Assessing the Validity of Measurements of Swept-source and Partial Coherence Interferometry Devices in Cataract Patients.

SIGNIFICANCE: The validity of measurements of OA-2000 (Tomey, Nagoya, Japan), a new swept-source optical coherence tomography-based biometer, was evaluated in comparison with IOLMaster 500 (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) as a reference method for optical biometry in cataract patients. PURPOSE: This article compares the validity of measurements between OA-2000 and IOLMaster 500. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, axial length, lens thickness, anterior chamber depth, and keratometry readings were obtained by the OA-2000 and IOLMaster 500. Two measurements were taken by each method. Patients in which any one of the biometry methods could not be performed owing to severity of the cataract were excluded from the study. Repeatability of measurements was presented by coefficient of variation, and Bland-Altman method was used for evaluating the agreement between the two biometers. RESULTS: Fifty-eight eyes of 58 cataract patients with mean ± standard deviation age of 61.4 ± 8.3 years were included in this study. Intraclass correlation ranged from 0.898 to 0.901 and showed good to excellent reliability. It was good for keratometry 1 (0.898) and excellent for keratometry 2 (0.992), axial length (0.999), and anterior chamber depth (0.901). Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement between the swept-source optical coherence tomography and partial coherence interferometry devices for axial length, anterior chamber depth, and mean keratometry, with narrow 95% limits of agreement (-0.09 to 0.1 mm, -0.33 to 0.54 mm, -0.97 to 1.03 D, respectively), and also indicated small mean difference (0.01 for axial length, 0.11 for anterior chamber depth, 0.03 for mean keratometry, respectively) for all comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: OA-2000 as a new swept-source optical coherence tomography has an excellent repeatability for measurement of biometric data in cataract patients, comparing with the standard partial coherence interferometry biometer (IOLMaster 500).

Stromal Patch with fibrin glue as a novel surgical technique to seal peripheral Descemet's membrane perforations in deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article was to introduce a novel surgical technique for the management of peripheral Descemet's membrane perforation during deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). METHODS: First, a thin stromal patch was prepared either from the anterior stromal lamella cut during DALK or from the anterior stroma of a Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty button. The stromal patch was secured in a stromal pocket dissected deep in the trephination edge along the perforation site. Fibrin glue was applied to the stromal patch. Finally, the graft was sutured to the recipient bed. RESULTS: We used this technique in 3 cases with peripheral DM perforations during DALK. The first case was a persistent postoperative double anterior chamber who developed Urrets-Zavalia syndrome after air injection in an attempt to seal the perforation. In the second case, this technique was applied to seal an intraoperative DM perforation, without which the procedure would have been converted to penetrating keratoplasty. The third case had a persistent postoperative double chamber despite multiple air injections and fibrin glue application. The technique was effective in the management of all DM perforations with a resolution of double anterior chamber. CONCLUSION: This technique is safe and effective as an intraoperative method or a postoperative measure to seal peripheral DM perforations. We recommend this technique for repairing peripherally located DM perforations during DALK not amenable to simple measures like air injection or fibrin glue application.

An investigation on optic nerve head involvement in Fuchs uveitis syndrome using optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography.

PURPOSE: To investigate optic nerve head involvement in patients with Fuchs uveitis syndrome (FUS). METHODS: Optic nerve head of 43 FUS eyes without clinical optic disc edema and 37 unaffected fellow eyes were evaluated using optical coherence tomography (OCT) of peripapillary retina and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and fundus fluorescein angiography. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of FUS eyes showed optic nerve head hyperfluorescence. The mean average RNFL thickness in FUS eyes was 115.0 ± 11.9 µm, which was thicker than unaffected eyes (103.0 ± 10.7 µm, p < 0.001). Mean average of peripapillary retinal thicknesses in FUS eyes was also greater than unaffected eyes (p < 0.001). In addition, RNFL and peripapillary retinal thicknesses in FUS eyes without optic nerve hyperfluorescence were thicker than unaffected eyes (all p = < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: OCT demonstrates peripapillary total retinal and nerve fiber layer thickening in FUS eyes without clinical swelling of optic disc that is not always associated with optic nerve head leakage.

Clinical and Autofluorescence Findings in Eyes with Pinguecula and Pterygium.

