The Changes of Corneal Higher-Order Aberrations after Surgery According to Pterygium Size

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of pterygium size on the change of corneal astigmatism and corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) after surgery. METHODS: Fifty eyes of 46 patients who underwent pterygium surgery were included in the present study and divided into 2 groups according to pterygium size (small group: size 2.0 mm). Corneal HOAs using wavefront aberrometer (KR-1W(R)) and corneal astigmatism using topography (Orbscan II(R)) were evaluated before surgery and their changes monitored after surgery at postoperative 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. RESULTS: The small group was comprised of 16 eyes and 34 eyes were included in the large group. In the small group, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BVCA), and spherical equivalent (SE) were not statistically significantly different after surgery at postoperative 3 months. In the large group, BVCA was not statistically significantly different, but UCVA increase and SE decrease were statistically significant after surgery at postoperative 3 months. Preoperative simulated keratometric (Sim K) astigmatism and corneal HOAs increase were statistically significant according to the pterygium size. Preoperative corneal HOAs of the large group were significantly higher than the small group except for spherical aberration in the central 4 mm optical zone (p = 0.501). In the small group, there was no statistically significant difference in corneal HOAs before and after surgery. In the large group, corneal total HOAs, trefoil and coma in the central 4 mm and 6 mm zone were statistically significantly decreased at postoperative 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The corneal HOAs and the corneal astigmatism were increased according to pterygium size. In cases with pterygium greater than 2.0 mm in size, the corneal HOAs and the corneal astigmatism were decreased after pterygium surgery which can improve visual acuity and quality. Therefore, the pterygium size can be a useful factor in deciding when to perform pterygium surgery.

A Case of Acute Endophthalmitis Following a Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant

PURPOSE: To report a case of acute endophthalmitis after a dexamethasone (Ozurdex(R)) intravitreal implant for macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). CASE SUMMARY: A 63-year-old male patient presented with decreased vision in the right eye due to ME secondary to BRVO. The patient was treated with an intravitreal bevacizumab injection, but ME did not improve. Two months after the injection, dexamethasone (Ozurdex(R)) intravitreal implantation was performed. Four days after the implantation, the patient visited our clinic complaining of severe visual disturbance. Slight conjunctival injection was observed and inflammatory cells and hypopyon were found in the anterior chamber. Fundus was not visible due to vitreous opacity. The patient was presumed to have acute endophthalmitis. Vitrectomy, intravitreal antibiotics injection, dexamethasone implant removal and phacoemulsification were performed. After treatment, the patient's fundus markedly improved, the inflammatory response was controlled and coagulase negative staphylococcus was detected from vitreous culture. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of intravitreal dexamethasone implant associated with acute endophthalmitis, careful examination for diagnosis of endophthalmitis is recommended because the patient may not present with severe ocular pain and injection due to anti-inflammatory effect of corticosteroid.

The Effect of Bevacizumab versus Ranibizumab in the Treatment of Corneal Neovascularization: A Preliminary Study

PURPOSE: To compare the short term effects of bevacizumab and ranibizumab injections on the regression of corneal neovascularization (NV). METHODS: Sixteen eyes of 16 patients with corneal NV were randomly assigned for an injection with 2.5 mg of bevacizumab (group 1, n = 8) or 1 mg of ranibizumab (group 2, n = 8) through subconjunctival and intrastromal routes. The patients were prospectively followed-up for one month after the injections. Corneal NV areas, as shown on corneal slit-lamp photographs stored in JPEG format, were calculated using Image J software before the injection, one week after the injection, and one month after the injection. The corneal NV areas were compared before and after the injections. RESULTS: Seven women and nine men, with an average age of 51 years, presented with corneal NV secondary to herpetic keratitis (7 cases), graft rejection (6), chemical burn (1), pemphigoid (1), and recurrent ulcer (1). In group I, the preoperative corneal NV area (8.75 +/- 4.33%) was significantly decreased to 5.62 +/- 3.86% one week after the injection and to 6.35 +/- 3.02% one month after the injection (p = 0.012, 0.012, respectively). The corneal NV area in group 2 also exhibited a significant change, from 7.37 +/- 4.33% to 6.72 +/- 4.16% one week after the injection (p = 0.012). However, no significant change was observed one month after the injection. The mean decrease in corneal NV area one month after injection in group 1 (28.4 +/- 9.01%) was significantly higher than in group 2 (4.51 +/- 11.64%, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab injection resulted in a more effective and stable regression of corneal NV compared to the ranibizumab injection. The potency and dose of these two drugs for the regression of corneal NV require further investigation.

Effect of Cancer Diagnosis on Smoking Behavior / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Smoking is universally recognized as the foremost preventable cause of cancer. And smoking behavior causes many negative effects in cancer patients. Based on the mounting evidence that smoking affects cancer treatment outcomes and survival, we studied whether the cancer diagnosis affects smoking behavior. METHODS: During August 2007, 279 patients who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of cancer were surveyed by a questionnaire and a follow up survey was performed at 3 months and 7 months afterwards. Follow up survey was performed via telephone and finally 246 patients were enrolled. Questions in the survey included smoking history, nicotine dependence, stage of change and the reason for quit smoking or keep smoking. In the follow up survey at 7 month, we asked whether they needed smoking cessation interventions. RESULTS: At the end of the study, the subjects who kept smoking were 27 patients, but the degree of nicotine dependence was decreased compared to the preceding 2 surveys and contemplation as well as preparation stage turned out to be the most prevalent stage of change. The main reasons to keep smoking were behavioral habits and stress. Regardless of their smoking history, almost all cancer patients wanted smoking cessation interventions. CONCLUSION: Smoking is a critical variable that affects cancer treatment and outcome. We surely found there is a smoking subgroup after cancer diagnosis and we should advise them to quit smoking.