Alpha-Glycerylphosphorylcholine and D-Panthenol Eye Drops in Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery.

Cataract surgery is widespread. The surgical procedure is associated with damage to the epithelial barrier and interruption of the corneal innervation. In addition, pathological events sustain signs and symptoms that may persist for a long time. Recently, a fixed combination of alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine and D-Panthenol (Oftassiale) has been available as eye drops. The present study investigated the effects of an Oftassiale therapy in 20 patients undergoing cataract surgery. A comparison group included 20 patients treated with topical hyaluronic acid. Standard prophylactic and anti-inflammatory treatment was prescribed to all patients. Clinical signs and symptoms were assessed over time. In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) was performed accordingly. Oftassiale treatment significantly reduced clinical features and improved IVCM outcomes. In addition, therapy was well-tolerated, and no clinically significant adverse events occurred. In conclusion, this study confirmed that IVCM helps assess the tunnel after cataract surgery due to its ability to provide microscopic details in vivo. Topical therapy with alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine and D-Panthenol eye drops promoted and stabilized the reepithelialization process. This fixed combination also accelerated and modulated the repair of the corneal innervation. Moreover, this treatment was well-tolerated and safe.

Temporary Kerato-Prosthesis to Resolve Traumatic Loss of a Healed Corneal Button.

The aim of this study is to report a rare case of traumatic complete loss of a donor corneal button successfully resolved by a 24-h implantation of a temporary kerato-prosthesis. A healthy 30-year-old man with a history of prior penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) presented with an open globe following accidental contusive trauma with a ball, while he was playing football. At slit-lamp evaluation, complete dehiscence of the wound at the graft-host junction and complete corneal button loss was evident. The patient was immediately taken to the operating room, but a donor cornea was not available; therefore, a vitreo-retinal temporary kerato-prosthesis was implanted to close the eyeball until a new donor cornea was available. In case of complete dehiscence of the donor-host junction after PKP with corneal button loss, it is possible to use a temporary kerato-prosthesis to stabilize the eye and contain the intraocular structures. We recommend the availability of temporary vitreo-retinal kerato-prosthesis in the operating theatres of Corneal Surgical Units.

A new therapeutic approach for the Dry Eye Syndrome in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux: first data.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is a common disorder. Pepsin has been detected also at eye level, this was a starting point for newest theories about LPR impact on Dry Eye Syndrome. The current preliminary study compared two treatments in patients with Dry Eye Syndrome and LPR. Patients were treated with Gastroftal eye drops and Gastroftal tablets or hyaluronic acid eye drops for 3 months. The following parameters were evaluated: Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), OSDI categories, Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), Reflux Finding Score (RFS), Fluorescein Tear Breakup Time (B-TUT), and Schirmer test before and after treatment. On the whole, 21 patients were enrolled: 10 were treated with hyaluronic acid Atlantis (Group A) and 11 with Gastroftal eye drops and tablets (Group B). After treatment, in Group A only OSDI significantly diminished (p=0.029); in Group B there were significant reductions concerning OSDI (p=0.0277), OSDI categories (p=0.0211), RSI (p=0.0172), Schirmer test (p=0.0172), T-BUT (p=0.0265), and RFS (p=0.0205). The current preliminary demonstrated that the combined ocular and systemic therapy with hyaluronic acid, Magnesium alginate, Simethicone, and Camelia sinensis may be considered a promising treatment in patients with Dry Eye Syndrome due to LPR.

Diagnosis, Clinical Trend, and Treatment of Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis after Femtosecond Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis: A Case Report.

We report a severe case of diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) following femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (femto-LASIK). A 25-year-old man was submitted to 150 kHz iFS® IntraLase-assisted LASIK in both eyes for compound myopic astigmatism. The day after surgery, clinical examination showed a diffuse whitish granular cell reaction particularly in the right eye. High-dose dexamethasone eyedrops with topical antibiotic and artificial tears were prescribed. Five days after surgery, a central corneal opacity with convergent striae was detected at biomicroscopy. The suspicion of DLK was confirmed. Additional therapy based on hyperosmolar ophthalmological solution, oral doxycycline, and topical 10% sodium citrate was prescribed. Treatment was continued and tapered for over 3 months. Improvement in corneal transparency were obtained 2 weeks after the systemic therapy had been started. Uncorrected visual acuity improved from 20/32 to 20/20 at 1-year follow-up. DLK represents an infrequent complication after femto-LASIK. It should resolve without sequelae if promptly diagnosed and treated, without necessity of corneal flap lifting.

Intraocular cilium masquerading as a parasite.

