Corneal endothelial cells changes in different stages of Keratoconus: a multi-Centre clinical study.

PURPOSE: To assess the corneal endothelial cells morphology and count in keratoconus patients and their correlation with different stages of keratoconus. METHODS: Prospective non randomized multi-centric clinical study included 150 eyes of 150 keratoconus patients. Four centers in Egypt participated in this study included: Departments of Ophthalmology in Alexandria University, Tanta University and Port Said University and Alex I-Care hospital. Pentacam (Wavelight Oculyzer II) and specular microscopy (Tomey EM-3000) were done to all eyes. Keratoconic eyes were classified according to Amsler classification into stage 1, 2 and 3. Stage 1 included 99 eyes, stage 2 included 32 eyes & stage 3 included 19 eyes. RESULTS: The mean age of keratoconus patients was 24.07 ± 6.154 years. Forty five cases were males (30%) and 105 cases were females (70%). There was statistically significant difference in endothelial cell density (p < 0.001) and coefficient of variation (p = 0.012) between different stages of keratoconus eyes. Regarding cell surface area, there was statistically significant difference in cell surface area between different stages of keratoconus eyes (p < 0.001). In addition, for cell morphology, there was statistically significant difference between different stages of keratoconus eyes (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative and quantitative structural changes were seen in endothelial cells of keratoconus eyes by using specular microscopy. For stages 1 and 2, keratoconus may not affect the corneal endothelim significantly. The endothelium in stage 3 shows significant changes regarding polymegathism and pleomorphism.

Wave Front-Guided Photorefractive Keratectomy Using a High-Resolution Aberrometer After Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking in Keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of wave front-guided (WFG) photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using a high-definition aberrometer in corneas with keratoconus at least 1 year after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL). METHODS: Prospective uncontrolled interventional case series study including a total of 34 consecutive eyes of 25 patients with keratoconus previously treated with CXL. All cases underwent WFG PRK using the VISX STAR S4 IR excimer laser and the iDesign system. All eyes had keratoconus grade I or II according to the Amsler-Krumeich classification. Visual, refractive, and ocular aberrometric outcomes were evaluated during a 12-month follow-up. Astigmatic changes were analyzed with the Alpins vector method. RESULTS: A significant improvement was observed in the uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities (P < 0.001). The mean efficacy and safety indices at 12 months postoperatively were 1.58 ± 1.11 and 1.96 ± 1.52, respectively. Manifest sphere and cylinder were reduced significantly (P < 0.001), with 76.5% of the eyes having a spherical equivalent within ±1.00 D at 12 months postoperatively. The mean difference vector and magnitude of error were 1.06 ± 0.92 and 0.43 ± 0.86 D, respectively. Some corneal irregularity indices were reduced significantly with surgery (P ≤ 0.005) as well as the level of ocular higher order aberrations, primary coma, and trefoil (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Sequential WFG PRK using the iDesign system and the STAR S4 IR excimer laser after CXL is an effective option to correct the spherocylindrical error and to minimize the level of higher order aberrations in mild and moderate keratoconus if the maximum intended ablation depth does not exceed 15% of the minimal corneal thickness.

Wavefront-Guided Laser Treatment Using a High-Resolution Aberrometer to Measure Irregular Corneas: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate in a pilot study the visual, refractive, corneal topographic, and aberrometric changes after wavefront-guided LASIK or photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using a high-resolution aberrometer to calculate the treatment for aberrated eyes. METHODS: Twenty aberrated eyes of 18 patients undergoing wavefront-guided LASIK or PRK using the VISX STARS4IR excimer laser and the iDesign aberrometer (Abbott Medical Optics, Inc., Santa Ana, CA) were enrolled in this prospective study. Three groups were differentiated: keratoconus post-CXL group including 11 keratoconic eyes (10 patients), post-LASIK group including 5 eyes (5 patients) with previous decentered LASIK treatments, and post-RK group including 4 eyes (3 patients) with previous radial keratotomy. Visual, refractive, contrast sensitivity, corneal topographic, and ocular aberrometric changes were evaluated during a 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: An improvement in uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected visual acuity (CDVA) associated with a reduction in the spherical equivalent was observed in the three groups, but was only statistically significant in the keratoconus post-CXL and post-LASIK groups (P ≤ .04). All eyes gained one or more lines of CDVA after surgery. Improvements in contrast sensitivity were observed in the three groups, but they were only statistically significant in the keratoconus post-CXL and post-LASIK groups (P ≤ .04). Regarding aberrations, a reduction was observed in trefoil aberrations in the keratoconus post-CXL group (P = .05) and significant reductions in higher-order and primary coma aberrations in the post-LASIK group (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Wavefront-guided laser enhancements using the evaluated platform seem to be safe and effective to restore the visual function in aberrated eyes.

