Risk factors for corneal graft rejection after penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between donor-related factors and the risk of rejection in patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) for keratoconus. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of keratoconus patients with no corneal neovascularization who underwent PKP from November 2014 to December 2016 and completed at least two years of follow-up. Preoperative, donor, operative, and postoperative data were collected and analyzed to identify factors leading to corneal graft rejection. RESULTS: A total of 201 eyes (of 201 patients) that underwent PKP for keratoconus were included. Of these, 22.9% (95% CI 17.6-29.2%) had an episode of graft rejection. The overall graft survival rate was 98.5%. Receipts with a history of corneal transplant in the fellow eye (IRR 1.69, 95% CI 1.01, 2.80; p = 0.044) and those with postoperative stromal neovascularization (IRR 2.51, 95% CI 1.49, 4.21; p = 0.001) had a significantly higher incidence of rejection than those without these features. In univariate analysis, death-to-surgery time and death-to-excision time (DET) showed a weak association with graft rejection (p 0.05 and 0.08 respectively); However, in the multivariable analysis, this significance was lost. Grafts with a death-to-excision time (DET) greater than 8 h had a 0.53X lower risk of rejection compared with grafts with DET within 8 h or less (p = 0.05). Rejection was higher in patients receiving grafts with a preservation time within 7 days or less compared with preservation time greater than 7 days (30.6% vs. 21.2%, respectively, p = 0.291). CONCLUSION: In the multivariable analysis, none of the donor-related factors were significantly associated with graft rejection; however, short death-to-surgery time may be associated with rejection after PKP. Recipients with a history of PKP in the fellow eye and those who developed corneal neovascularization were also at increased risk of developing rejection after keratoplasty.

Clinical features differentiating intratarsal keratinous cyst from chalazion.

PURPOSE: To present the differentiating clinical findings between intratarsal keratinous cyst (IKC) and chalazion. METHOD: A retrospective review of medical records of all patients who presented between 2010 and 2018 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital with proven histopathological diagnosis of IKC was done. Complete ophthalmologic evaluation at presentation, surgical procedures performed, complications, histopathological findings, response to treatment and follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: Twelve patients were found to have IKC. All patients presented with an eyelid mass with no signs of local inflammation. All lesions were fixed to the tarsus with freely mobile overlying skin, which was found to be slightly pale compared to the surrounding skin in six patients. On palpation, IKC had well-defined boarders. Isolation with clear surgical plane for cyst excision was achieved in nine patients as they were superficially involving the tarsus. When IKC involved the deep part of the tarsus, bluish/ whitish nodules were seen upon eyelid eversion. Six patients were misdiagnosed and surgically treated as a chalazion elsewhere prior to presentation to us with recurrence. CONCLUSION: Differentiating IKC from chalazion can be challenging. Careful clinical evaluation helps reaching the right diagnosis and providing the correct treatment, which involves complete excision of IKC to prevent recurrence.

Tarsal-related cysts: Different diagnoses with similar presentations.

PURPOSE: To study different tarsal cysts that share similar presentations and are commonly misdiagnosed clinically as a chalazion. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical charts of all consecutive patients who presented eyelid tarsal-related pathology that needed surgical excision between 2010 and 2016 to a tertiary hospital was done. The data collected included preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative observations. Complete ophthalmologic examination at presentation, surgical procedures needed, complications, histopathological findings, response to treatment and follow-ups were recorded. RESULTS: Out of 850 patients who had an eyelid tarsal-related pathology, ten patients were found to have an eyelid cystic lesion related to the tarsus. All patients presented with an eyelid mass with no sign of local inflammation. All lesions were fixed to the tarsus with freely mobile overlying skin. Five patients had a recurrent lesion that was misdiagnosed and surgically treated as a chalazion. All patients underwent a surgical removal of these cysts, and a histopathological examination was performed. An intratarsal keratinous cyst was found in six patients and epithelial inclusion cyst was in one patient. Two patients found to have cystic structure lined by double cuboidal epithelium with numerous goblet cells consistent with benign lacrimal duct cyst (Dacryops). CONCLUSION: Cysts related to the tarsal plate could have similar presentations. Careful clinical evaluation and histopathological examination play an important role in giving the right diagnosis and in providing the appropriate management.