Corneal perforation from peripheral ulcerative keratopathy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: epidemiological findings of the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study quantifies the threat to vision and the survival in patients presenting with peripheral ulcerative keratopathy (PUK) corneal perforation associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the UK. METHODS: New cases of corneal perforation from PUK in patients with RA were prospectively collected from the UK via the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit from July 2012 to June 2014. An initial questionnaire collected data on presentation and the first 2 weeks' management, and a follow-up questionnaire collected 1-year data on ocular morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: 30 eyes of 28 patients were identified over 2 years, estimating a UK incidence of 0.234/million/year. 20/27 (74%) were female, with a median age of 68 years (range 41-84). The most common initial management was cyanoacrylate glue with a bandage contact lens, oral steroids, topical and oral antibiotics, and lubricants. Long-term management included corneal grafting in 12/20 (60%) eyes of patients living at 1 year. The 1-year all-cause mortality was 6/25 (24%), which increased to 1/2 (50%) if both eyes had perforated. In the remaining patients alive at 1-year follow-up, there was a 13/20 (65%) poor visual outcome of less than or equal to counting fingers. 8/25 (40%) patients had bilateral PUK, with 2/25 (8%) having bilateral perforation. 5/19 (26%) patients alive at 1-year follow-up were eligible for sight impairment registration. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the serious ocular morbidity and high mortality associated with corneal perforation from PUK in patients with RA despite treatment. The mortality doubled if both eyes perforated, which should serve as a harbinger of impending serious medical problems.

Field-wide meta-analyses of observational associations can map selective availability of risk factors and the impact of model specifications.

OBJECTIVES: Instead of evaluating one risk factor at a time, we illustrate the utility of "field-wide meta-analyses" in considering all available data on all putative risk factors of a disease simultaneously. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We identified studies on putative risk factors of pterygium (surfer's eye) in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. We mapped which factors were considered, reported, and adjusted for in each study. For each putative risk factor, four meta-analyses were done using univariate only, multivariate only, preferentially univariate, or preferentially multivariate estimates. RESULTS: A total of 2052 records were screened to identify 60 eligible studies reporting on 65 putative risk factors. Only 4 of 60 studies reported both multivariate and univariate regression analyses. None of the 32 studies using multivariate analysis adjusted for the same set of risk factors. Effect sizes from different types of regression analyses led to significantly different summary effect sizes (P-value < 0.001). Observed heterogeneity was very high for both multivariate (median I(2), 76.1%) and univariate (median I(2), 85.8%) estimates. No single study investigated all 11 risk factors that were statistically significant in at least one of our meta-analyses. CONCLUSION: Field-wide meta-analyses can map availability of risk factors and trends in modeling, adjustments and reporting, as well as the impact of differences in model specification.

New light for old eyes: comparing melanopsin-mediated non-visual benefits of blue-light and UV-blocking intraocular lenses.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Melanopsin-expressing photosensitive retinal ganglion cells form a blue-light-sensitive non-visual system mediating diverse physiological effects including circadian entrainment and cognitive alertness. Reduced blue wavelength retinal illumination through cataract formation is thought to blunt these responses while cataract surgery and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation have been shown to have beneficial effects on sleep and cognition. We aimed to use the reaction time (RT) task and the Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS) as a validated objective platform to compare non-visual benefits of UV- and blue-blocking IOLs. METHODS: Patients were prospectively randomised to receive either a UV- or blue-blocking IOL, performing an RT test and ESS questionnaire before and after surgery. Optical blurring at the second test controlled for visual improvement. Non-operative age-matched controls were recruited for comparison. RESULTS: 80 participants completed the study. Those undergoing first-eye phacoemulsification demonstrated significant improvements in RT over control (p=0.001) and second-eye surgery patients (p=0.03). Moreover, reduced daytime sleepiness was measured by ESS for the first-eye surgery group (p=0.008) but not for the second-eye group (p=0.09). Choice of UV- or blue-blocking IOL made no significant difference to magnitude of cognitive improvement (p=0.272). CONCLUSIONS: Phacoemulsification, particularly first-eye surgery, has a strong positive effect on cognition and daytime alertness, regardless of IOL type.