Evaluation of a toric implantable collamer lens after corneal collagen crosslinking in treatment of early-stage keratoconus: 3-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the predictability, efficacy, safety, and stability in patients who received a toric implantable collamer lens (TICL) after collagen crosslinking in early-stage keratoconus. METHODS: This prospective interventional case series study was conducted at the Alexandria Main University hospitals, University of Alexandria, Egypt. Sixteen eyes underwent implantation of a TICL (STAAR Surgical Inc) after crosslinking. The mean spherical refraction was -5.98 ± 4.39 diopters (D) (range, -0.50 to -14.50 D), and the mean cylinder was -4.91 ± 1.51 D (range, -2.50 to -7.75 D). Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), manifest and cycloplegic refraction, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), vault, intraocular pressure, and endothelial cell count (using specular microscopy) were evaluated during a 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: The mean Snellen decimal CDVA improved from 0.56 ± 0.13 (range, 0.40-0.80) preoperatively to 0.89 ± 0.17 (range, 0.60-1.20) at 3 years of the follow-up (P < 0.0001). The mean UDVA also improved significantly from 0.63 ± 0.14 before ICL implantation to 0.88 ± 0.18 after 3 years of the follow-up (P < 0.001). At 3 years, the mean spherical and cylindrical manifest refractions were 0.00 ± 0.18 D and -0.05 ± 0.14 D, respectively. At the end of the follow-up, the vault was 509.75 ± 141.47 µm (range, 320-900) and the intraocular pressure was 11.94 ± 1.12 mm Hg. No complications occurred during the surgical procedures. No eye needed explantation or repositioning of the TICL. The endothelial cell count loss after 3 years was -8.98%. CONCLUSIONS: Correction of spherical and cylindrical refractive errors in keratoconic eyes by TICL implantation 12 months after crosslinking gave significantly promising outcomes, particularly in the astigmatic component of refraction.

Iris registration in wavefront-guided LASIK to correct mixed astigmatism.

PURPOSE: To investigate the predictability, safety, and efficiency of wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with iris-registration technology to correct mixed astigmatism. SETTING: Vision correction center, Alexandria, Egypt. METHODS: This retrospective double-blind study included randomly selected patients with mixed astigmatism who sought laser refractive surgery. Patients were divided equally into 3 groups and treated with conventional LASIK and manual marking, wavefront-guided LASIK and manual marking, or wavefront-guided LASIK with iris registration (LASIK+IR group). Eyes were analyzed preoperatively and up to 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The LASIK+IR group had better postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (100% 20/30 or better; 90% 20/20 or better; 20% 20/16 or better) than the other groups and did not lose preoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, unlike the other groups. This group also had the highest percentage of eyes that gained lines of acuity (20% 1 line; 10% 2 lines). The LASIK+IR group had the highest predictability of spherical refraction (80% within +/-0.50 diopter [D]; 100% within +/-1.00 D [P<.05] and the highest predictability of cylinder refraction. The LASIK+IR eyes had a significantly smaller increase postoperatively in coma, trefoil, and secondary astigmatism. There was no significant difference between groups in spherical aberration or quadrafoil. The LASIK-IR group had the most improvement in scotopic contrast sensitivity (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Wavefront-guided LASIK with iris registration was more predictable, safe, and efficient than conventional or wavefront-guided LASIK with manual marking in correcting mixed astigmatism. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Comparative higher-order aberration measurement of the LADARWave and Visx WaveScan aberrometers at varying pupil sizes and after pharmacologic dilation and cycloplegia.

PURPOSE: To compare higher-order aberration (HOA) measurements of LADARWave and Visx WaveScan aberrometers, to test the validity of the peripheral wavefront data, and to evaluate the effect of pharmacologic dilation and mild cycloplegia. METHODS: Thirty-three myopic eyes of 17 volunteers were enrolled and had the ocular HOAs measured and analyzed with varying pupil diameters (PD) controlled by a tunable light intensity source and after instillation of tropicamide 1% and phenylephrine 2.5%. RESULTS: Higher-order aberrations increased with PD and optical zone (OZ), especially an OZ between 6.0 mm and 6.5 mm. Spherical aberration increased the most, followed by coma, then trefoil and secondary astigmatism. Measurement differences were observed between LADARWave and WaveScan at an OZ of 6.0 mm, although measurement correlations between the 2 machines were high. In the case of the WaveScan, when PD = OZ (6.0 mm), the spherical aberration and, to a less extent, the coma data differed from those obtained with larger PDs and the same OZ. In the case of the LADARWave, at an OZ of 6.0 mm, the HOAs measured in eyes with physiologic pupils were similar to those in pharmacologically dilated pupils when the physiologic pupil center was taken as the reference. CONCLUSIONS: There were detectable measurement differences between LADARWave and Visx WaveScan. Ensuring that the PD is at least 0.5 mm larger than the desired OZ is very important. Dilation and mild cycloplegia did not clinically affect the wave measurement magnitude or pattern.

Wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis with the Alcon CustomCornea and the VISX CustomVue: three-month results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the visual and clinical outcomes of wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with the Alcon CustomCornea (Alcon Laboratories Inc, Fort Worth, Tex) and VISX CustomVue (VISX, Santa Clara, Calif) systems. METHODS: Ninety-three eyes of 56 patients (50 and 43 consecutive eyes on CustomCornea and CustomVue, respectively) were enrolled in a prospective multisurgeon clinical outcome study. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), and manifest refraction were measured at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were measured at 1 month and 3 months, and wavefront mapping at 3 months. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the CustomCornea group had a mean sphere of -3.90 +/- 1.62 diopters (D) (range -0.50 to -7.25 D), mean cylinder of +0.62 +/- 0.39 D (range 0 to +1.50 D), and mean manifest spherical equivalent refraction of -3.59 +/- 1.54 D. The CustomVue group had a sphere of -3.87 +/- 1.45 D (range -1.75 to -6.75 D), cylinder of +0.49 +/- 0.36 D (range 0 to +1.50 D), and manifest spherical equivalent refraction of -3.62 +/- 1.46 D. At 3 months, 98% of the CustomCornea group and 95% of the CustomVue group were within +/-0.50 D. Ninety-nine percent of eyes did not change >0.50 D (manifest spherical equivalent refraction) between 1 month and 3 months. CustomCornea eyes improved on contrast sensitivity testing and had a better profile than CustomVue for 20/15 Snellen and 20/12.5 ETDRS acuity. Both laser groups had a decrease in higher order aberrations with statistical significance for coma and spherical aberration in the CustomCornea group. CONCLUSION: Wavefront-guided LASIK with both systems is safe and effective.