BACKGROUND: Among the many different intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs), eyelashes represent an uncommon finding almost invariably associated with a history of penetrating trauma. The authors describe a woman who had no signs and denied any history of trauma with an odd-looking, whitish, worm-like IOFB eventually identified by pathologic analysis as a cilium. CASE REPORT: A 58-year-old lady complaining of floaters with mild loss of vision and redness presented to our institution. Slit-lamp examination revealed trace cells, while the fundus showed 1+ vitreous cells and the presence of a 3- to 4-mm-long, 0.3-mm-wide bright white "fluffy" wormlike object in the anterior vitreous. Medical history was unremarkable. The patient underwent pars plana vitrectomy with IOFB removal, and the specimen was sent for pathologic analysis that revealed the presence of a cilium encased in collagen fibers and mature adipose tissue. Vitreous cultures did not yield any pathogen. DISCUSSION: Eyelashes as IOFBs have been described in several reports and are invariably associated with penetrating trauma. Intraocular cilia with no apparent history of trauma have been rarely reported. Our patient had a very peculiar presentation because of the "fluffy" bright white "capsule" that although readily visible resembled a parasite more than a cilium. The presence of adipose tissue at the base of the cilium that may have been dragged with the eyelash at the time of penetration is also a matter of speculation.

Factors predicting unsuccessful big bubble deep lamellar anterior keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of corneal structural resistance as a surgical failure factor in deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLK). METHOD: A total of 10 eyes of 10 patients underwent DLK at the Ophthalmic Hospital in Rome. The big bubble technique was performed for deep stromal dissection by air injection. Seven patients were affected by advanced keratoconus and corneal thinning ranging from 441 to 235 microm. Two patients were affected by central corneal opacity from herpetic keratitis, and one patient suffered from corneal leucoma caused by bacterial keratitis. Clinical follow-up comprising final astigmatism and visual acuity findings were evaluated with a minimum follow-up of 12 weeks. RESULTS: DLK was successfully performed in eight eyes, five of which were affected by moderate to advanced keratoconus and three by post-infective corneal opacity. In these patients preoperative ultrasonic pachymetry ranged between 441 and 287 microm. In the remaining two patients a perforation of the Descemet's membrane (DM) occurred while attempting to separate it from the overlying stroma by the big bubble technique, requiring a penetrating keratoplasty (PK) to be performed. In both cases preoperative ultrasonic pachymetry was below 250 microm. Both perforations occurred at a different site than the needle site and at the operative time of the big-bubble injection. DISCUSSION: An ultrastructurally weakened DM may suffer a loss of resistance to a stressing force, becoming unable to tolerate the big bubble technique, and thus being perforated. Since the weakening of the DM is related to end-stage keratoconus corneal thinning, the preoperative corneal thickness rather than the surgeon's ability can play a major role in surgical failure of DLK. Our study reveals a very high risk of perforation of the DM when pre-operative total pachymetry is below limit of 250 microm.

Stage 4 diffuse lamellar keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis Clinical, topographical, and pachymetry resolution 5 years later.

In March 1999, a 35-year-old woman had uneventful laser in situ keratomileusis in both eyes on the same day. Five days postoperatively, slitlamp biomicroscopy of the left eye showed an appearance similar to haze after photorefractive keratectomy, with greater density at the center and striae convergent toward the infiltrate (stage 4 diffuse lamellar keratitis [DLK]). The patient received treatment with dexamethasone 0.2% eyedrops every 2 hours. After 2 weeks, visual acuity was better and improvement was evident on topography, pachymetry, and slitlamp photography. The improvements were more marked at 6 months and 1 year. There was a progressive increment in corneal thickness and consequent improvement in corneal transparency, curvature, and regularity. This case, in which continuous morphologic adaptation of the cornea occurred, indicates that observation, rather than intervention, is a valid therapeutic option for stage 4 DLK.

PermaVision intracorneal lens for the correction of hyperopia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety, predictability, and efficacy of sutureless synthetic keratophakia (SSK) with PermaVision intracorneal lens (Anamed) implantation. SETTING: Ophthalmic Hospital, Rome, Italy. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the refractive outcomes in 10 eyes of 6 patients who had SSK with PermaVision lens implantation for spherical hyperopia (cylinder less than 1.0 diopter [D]). Preoperatively, the mean spherical equivalent (SE) refraction was +4.33 D +/- 1.52 (SD) (range +3.00 to +6.37 D). All procedures were performed using the Hansatome microkeratome (Bausch & Lomb) with a superior hinge except in 1 eye in which the flap was cut using the Amadeus microkeratome (Allergan) with a nasal hinge. RESULTS: Six months after PermaVision lens insertion, the mean SE refraction was +0.03 +/- 0.36 D (range -0.50 to +0.38 D), the mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0.85 +/- 0.13 (range 0.63 to 1.00), and the mean best corrected visual acuity was 0.99 +/- 0.19 (range 0.63 to 1.25). No eye lost lines of visual acuity. In 1 eye, the lens was acutely decentered and had to be explanted. CONCLUSIONS: Sutureless synthetic keratophakia with the PermaVision intracorneal lens is a new technique for the correction of hyperopia. It is easy to perform as well as reversible, and the learning curve of the experienced laser in situ keratomileusis surgeon is short. The technique was safe and effective for spherical hyperopia, but longer follow-up and additional cases are needed to draw conclusions about the efficacy of the technique.

Deep lamellar keratoplasty with trypan blue intrastromal staining.

This technique was developed to facilitate removal of the deep stromal layers during deep lamellar keratoplasty. A trypan blue 0.02% solution is injected into the stromal fibers, enabling the surgeon to visualize and remove the posterior stromal layers. This decreases the risk of perforation of Descemet's membrane and the endothelium.