Xerophthalmia because of dietary-induced vitamin a deficiency in a young Scottish man.

Vitamin A deficiency causing xerophthalmia, although a major public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa, is rarely seen in people living in developed countries. In such cases, it is usually associated with severe malnutrition caused by intestinal disorders, such as celiac disease, pancreatitis, or extensive bowel surgery. Dietary-induced vitamin A deficiency leading to xerophthalmia has rarely been reported in the United Kingdom. In this case, we report on a young man who presented with corneal xerosis and whose history of corneal ulceration had not been linked to his restricted diet, which resulted in vitamin A deficiency. Unlike other cases, this young man had no history of psychiatric illness and led a normal active lifestyle.

SmartPlug versus silicone punctal plug therapy for dry eye: a prospective randomized trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy, retention rates, and complications of SmartPlug insertion compared with silicone punctal plugs in patients with dry eye. METHODS: Thirty-six eyes with subjective symptoms of dry eye in addition to a tear film breakup time (TBUT) <5 seconds and evidence of ocular surface damage on rose Bengal or fluorescein staining were included. Treated eyes were randomized to either a silicone plug or SmartPlug inferior punctal occlusion. Pre- and posttreatment evaluations included subjective symptom scoring, tear meniscus height, TBUT, Schirmer test, fluorescein and rose Bengal staining, and artificial tear use. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 11.2 weeks, both the silicone plug- and SmartPlug-treated eyes showed significant improvement in symptom scoring (P = 0.002 and P = 0.005, respectively), TBUT (P = 0.035 and P = 0.009, respectively), and fluorescein (P = 0.024 and P = 0.016, respectively) and rose Bengal (P = 0.008 and P = 0.046, respectively) staining. There was no significant difference in these parameters between the 2 plugs. SmartPlug-, but not the silicone plug-treated eyes showed significant improvement in mean tear meniscus height (P = 0.037). The use of artificial tear supplements was reduced in 10 (55.6%) silicone- and 11 (61.1%) SmartPlug-treated eyes. Minor complications related to plug insertion were experienced in 4 (22%) silicone- and 2 (11%) SmartPlug-treated eyes. Spontaneous plug loss occurred with 6 (33%) silicone plugs. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective randomized trial shows that SmartPlug insertion has equivalent clinical efficacy to the use of conventional silicone plugs. Both SmartPlug and silicone plug use can reduce dependency on tear supplements in >55% of patients with dry eye.

Opinions on risk factors and management of corneal graft rejection in the United kingdom.

PURPOSE: To determine the opinions regarding risk factors and practice preferences for corneal graft rejection by members of the Bowman Club (UK) and to compare them with those of members of the Castroviejo Society (USA). METHODS: A questionnaire was sent in 1999 to members of the Bowman Club (UK), who were responsible for two thirds of all corneal grafts undertaken annually. The survey included 8 questions identical to those given to members of the Castroviejo Society (USA) in a survey carried out in 1989. RESULTS: Thirty-six out of 40 surgeons replied. Factors considered by respondents to be high risk for corneal graft rejection were previous corneal graft rejection in the operated eye (97%), significant corneal vessels (97%), and previous herpetic eye disease (94%). The preferred routine preoperative treatment in "high-risk" patients included no treatment (47%), topical corticosteroids (33%), and oral prednisolone (22%). In postoperative "high-risk" patients, 100% of surgeons used topical and 42% used oral corticosteroids. Immune suppression agents were used by 44% of respondents, the majority (92%) using cyclosporine A. In previous herpes simplex patients, 47% of surgeons used oral and 14% used topical antivirals preoperatively, whereas 75% used oral and 47% used topical postoperatively. CONCLUSION: This study documents the perceived risk factors and management of corneal graft rejection by corneal surgeons in the UK. It showed wide variation in practice preferences, allowing individual surgeons a comparison with peer practice. It highlights the need for greater use of postoperative antiviral prophylaxis in the presence of previous herpetic corneal pathology.