Aniridia and the ocular surface: Medical and surgical problems and solutions.

Congenital aniridia is a multisystemic genetic disease due to a mutation in PAX6 gene which severely affects the development and functionality of the human eyes. In patients affected by the mutation, aside from the absence or defects of iris tissue formation, abnormalities in position or opacities of the crystalline lens, macular hypoplasia, ocular surface disease is the main cause of visual loss and the deterioration of the quality of life of most patients. Limbal stem cell deficiency combined with tear film instability and secondary dry eye cause aniridic keratopathy which, in advanced stages, ends up in corneal opacification. In this paper, the actual knowledge about congenital aniridia keratopathy physiopathology and medical and surgical treatment options and their efficacy are discussed. Indications and results of topical treatments with artificial tears and blood-derivatives in its initial stages, and different surgical techniques as limbal stem cell transplantation, keratoplasty and keratoprostheses are reviewed. Finally, recent advances and results in regenerative medicine techniques with ex vivo stem cell cultivation or other types of cultivated cells are presented.

Desenlaces en pacientes operados con queratoprótesis boston tipo 1 en un centro oftalmológico especializado en la ciudad de Medellín / Outcomes in patients with boston type 1 keratoprosthesis in a specialized center in Medellín

Objetivo: reportar las características y descenlaces de pacientes con queratoprótesis Boston tipo 1. Diseño: estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal. Método: se incluyeron los pacientes operados con queratoprótesis Boston tipo 1 residentes en Colombia, mayores de 17 años, sin queratoprótesis previas y que tuviera más de 6 meses de seguimiento, para un total de 39 ojos de 39 pacientes. La cirugía se indicó en los casos con o sin queratoplastia previa que tuvieran agudeza visual (AV) igual o inferior a cuenta dedos y déficit de limbo bilateral o vascularización corneal profunda en más de 3 cuadrantes. Se recolectó y analizó la información de la historia clínica en forma retrospectiva y prospectiva. Las variables principales fueron: agudeza visual, retención del dispositivo y complicaciones. Se realizó un análisis univariado presentando los resultados en frecuencias absolutas y porcentajes para las variables categóricas y para las variables cuantitativas como promedio y desviación estándar (DE) si tienen distribución normal o como mediana y rango intercuartil si no tienen distribución normal. Resultados: La mediana de seguimiento fue de 53.5 meses (rango 6 meses a 10 años). La mayoría de pacientes (66.7%) habían tenido previamente queratoplastia penetrante. El diagnóstico de base fue en 53.8% condiciones no inflamatorias yen 46.2% condiciones inflamatorias. La AV preoperatoria en todos los ojos estaba entre percepción de luz y cuenta dedos; posterior a la cirugía el 97.4% tuvieron mejoría de la AV. Para el fi nal del seguimiento la AV permaneció mejor que la preoperatoria en 53.8%, fue igual a esta en 17.94% y peor que esta en 28.2%. Hubo necrosis periprostética en 28.2%, y 38.5% tuvieron recambio del dispositivo. Al final del seguimiento 89.7% de los pacientes tenían una queratoprótesis in-situ. Conclusión: la queratoprótesis Boston tipo 1 es una opción viable para mejorar la AV en pacientes con trasplantes de córnea fallidos o en quienes se prevé alta tasa de fallo o rechazo de este. En la gran mayoría de los pacientes se logra mejoría inicial significativa de la AV, la cual se mantiene al final del seguimiento en más de la mitad de ellos. Refinamientos progresivos en la técnica quirúrgica y el manejo postoperatorio disminuirán las complicaciones que llevan a la perdida visual progresiva

Purpose: to report characteristics and outcomes in patients with Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis. Design: observational descriptive cross-sectional study. Method: Patients with Boston type 1 queratoprosthesis who were living in Colombia, 17 years or older, without previous keratoprosthesis and with more than 6 months follow up were included, for a fi nal of 39 eyes from 39 patients. Surgery was indicated for those with or without previous keratoplasty who had visual acuity (VA) of counting fi ngers or worse and bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency or deep corneal vascularization in more than 3 quadrants. Information was collected retrospectively and prospectively from medical registries and was analyzed. Main variables were: visual acuity, device retention and complications. An univariate analysis was conducted and results are presented in absolute frequencies and percentages for categoric variables and for quantitative variables in average and standard deviation (SD) if they have normal distribution and in median and interquartile range if they do not have normal distribution. Results: Median follow up was 53.5 months (range 6 months to 10 years). Most patients (66.7%) had previous penetrating keratoplasty. Baseline diagnoses were in 53.8% non-infl ammatory conditions and in 46.2% inflammatory conditions. Preoperative VA ranged between light perception and counting fingers in all eyes; aft er surgery 97.4% had improvement in VA. By the end of follow up VA remained better than preoperative in 53.8%, was the same as preoperative in 17.94% and worse than preoperative in 28.2%. There was periprosthetic necrosis in 28.2%, and 38.5% had keratoprothesis exchange. At the end of follow up 89.7% of patients had a keratoprosthesis in-situ. Conclusion: Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis is a viable option to improve VA in patients with previously failed corneal transplants or in cases that anticipate bad prognosis for keratoplasty. In most patients there was a signifi cant initial improvement in vision, and more than half of them retained better than initial VA on their last follow up. Further refinements in surgical technique and postoperative care would decrease complications that lead to progressive visual loss.

Mooren's ulcer: 30 years of follow-up. / Úlcera de Mooren: 30 años de seguimiento.

CASE REPORT: A 33-year-old Caucasian female presented with epiphora, ocular pain, and foreign body sensation in both eyes for one month. Examination revealed bilateral peripheral corneal ulcers. The patient had been treated with immunomodulators, and she was treated in the left eye with peripheral semi-circular keratoplasty, penetrating keratoplasty, conjunctival-corneal-scleroplasty, buccal mucosal graft, tibial osteo-keratoprosthesis and finally, retinal detachment. DISCUSSION: Mooren's ulcer is an immunological corneal disease. This lesion must be treated initially with immunomodulators. Surgical treatment should be considered when a risk of corneal perforation is present, when the perforation appears, or under acute necrosis.