the patient. Therapeutic keratoplasty is the most radical and effective method of surgical intervention that allows eradication of the infectious focus and best possible restoration of the structural integrity of the eyeball. However, in some cases due to inaccessibility of donor material or high risks of the surgery and non-transparent graft engraftment, it is advised to use alternative surgical approaches, and keratoplasty, if necessary, should be carried out for optical purposes at a further, "quiet" period.

A Case of Black Fungal Keratitis Caused by Biatriospora mackinnonii.

PURPOSE: To report a novel case of fungal keratitis caused by Biatriospora mackinnonii (Pyrenochaeta mackinnonii), a dematiaceous fungus (black fungus) that rarely causes dermatological infection, in a patient treated for ocular cicatricial pemphigoid. METHODS: An 81-year-old patient with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid was referred to our hospital because of persistent corneal epithelial defects in his left eye. On examination, a slightly elevated dark lesion in the middle of the erosion and hypopyon was observed in that eye, with smear examination of the obtained specimen revealed a filamentous fungal-like material. Initially, treatment included miconazole and fluconazole ophthalmic solution eye drops, natamycin ophthalmic ointment, and systemic voriconazole, followed surgical scraping of the mass, an anterior chamber lavage, and a subconjunctival injection of miconazole. However, the focus had resistance to the treatment and finally led to corneal perforation; hence, therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) was subsequently performed. RESULTS: Mycological testing revealed that the lesions were Candida parapsiliosis and black fungus, with the black fungus classified as B. mackinnonii via DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer and the D1/D2 domains of the 28S rRNA gene. Fungal keratitis caused by B. mackinnonii was resistant to the antifungal drugs, yet was ameliorated by PKP, with no recurrence of fungal keratitis for more than 2 years postoperative. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of fungal keratitis caused by B. mackinnonii; however, in this case, PKP surgery resulted in a favorable outcome.

Excisional penetrating keratoplasty for fungal interface keratitis after endothelial keratoplasty: surgical timing and visual outcome.

PURPOSE: In this paper, we describe two cases of fungal interface infectious keratitis (IIK) developed after endothelial keratoplasty (EK) who underwent delayed therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) with a poor visual outcome. Furthermore, we conducted a review of the literature and analyzed the visual outcomes of TPK in relation to the time from IIK diagnosis. METHODS: We searched the literature for fungal IIK cases occurred after EK and treated by TPK. We identified 17 cases of fungal IIK, mostly caused by Candida spp. (88%). RESULTS: Infection was diagnosed at a median time of 21 (range 1-90 days) days after EK. The median lag time between infection diagnosis and TPK was 30 (range 7-393) days. The median distance corrected visual acuity (DCVA) measured 4-12 months after surgery was 20/40 (range 20/200-20/20). When TPK was performed within one month from diagnosis, the final median DCVA was 20/30 (range 20/100-20/20), with 83% of patients achieving ≥ 20/40 vision. When TPK was carried out later, the final median DCVA was 20/50 (range 20/200-20/22) with 44% of patients achieving ≥ 20/40 vision. One patient in the early surgery and four patients in the late surgery group showed postoperative DCVA ≤ 20/100 despite clear grafts. CONCLUSION: TPK with removal of the sequestered infection is advocated as a safe and effective measure to treat a post-EK infection. Early surgery allows a reduced exposure time to infection and therefore may result in better visual outcomes and lower risk of complications caused by prolonged inflammation.

[Orbital Amyloidosis - Comparison of Two Different Clinical Courses]. / Orbitale Amyloidose ­ Vergleich zweier unterschiedlicher klinischer Verläufe.

BACKGROUND: Primary localised orbital amyloidosis (PLOA) is a very rare disease. In contrast to the isolated manifestation, systemic involvement can be associated with potentially life-threatening consequences. However, the isolated involvement of the orbit can also lead to serious complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two cases of PLOA are described and the necessary ophthalmic, internistic and immunohistochemical diagnostic testing are explained. RESULTS: The first case describes a 71-year-old woman with PLOA. In the clinic, a yellow-orange bumpy prominence in the nasal lower quadrant without further ophthalmological abnormalities was found. Extensive diagnostic testing found no systemic manifestation. The patient herself was free of complaints. In the follow-up over 4 years, patient showed slow progression without ocular complications. The second case is a 72-year-old male patient with similar clinical signs but localisation in the temporal superior quadrant. During the clinical course, multiple ophthalmological complications developed (ptosis, protrusio bulbi, diplopia, secondary glaucoma, perforated corneal ulcer in neurotrophic keratopathy). Perforating keratoplasty had to be performed. Fractioned radiotherapy led to stabilisation of the disease. The follow-up period was 4 years. CONCLUSION: PLOA can lead to visual and organ threatening complications. Accurate diagnosis is required for further diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and to counteract potential local and systemic complications. Interindividual differences in the course have to be considered.

Prognostic Factors Affecting Graft Survival in Patients Undergoing Penetrating Keratoplasty for Infectious Keratitis.

Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic factors affecting graft survival in patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) for infectious keratitis. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent PKP for keratitis in our hospital between 2013 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent therapeutic PKP at the inflammatory stage and were followed for at least 12 months were included in the study. Age, gender, follow-up period, time between diagnosis and surgery, lens status, presence of limbal involvement, presence of corneal ulceration, perforation, or corneal abscess, type of microorganism detected in culture, number of fortified medications used before surgery and duration of use, preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, postoperative graft transparency, postoperative complications, recurrence of infection, rate of re-keratoplasty, and indication for and timing of re-keratoplasty were recorded. The relationship between these findings and anatomic, therapeutic, and functional success were evaluated. Results: Fifty-nine patients were included in the study; 40 (67.8%) were male and 19 (32.2%) were female, and the mean age was 59.78±19.46 (6-91) years. Anatomic success was achieved in 58 patients (98.3%). Therapeutic success was achieved in 47 patients (79.7%) and there was a significant relationship between therapeutic success and re-keratoplasty and early re-keratoplasty (p<0.001 for both). Thirty-two patients (54.2%) had functional success and there was a significant relationship between the absence of postoperative complications and functional success (p=0.014). Conclusion: PKP is an effective treatment option in treatment-resistant keratitis or keratitis with impending perforation. The absence of postoperative complications and performing early re-keratoplasty in patients with recurrence increase the success rate.