Purpose: To assess the autofluorescence size and properties of pterygium and pinguecula by anterior segment autofluorescence (AS-AF) imaging and demonstrate the difference of autofluorescence size presented in AS-AF imaging compared to the extend size of the conjunctival lesion measured by anterior segment slit-lamp photography (AS-SLE). Methods: Twenty-five patients with primary pterygium and twenty-five with pinguecula were included in the study. In addition, 25 normal subjects were also enrolled as the control group. The AS-AF characteristics of pterygium and pinguecula lesions were analyzed. The size of lesions displayed in the AS-SLE photography versus the AS-AF images were also compared. AS-AF images were obtained using a Heidelberg retina angiograph which focused on the anterior segment. AS-SLE photography was acquired using a digital imaging system (BX900 HAAG-STREIT). Results: There were 44 (58.7%) male and 31 (41.3%) female patients; 19 (76%) and 20 (80%) patients had bilateral pterygium and pinguecula, respectively. All pinguecula lesions reflected hyperautofluorescence pattern in the AS-AF imaging. In 24 (96%) patients, the hyperautofluoresecence pattern was larger than the size of the clinical lesions displayed with the AS-SLE photography. Twenty-one (84%) patients with pterygium reflected a hyperautofluorescence pattern in AS-AF images; in one (4%) patient, the hyperautofluorescence pattern was larger than the clinical lesion size and four (16%) patients had no autofluorescence patterns in the AS-AF images. In the control group, in 14 (56%) subjects, a hypoautofluorescent pattern was revealed in the conjunctiva in AS-AF images. However, in 11 (44%) patients, hyperautofluorescence patterns were detected. Conclusion: AS-AF is a useful modality to monitor vascularization in conjunctival lesions. Pingueculae and pterygium show hyperautofluorescence in AS-AF imaging. The real size of the pinguecula lesions may be estimated with AS-AF characteristics, mostly presenting larger than the area size in AS-SLE photography. The autofluorescence size of the pterygium is smaller than the extent of visible pterygium in slit-lamp photography.

Agreement Between Swept-source Optical Coherence Tomography and Rotating Scheimpflug Camera in Measurement of Corneal Parameters in Normal and Keratoconic Eyes.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the agreement between topographic indices of healthy subjects and keratoconus (KCN) patients using a swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT CASIA2) versus a Scheimpflug camera (Pentacam). Methods: 40 eyes of 23 patients with KCN and 40 eyes of 20 healthy subjects were included and evaluated with the CASIA2, followed by the Pentacam. Two consecutive modalities were obtained for one eye of each patient. Corneal parameters, including anterior keratometry at steep (Ks) and flat meridians (Kf), anterior astigmatism, anterior and posterior corneal elevation values, thinnest corneal thickness, and apex corneal thickness, were evaluated. Results: CASIA2 and Pentacam showed perfect agreement (95% limits of agreement (LoA): -0.22 to 0.68, 95% LoA: -1.5 to 1.44 D) and good correlation (Intraclass correlation (ICC):0.986, ICC:0.987; P<0.01) for anterior (Ks) in normal and ectatic corneas, respectively. The cylinder amount had moderate agreement and correlation (95% LoA: -0.55 to 0.47D, ICC: 0.797, P<0.01) in normal, and moderate to strong agreement and correlation (95% LoA: -1.57 to 0.87D, ICC=0.911, P<0.01) in Keratoconic eyes. There was a fair agreement for anterior and posterior corneal elevation values in normal subjects (95% LoA: -3.09 to 4.59, 95% LoA: -6.91 to 7.31D). The thinnest corneal thickness amount had an excellent agreement in normal and KCN patients (ICC: 0.983, 0.953; respectively). Conclusion: Although the devices had different mean indices values, they had a good agreement based on the Bland-Altman plots. Since Pentacam is accepted as the standard tool for diagnosing ectatic cornea, pentacam CASIA2 is also helpful for early diagnosis of KCN.

Delayed-onset ligneous conjunctivitis as a rare association with congenital hydrocephalous: a case report and review of the literature.

Ligneous conjunctivitis is an uncommon form of chronic and recurrent conjunctivitis characterized by a thick, "woody," yellowish pseudomembranous lesion on the tarsal conjunctiva. Plasminogen deficiency plays an important role in this disease, which affects the mucous membranes, including the conjunctiva as well as other systemic organs. In rare cases, congenital hydrocephalus is associated with this disease. We present the case of a 21-year-old woman with delayed-onset bilateral ligneous conjunctivitis and a history of congenital hydrocephalous in infancy. She was treated with topical ophthalmic medication and surgical excision.

