Corneal imaging of intrastromal femtosecond laser treatment for presbyopia (Intracor(®)).

PURPOSE: To evaluate anatomic appearance and corneal cellular modifications after monocular Intracor(®) procedure with two different anterior segment imaging techniques within the first postoperative year. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four patients underwent an Intracor(®) procedure in one eye performed at Clinique de la vision, and corneal imaging was performed in Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital. Slit-lamp photography, confocal microscopy with Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT) and anterior segment spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed 2 days, and 1, 6, and 12 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Confocal microscopy showed strong cellular activation of keratocytes within the first postoperative month which diminished over time. The linear femtosecond incisions appeared as hyper-reflective regular lines and reflectivity decreased throughout the follow-up period. After 6 months, a fibrotic process with appearance of corneal scars was visible as small intrastromal hyper-reflective lines and thick hyper-reflective spicules around the incisions and remained stable over time. On spectral-domain OCT, the size and depth of the incisions decreased from the center to the periphery. Visibility of the corneal femtosecond incisions on OCT decreased from day 2 until they almost disappeared at 12 months. The incision angles seemed to curve progressively from the center to the periphery in their deep portion on the peripheral rings. CONCLUSION: Corneal cellular modifications found on HRT, anatomical features, and the sizes of the intrastromal rings, may provide valuable information on this new refractive technique.

[In vivo confocal microscopy evaluation of corneal changes induced after LASIK using the IntraLase femtosecond laser technique]. / Evaluation en microscopie confocale des modifications morphologiques cornéennes induites après LASIK et découpe du volet stromal par laser femtoseconde IntraLase.

PURPOSE: To assess stromal modifications occurring after IntraLase femtosecond laser for laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using the Heidelberg retina tomograph II/Rostock cornea module. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve eyes from six patients were examined using the Heidelberg retina tomograph II cornea module after IntraLase femtosecond laser: ten eyes were examined at 1 week and 2 months after laser surgery, including four eyes examined at day 1, and two eyes examined at day 2. Morphological modifications of the corneal stroma, flap interface, and flap margin were evaluated at these different times and compared with the mechanical microkeratome interfaces of five patients (ten eyes), using the same technique at the same periods after the surgical intervention. RESULTS: Evaluations at days 1 and 7 showed simultaneous depletion and activation of keratocytes on both sides of the interface. We also observed some brightly reflecting particles together with scattered, less bright dots, from day 7 and increasing after 2 months. Some clinically visible deposits at the level of the interface were observed at the periphery of the flap at day 1 and could represent cell-degradation products. With confocal microscopy, they appeared as homogeneous reflective deposits with a larger size than that of particles; they had decreased at month 2. The flap margin appeared microscopically as a very clear-cut edge, including epithelial cells, while those performed with a mechanical microkeratome appeared more like a poorly limited fibrotic scar. We also observed a secondary fibrotic reaction at month 2, adjacent to the still well-defined IntraLase flap edge. CONCLUSION: This study showed substantial morphological similarity between the interfaces obtained with femtosecond laser and mechanical microkeratome. The discovery of brightly reflecting particles in the IntraLase interface goes against the hypothesis of the metallic origin of these deposits. The flap margin microscopically looked extremely well delimited, but seemed to provoke an adjacent secondary fibrotic reaction, both microscopically and macroscopically, greater at 2 months than after a mechanical microkeratome cut.

[ISO 9001-2000 certification for refractive laser treatment]. / Certification ISO 9001-2000 des traitements réfractifs par laser cornéen.

PURPOSE: To obtain ISO 9001-2000 certification for laser corneal refractive treatment, never before sought in Europe. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The consulting firm Veritas led the certification process with the clinic's staff manager. This ISO norm is dedicated to the implementation of a quality management system. We assessed and optimized all necessary resources, evaluating customer satisfaction using patient and referring-physician surveys. We started quality rounds including surgeons, nurses, and technicians. Based on this preparation, we redefined and explained all processes including staff responsibilities and necessary resources in the quality manual. The procedure lasted 14 months with substantial involvement on the part of the management. RESULTS: Unconditional ISO 9001-2000 certification was granted by the independent audit firm, BVQI, in december 2003 for refractive laser treatment. CONCLUSION: The 2000 version of the new ISO 9001-2000 seeks to meet the demand for improving health care delivery in this field, most particularly by establishing a clear procedural orientation. Such certification enhances team work, stabilizes methodologies, and reinforces cohesion and self-audit. Patients notice that the center follows a consistent quality policy and are assured that the clinic respects rules and regulations. Certification is an advantageous alternative when accreditation cannot be considered. Our article discusses the steps taken in upper management, quality management, procedural guidance, as well as customer and staff counselling. It also discusses the project's cost/benefit ratio for the organization.

