Insertion of a bandage contact lens with Minims.

PURPOSE: To describe a new technique for the insertion of a bandage contact lens with the help of sterile Minims. METHODS: The bandage contact lens is picked up with the nozzle of the Minims by suction. The lens is then taken to the patient, placed on the cornea, and released by breaking the vacuum. RESULTS: Examination of the contact lens under the microscope after insertion showed no damage. CONCLUSIONS: Insertion of a bandage contact lens with Minims is a nontouch, inexpensive, easy, and patient-friendly method. It can reduce the risk of infection in already compromised eyes.

Foreign body episcleral granulomas complicating intravitreal silicone oil tamponade: a clinicopathological study.

PURPOSE: To report two patients with lipid granulomas of the episclera complicating vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade. DESIGN: Two observational case reports. INTERVENTION: Patient 1, a 41-year-old woman, underwent vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Four weeks later, she sought treatment for inflamed episcleral nodules adjacent to one of the sclerostomy sites. The oil was removed and the episcleral nodules were excised. Patient 2, a 33-year-old man, underwent vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade for tractional retinal detachment. He experienced a painful blind eye with episcleral nodule that required enucleation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: On histopathological analysis, both specimens demonstrated episcleral granulomas caused by silicone oil. CONCLUSIONS: Episcleral nodules adjacent to vitrectomy entry sites with silicone oil tamponade may represent lipid granulomas, probably caused by silicone oil leakage from scleral entry ports.

Preventing intraocular pressure increase after phacoemulsification and the role of perioperative apraclonidine.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic topical apraclonidine 1% in preventing an intraocular pressure (IOP) rise in the early period after uneventful phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. SETTING: District general hospital, United Kingdom. METHODS: In this prospective masked randomized trial, 61 patients had elective, routine, corneal tunnel, sutureless phacoemulsification with in-the-bag foldable IOL implantation. A single surgeon operated on all the patients. Patients were randomized to receive topical apraclonidine 1% eyedrops (n = 31) or artificial tears (control group, n = 30) 1 hour preoperatively and at the end of the surgery. An observer masked to the perioperative drops used measured the IOP preoperatively and 3 to 6 hours and 16 to 24 hours postoperatively. The primary outcome was the change in IOP between the baseline and the 2 postoperative intervals. The IOP changes within and between the groups were analyzed using the t test and chi-square test. RESULTS: The changes between the postoperative and preoperative IOPs in the study groups were statistically significant (apraclonidine, P = 0.018 and P = 0.007, respectively; artificial tears, P = 0.028 and P = 0.023, respectively; paired t test). There was no significant difference in the postoperative IOP between the apraclonidine and control groups 3 to 6 hours and 16 to 24 hours postoperatively (P = 0.717 and P = 0.497, respectively; independent t test). The mean difference was 0.2 mm Hg (95% confidence interval [CI], -3.4 to 3.1) in the apraclonidine group and 2.2 mm Hg (95% CI, -2.5 to 7.0) in the control group. In each group, a few patients had an IOP greater than 30 mm Hg in the first 24 hours. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic topical perioperative apraclonidine 1% did not cause a significant reduction in the postoperative IOP when compared with a control group.