Recombinant Interferon Alpha-2b as Primary Treatment for Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of topical and perilesional interferon alpha-2b as primary treatment for ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). METHODS: In this prospective interventional case series, topical interferon alpha-2b (3 MIU/mL) was used as the initial treatment of OSSN, with perilesional interferon alpha-2b (3 MIU/mL) added based on clinical response. The primary outcome was complete tumor resolution. Spearman's rank correlation test was used to investigate the association of complete tumor resolution and time to resolution with baseline tumor characteristics and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification for OSSN. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients (92 OSSN tumors) were included in the study. The total follow-up duration was 13.57 ± 2.14 months (median: 12, range: 3-23). The median basal tumor diameter was 4 mm (mean: 4.13 ± 1.37). Complete tumor resolution was achieved in 89 cases (96.73%), with a median time to complete tumor resolution of 5 months (mean: 4.64 ± 1.92). Complete tumor resolution was 57 of 57 in T1 (100%), 8 of 9 in T2 (88.88%), and 21 of 23 in T3 (91.30%). There were statistically significant correlations between AJCC classification and complete tumor resolution (Spearman's r = -0.22, P = 0.03) and maximal basal tumor diameter and the time to complete resolution (Spearman's r = 0.35, P = 0.001). There were no recurrences during the study follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Topical interferon alpha-2b is effective and well tolerated as a primary treatment for OSSN, with a high rate of tumors responding completely to therapy.

Changes in Corneal Subbasal Nerves after Punctal Occlusion in Dry Eye Disease.

PURPOSE: To evaluate corneal subbasal nerve plexus by in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) following punctal occlusion in patients with moderate to severe dry eye disease (DED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with grade 3 or 4 severity of DED based on Delphi Panel dry eye severity grading scheme were enrolled in the study. Permanent inferior punctal occlusion was performed. A comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation, including Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining, conjunctival Rose bengal staining, Schirmer's test, and corneal sensation by Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometry, were performed at baseline, and 1 and 3 months after punctal occlusion. Furthermore, density and number of corneal subbasal nerves were evaluated by IVCM. RESULTS: Forty-one eyes of 23 patients with a mean age of 46.3 ± 9.0 years were enrolled. Corneal fluorescein staining, Rose bengal staining, and TBUT significantly improved at 3 months following punctal occlusion (p < .015). Corneal esthesiometry significantly increased at both postoperative visits (p < .03), and OSDI scores improved only at 3-month follow-up (p < .005). Nerve density and total number significantly increased 3 months after punctal occlusion (p < .045). Baseline nerve density had significant correlations with TBUT, fluorescein staining, Rose bengal staining (p < .012), but not with esthesiometry, Schirmer scores, or OSDI scores (p > .329). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal subbasal nerve density and total number increased following punctal occlusion in patients with moderate to severe DED. These findings were associated with improvements in corneal sensation, and signs and symptoms of DED. This emphasizes the effect of punctal occlusion in regeneration of corneal subbasal nerve plexus.

A surgical skills assessment rubric for pterygium surgery.

PURPOSE: To introduce an assessment tool (rubric) for evaluating ophthalmology residents' competency in pterygium surgery. METHODS: A panel of experienced international surgeons collaborated and developed the rubric. After describing various stages of the procedure, the Dreyfus scale of skill acquisition was used for scoring each stage. After finalizing the rubric, two surgeons independently evaluated 20 masked pterygium surgery videos of 10 residents and scored the videos according to the rubric. The agreement between the scores of them was examined with the intra-class correlation coefficient test. RESULTS: This rubric divides pterygium surgery into 13 different stages and covers the two most common techniques of pterygium surgery; conjunctival autograft and amniotic membrane transplant. The rubric showed face and content validity. Overall, an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.76-0.96, P < 0.001) was achieved between the two surgeons. The residents scored significantly higher on surgeries performed later in their rotation compared to the earlier surgeries (4.32 ± 0.35 vs 3.96 ± 0.31, P = 0.006). Certain stages of pterygium surgery were more strongly correlated with the residents' past pterygium surgical experience. CONCLUSION: This study introduces an international rubric for assessing competency in pterygium surgery. In addition to face and content validity, this rubric shows high inter-rater reliability. This may be a useful tool for teaching and measuring competency in pterygium surgery.

Fuchs' Uveitis in Iranian Patients: A Review of 89 Eyes.