[Optical biometry of eyes corrected by phakic intraocular lenses]. / Biométrie optique des yeux avec implants phaques.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether eye length measurements obtained with the IOL Master (Zeiss Humphrey) before and after phakic IOL implantation would show any changes. METHODS: In a prospective study, we used the IOL Master to measure optical biometry in 25 myopic eyes of 15 patients before and after phakic IOL implantation (PRL, ICL, Artisan). The differences between both axial length measurements were calculated and compared using a nonparametric Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: The difference between the preoperative and postoperative measurements ranged from -0.16 mm to 0.06 mm and averaged -0.016 mm, which was not statistically significant (p=0.20). Both measurements correlated in a highly positive manner (r=0.999; p<0.0001). The reproducibility of the preoperative and postoperative axial length measurements was very high (coefficient of variation=0.09% and 0.07%, respectively). The precision was 26 microm for preoperative measurements and 19 microm for postoperative measurements. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that postoperative measurements of axial length are highly comparable to preoperative measurements and that optical biometry can achieve highly precise and reliable axial length measurements in eyes with phakic IOLs. This application becomes clinically relevant in evaluating eyes with phakic IOLs that might require cataract surgery. Hence, accurate axial length measurements in eyes with phakic IOLs will be extremely important when cataract occurs in these eyes and when the preoperative measurements are no longer available.

[Ultrasound biomicroscopy of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lenses: a comparative study between ICL and PRL models]. / Biomicroscopie ultrasonore des implants phaques de chambre postérieure: étude comparative des modèles ICL et PRL.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the anatomic relationships of the implantable contact lens (ICL) and the phakic refractive lens (PRL) posterior chamber phakic intraocular lenses (PCP IOL) using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventeen phakic myopic eyes corrected with ICL, and 14 phakic myopic eyes that had had PRL implantation, were examined retrospectively using UBM. The main parameters measured and compared were anterior chamber depth, central and peripheral distance between PCP IOL and the crystalline lens, and exact lens haptic position. RESULTS: The mean distance between the PCP IOL and the central endothelium was 2398+/-203 microm and 2640+/-230 microm in the ICL and PRL groups, respectively. The central vault between the implant and the crystalline lens was greater in eyes with ICL (ICL, 402+/-194 microm; PRL, 256+/-187 microm, p<0.05). However, the incidence of lens contact on the peripheral level was higher in the ICL group (41%) than in the PRL group (29%), and the difference between the two implants in the peripheral crystalline lens-PCP IOL distance was significant (p<0.05). Both IOL haptics appeared to be correctly positioned in the sulcus in 13 (76%) eyes of the ICL group, and on the zonule in eight eyes (57%) of the PRL group. CONCLUSIONS: PCP IOL implantation is a safe procedure for the correction of high myopia with regard to refractive results. UBM provides a unique tool to noninvasively evaluate the relations of these implants within the posterior chamber, and helps to analyze the mechanisms of crystalline lens and iris complications.

Surgically induced astigmatism with superior and temporal incisions in cases of with-the-rule preoperative astigmatism.

PURPOSE: To evaluate surgically induced astigmatism (SIA), postoperative astigmatism, and uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) after cataract surgery with superior corneal, superior scleral, and temporal corneal 4.0 mm sutureless incisions in cases of preoperative with-the-rule (WTR) astigmatism. SETTING: Hopital des Quinze-Vingts, Paris, France. METHODS: This prospective evaluation included patients having phacoemulsification with foldable lens implantation through a 4.0 mm incision. Patients with preoperative WTR astigmatism were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 incisions: superior corneal (Group 1), superior scleral (Group 2), or temporal corneal (Group 3). All patients had autokeratometry preoperatively and postoperatively (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year). Surgically induced astigmatism using the vector method, postoperative astigmatism, and UCVA (patients whose spherical equivalent was with +/- 1 diopter) were evaluated. RESULTS: Ninety patients were included in the study; there were 30 in each incision group. One year postoperatively, Group 1 had 1.52 diopters (D) of SIA and 1.36 D of postoperative astigmatism; 53.5% of patients had a UCVA of 20/32 or better, Group 2 had 0.69 D of SIA (P < .05) and 0.67 D of postoperative astigmatism (P < .05); 82.7% of patients had a UCVA of 20/32 or better (P < .05). Group 3 had 0.69 D (P > .05), 0.98 D (P < .05), and 79.3% (P > .05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the superior corneal incision produced significant SIA, leading to high postoperative astigmatism and poor UCVA. The scleral and temporal incisions produced minimal SIA and good UCVA.

Sub-Tenon's anaesthesia: an efficient and safe technique.

AIM: To evaluate sub-Tenon's anaesthesia as an alternative to peribulbar anaesthesia. METHODS: 109 consecutive patients listed for various eye operations (including cataract, trabeculectomy, and vitrectomy) under peribulbar anaesthesia were operated on under sub-Tenon's anaesthesia instead. After topical anaesthesia a buttonhole was fashioned through the conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule 10 mm posterior to the limbus. 1.5 ml of lignocaine 2% was then delivered to the posterior sub-Tenon's space using a blunt cannula. The surgical procedure was performed immediately after the completion of the anaesthetic procedure. Chemosis, conjunctival haemorrhage, degree of akinesia, and pain scoring were analysed. RESULTS: There were no anaesthesia related complications. The administration of the block was painless for 99.1% of the patients. In all, 97.3% reported no pain during surgery. There was no akinesia when assessed just after the completion of the block and akinesia was limited when assessed after surgery. Chemosis and conjunctival haemorrhage were frequent but caused no intraoperative problems. CONCLUSION: Sub-Tenon's anaesthesia is an efficient and safe anaesthetic technique. It is a good alternative to peribulbar anaesthesia.