ABSTRACT
Purpose: To investigate the association between early lifetime substance use on the development of severe visual acuity impairment or blindness on a national level. Methods: National Survey of Drug Use and Health data was used to identify cases of substance use before 21* years of age, within the past year, and cases of self-reported blindness or visual impairment. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression with time-dependency was performed to evaluate odds of visual impairment influenced by 16 substances separated into three classes: prescription, non-prescription, and illicit drugs. Adjusted variables of interest included gender, marital status, race, level of education, total family income, poverty level, population density, and history of chronic disease. Results: 55,824 total responses were analyzed with 2577 (4.6%) cases of self-reported blindness or significant visual impairment. All early-use substance categories, including prescription, non-prescription, and illegal substances, were significantly associated with self-reported VI (OR 2.068, CI 1.451-2.949, p<0.001; OR 1.352, CI 1.227-1.489, p<0.001); OR 1.211, CI 1.086-1.352, p<0.001), respectively). Non-prescription substances displayed parallel significances amongst all constituents (alcohol, cigarettes, inhalants, and marijuana) (OR=1.227, CI 1.12-1.344, p<0.001; OR 1.363, CI 1.243-1.495, p<0.001; OR 1.418, CI 1.134-1.774; OR 1.388, CI 1.27-1.518, p<0.001, respectively). Univariable and multivariable analysis revealed several significant demographical and clinical adjustors. Conclusion: Early lifetime use of all three classes of substances is associated with enhanced odds of subsequent visual impairment or blindness. Several readily available and commonly used substances have a greater risk. These findings may help clinicians and public health agencies in mitigation ventures including education, prevention, and rehabilitation efforts.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to relate a case of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) converted to penetrating keratoplasty in which the host central Descemet membrane (DM) with a large perforation was left attached to the host cornea. METHODS: This is a case report of a 34-year-old man who underwent an attempted DALK for keratoconus in his left eye, which became complicated with a large rupture in DM during dissection. The host DM was left in place, the donor cornea with DM intact was sutured onto the host bed, and air was injected into the anterior chamber. The patient was monitored by biomicroscopy, pachymetry, topography, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, and specular microscopy. RESULTS: The postoperative course resulted in improved uncorrected visual acuity, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, and topography. Corneal edema was observed in the host cornea peripheral to the graft. Three months after the surgery, the endothelial cell density was reduced by 63% compared with the preoperative donor cell density. CONCLUSIONS: Leaving the host DM during conversion of DALK to penetrating keratoplasty was uneventful in this case, although corneal edema was observed in the area overlying the host cornea. It is possible that the retained DM could provide additional autologous endothelial cells to prolong graft survival.