Purpose: To describe clinical and imaging features of Fuchs' Uveitis (FU) and investigate the rate of misdiagnosis in Iranian patients. Methods: Records of 82 FU patients (89 eyes) were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Remarkable findings included iris heterochromia in 14 (17.1%) patients and Fuchs' keratic precipitates in 97.8%, vitritis in 89.7% and cataract in 69.7% eyes. FU discovered as an incidental finding in 7 patients (10.0%). Imaging revealed disc hyperfluorescence, mild vascular leakage and epiretinal membrane in 72.7%, 32.5% and 19.4% of eyes, respectively. The rate of misdiagnosis was 19.5% (16 patients) with intermediate uveitis being as the most common erroneous diagnosis (10 patients). Patients with the wrong diagnosis were significantly younger (p = 0.045) and more likely to have bilateral involvement (p = 0.004) or no anterior chamber cells (p = 0.039). Conclusions: Heterochromia is an infrequent clinical feature in Iranian FU patients, however, vitreous involvement is common. Intermediate uveitis is a usual misdiagnosis.

Changes in in vivo confocal microscopic findings of ocular surface squamous neoplasia during treatment with topical interferon alfa-2b.

PURPOSE: To evaluate in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) findings of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) during treatment with topical interferon alfa-2b (IFN alfa-2b). METHODS: In this prospective interventional case series, 20 eyes from 20 patients with OSSN were treated with topical IFN alfa-2b 3 million IU/mL four times a day. Treatment was continued for 2 or 3 months after clinical resolution. IVCM was done at baseline, on a monthly basis, and at the end of treatment. Confocal images were evaluated in conjunction with clinical findings during treatment. Limbal dendritic cell (DC) density within the involved areas was calculated manually in confocal images. RESULTS: Topical therapy resulted in clinical resolution of neoplasia in 80% of eyes. Main features of OSSN on IVCM were hyper-reflectivity of epithelium, demarcation line between neoplastic and normal epithelium, and pleomorphic cells. These findings became less prominent in response to IFN alfa-2b therapy. However, some degree of residual epithelial hyper-reflectivity could be detected in 9 (56.2%) subjects who responded to therapy at time of treatment cessation. Limbal DCs density within involved areas was significantly increased at month 1 follow-up compared to baseline only in responders (P < .0001). There was a trend toward higher limbal DCs density in responders to topical IFN alfa-2b than non-responders (208.6 ± 53.5 vs. 153.1 ± 48.2 cell/mm2, respectively; P = .08) at month 1 follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: IVCM is proposed as an adjunctive tool for monitoring OSSN during topical treatment. IVCM documents epithelial cell response as well as limbal DC density increase during topical IFN therapy.

Topical Tacrolimus as Adjuvant Therapy to Corticosteroids in Acute Endothelial Graft Rejection After Penetrating Keratoplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of topical tacrolimus 0.05% as adjuvant therapy to corticosteroids in the treatment of acute endothelial rejection of a penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) graft. METHODS: Patients with the clinical diagnosis of acute endothelial rejection of a PKP graft were randomized into 2 groups-group 1: receiving topical tacrolimus 0.05% as adjuvant therapy to corticosteroid treatment and group 2: receiving only corticosteroid treatment. Main outcome measures were rejection reversal, time to rejection reversal, and recurrence of rejection. RESULTS: Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients (17 and 14 eyes in group 1 and 2, respectively) were included in the study. The rejection episode completely resolved in 88.2% of patients in group 1 and 85.7% of patients in group 2 [hazard ratio = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.28-1.29, P = 0.191]. After adjusting for preoperative factors using the inverse-probability weighting method, the time to resolution of rejection was significantly shorter in group 1 than group 2 (average treatment effect = 16, 95% CI, 3.7-28.7, P = 0.013). The recurrence rate of rejection was significantly higher in group 2 (39.7, 95% CI, 12.8-92.6 per 1000 months of follow-up) than in group 1 (3.6, 95% CI, 0.05-19.9 likewise); risk ratio: 11.1, 95% CI, 1.3-95.0, P = 0.028. CONCLUSIONS: Topical tacrolimus 0.05% as an adjunct to steroids can hasten the resolution of endothelial rejection of a PKP graft and potentially decreases the recurrence of rejection. However, it may not improve rejection reversal success.

