Human MPox (Monkeypox) Virus Membranous Keratoconjunctivitis With Transient Corneal Hypoesthesia and Late Symblepharon Formation: A Novel Case and Clinical Implications.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe a case of corneal involvement as an early manifestation of ocular disease in the 2022 human mpox (monkeypox) virus outbreak. METHODS: This is a single case report with longitudinal care. RESULTS: A 47-year-old immunocompetent man presented with viral conjunctivitis before development of skin lesions or systemic symptoms. Subsequently, he developed membranous keratoconjunctivitis and a corneal epithelial defect. Orthopoxvirus-positive polymerase chain reaction test from his ocular surface was positive. The epithelial defect did not heal with conservative treatment but was successfully treated with amniotic membrane transplantation over 8 days. Reduced corneal sensation was noted after epithelial healing, and polymerase chain reaction from the ocular surface remained positive at 17 days from symptom onset, with slowly recovering conjunctivitis at 21 days. Continued membrane formation required repeated removal but significantly improved with topical corticosteroid treatment after epithelial healing by 29 days of symptom onset. Corneal sensation normalized by 87 days from symptom onset at which time symblepharon were noted but PCR testing from the ocular surface was negative. CONCLUSIONS: Early corneal involvement of human monkeypox virus is possible. Transient corneal hypoesthesia may be due to acute inflammation. Chronic inflammatory changes can result in symblepharon. These findings have potential implications in patient care and corneal donation.

Assistive applications of artificial intelligence in ophthalmology.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Assistive (nonautonomous) artificial intelligence (AI) models designed to support (rather than function independently of) clinicians have received increasing attention in medicine. This review aims to highlight several recent developments in these models over the past year and their ophthalmic implications. RECENT FINDINGS: Artificial intelligence models with a diverse range of applications in ophthalmology have been reported in the literature over the past year. Many of these systems have reported high performance in detection, classification, prognostication, and/or monitoring of retinal, glaucomatous, anterior segment, and other ocular pathologies. SUMMARY: Over the past year, developments in AI have been made that have implications affecting ophthalmic surgical training and refractive outcomes after cataract surgery, therapeutic monitoring of disease, disease classification, and prognostication. Many of these recently developed models have obtained encouraging results and have the potential to serve as powerful clinical decision-making tools pending further external validation and evaluation of their generalizability.