Tacrolimus Eye Drops as Adjunct Therapy in Severe Corneal Endothelial Rejection Refractory to Corticosteroids.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of tacrolimus eye drops as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of severe corneal endothelial rejection after penetrating keratoplasty refractory to corticosteroids. METHODS: In this prospective interventional case series, 11 eyes of 11 patients assessed for severe corneal endothelial rejection, with an inadequate response to topical, local, and systemic corticosteroids, were treated with either 0.01% or 0.05% tacrolimus eye drops 4 times daily. Improvement in signs of rejection, visual function, and development of complications were monitored. RESULTS: The duration of steroid treatment before intervention was 8.1 ± 1.4 days (range = 7-11). Patients were subsequently administered topical tacrolimus 0.01% or 0.05% qid. The time to clinical improvement was 10.3 ± 3.4 days (range = 3-17). The time to rejection reversal was 27.8 ± 16.3 days (range = 7-52). After 3 months, 10 patients (90.8%) demonstrated clinical improvement, and complete restoration of graft clarity was achieved in 5 patients (45.4%). In responsive cases, steroid therapy was successfully tapered off after 60.2 ± 19.7 days (range = 36-93). The best spectacle-corrected visual acuity improved from 1.7 ± 0.9 to 0.8 ± 0.5 logMAR (P = 0.0016). Reported side effects included stinging on drop instillation and punctate epithelial keratopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Tacrolimus eye drops may be able to play an adjunctive therapeutic role in patients with severe corneal endothelial rejection refractory to conventional steroid treatment. Controlled studies are needed to further investigate the role of tacrolimus in this setting.

Evaluation of conjunctival graft thickness after pterygium surgery by anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate changes in thickness of the conjunctival graft after pterygium surgery by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven eyes of 11 patients with primary nasal pterygium underwent excision followed by free conjunctival autograft. Imaging with AS-OCT was performed at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after surgery to measure thickness of the conjunctival graft at 1, 2 and 3 mm posterior to the scleral spur. As the control, thickness of the normal bulbar conjunctival epithelium in the temporal area was also measured at the same locations. RESULTS: Average thickness of the graft decreased from 458 ± 171 µm at 1 week after surgery to 306 ± 64 µm at 1 month (p < 0.0001). Although the graft thickness decreased to 291 ± 124 µm at 3 months postoperatively, the difference between 1-month and 3-month values was not statistically significant (p = 0.94). Average thickness of the normal conjunctival epithelium was 58 ± 13 µm, 60 ± 19 µm and 61 ± 12 µm at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after surgery, respectively, with no statistically significant difference. Graft thickness was significantly greater than thickness of the normal conjunctival epithelium at various time points (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Evaluation by AS-OCT showed that there was significant thickening of the conjunctival graft at 1 week after pterygium surgery which continued to decrease up to 3 months. Quantitative data by AS-OCT allows accurate evaluation of the conjunctival changes over time.

Postoperative conjunctival inflammation after pterygium surgery with amniotic membrane transplantation versus conjunctival autograft.

PURPOSE: To compare the postoperative conjunctival inflammation around the surgical site after pterygium surgery using either amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) or free conjunctival autograft. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, interventional study. METHODS: Forty-two eyes of 42 patients with primary pterygium underwent surgical excision followed by removal of subconjunctival fibrovascular tissue and intraoperative application of 0.02% mitomycin C. Then, the patients were randomized to receive either AMT (21 eyes) or free conjunctival autograft (21 eyes), with sutures used in both groups. Main outcome measures included presence of host conjunctival inflammation around the surgical site at 1 month after surgery and also recurrence of pterygium. RESULTS: Twelve-month follow-up was completed in 39 eyes of 39 patients (19 in the AMT group and 20 in the conjunctival autograft group). At 1 month after surgery, different grades of host conjunctival inflammation were present in 16 eyes (84.2%) in the AMT group and in 3 eyes (15%) in the conjunctival autograft group (P = .02). Subconjunctival injection of triamcinolone was performed in eyes with moderate or severe inflammation, which included 12 eyes (63.1%) in the AMT group and 2 eyes (10%) in the conjunctival autograft group (P < .001). Conjunctival recurrence of pterygium was seen in 2 eyes (10.5%) in the AMT group and in 2 eyes (10%) in the conjunctival autograft group (P = .92). After surgery, pyogenic granuloma developed in 3 eyes (15.8%) in the AMT group and in 1 eye (5%) in the conjunctival autograft group (P = .31). CONCLUSIONS: After pterygium surgery, conjunctival inflammation was significantly more common with AMT than with conjunctival autograft. However, with control of such inflammation and intraoperative application of mitomycin C, similar final outcomes were achieved with both techniques.