ULTRA-WIDEFIELD IMAGING OF POSTERIOR SEGMENT PATHOLOGY IN THE SETTING OF THE BOSTON KERATOPROSTHESIS.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability to visualize and document posterior segment pathology through the Boston keratoprosthesis (KPro) using the Optos P200Tx ultra-widefield (UWF) scanning laser ophthalmoscope. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients who underwent Boston Type I keratoprosthesis implantation and who subsequently were imaged with an UWF system. Ultra-widefield images were reviewed to evaluate for vitreoretinal pathology and were compared with the clinical examination. RESULTS: In this series of 10 patients (10 eyes), 100% of vitreoretinal pathology found on clinical examination was detectable using the Optos system. In 4 cases (40%), UWF imaging provided superior detection of pathology compared with the clinical examination by imaging through retroprosthetic membranes (3 cases) and by detection of a retinal detachment (one case). In 1 case (10%), B-scan ultrasonography was needed to characterize vitreoretinal pathology that could not be definitively distinguished on UWF imaging and was difficult to detect on clinical examination. Ultra-widefield imaging detected the following vitreoretinal pathologies in KPro eyes: retinal hemorrhage, epiretinal membrane, retinal detachment, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and choroidal folds. CONCLUSION: Ultra-widefield imaging provides a high-resolution view of the posterior pole and periphery despite the limitations of imaging through the narrow optic of Boston Type I keratoprosthesis, and it may improve visualization through retroprosthetic membranes. Detection and documentation of vitreoretinal complications in the setting of a permanent keratoprosthesis may be enhanced using UWF imaging.

Clinical Experience With PROSE Fitting: Significance of Diagnosis and Age.

OBJECTIVE: To compare ease of adoption of the BostonSight Prosthetic Replacement of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem device, a custom-fit scleral lens, by patients in different age and diagnosis groups. METHODS: In this prospective study, patients were categorized by age as younger than 60 or 60 years and older and by diagnosis as corneal irregularity (CI) or ocular surface disease (OSD). Ease of adoption of the scleral device was assessed by (1) number of devices and visits required to complete the fitting process, (2) time needed for device insertion and removal, (3) adaptation to the device, as assessed by daily wear time and by time needed to achieve full-time wear (defined as 8 hours per day), and (4) patients' subjective rating of ease of device insertion and removal. The length of the fitting process was also assessed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the number of devices and visits needed between age group younger than 60 and age group of 60 and older or between CI and OSD groups. Patients in all groups achieved full-time wear in less than 2 weeks. Average wear time per week did not differ significantly between age or diagnosis groups. Similarly, the time needed for daily insertion and removal during the fitting period, as well as patients' subjective rating of ease of device insertion and removal, did not differ between age or diagnosis categories. The length of the fitting process was significantly longer in the OSD group compared with the CI group (P<0.001); however, factors not related to ease of adoption of the scleral device may be responsible for this difference. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in both younger and older patient groups adopted the use of a scleral device with equal ease, as did patients in the CI and OSD diagnosis groups.

Validation of endothelin B receptor antibodies reveals two distinct receptor-related bands on Western blot.

Antibodies are important tools for the study of protein expression but are often used without full validation. In this study, we used Western blots to characterize antibodies targeted to the N or C terminal (NT or CT, respectively) and the second or third intracellular loop (IL2 or IL3, respectively) of the endothelin B receptor (ETB). The IL2-targeted antibody accurately detected endogenous ETB expression in rat brain and cultured rat astrocytes by labeling a 50-kDa band, the expected weight of full-length ETB. However, this antibody failed to detect transfected ETB in HEK293 cultures. In contrast, the NT-targeted antibody accurately detected endogenous ETB in rat astrocyte cultures and transfected ETB in HEK293 cultures by labeling a 37-kDa band but failed to detect endogenous ETB in rat brain. Bands detected by the CT- or IL3-targeted antibody were found to be unrelated to ETB. Our findings show that functional ETB can be detected at 50 or 37kDa on Western blot, with drastic differences in antibody affinity for these bands. The 37-kDa band likely reflects ETB processing, which appears to be dependent on cell type and/or culture condition.

Eccentrically Punched Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Grafts Expand the Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Donor Pool: One Eye Bank's Reappraisal of the Central Clear Zone Convention.

PURPOSE: To ascertain whether offsetting the Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) punch can expand the donor pool in conjunction with prepunched and preloaded services by recapturing the corneas otherwise excluded by the conventional central clear zone criteria. METHODS: In this retrospective review of corneas recovered and processed for DMEK by a single eye bank between March 2017 and October 2018, corneas failing to meet the conventional central clear zone requirement during initial evaluation (defined as an area in the central cornea where an 7.5- to 8.0-mm diameter graft can be obtained free of previous surgical scars, Descemet tears, or confined areas of endothelial defects) were further evaluated for offset punching. Corneas with a central endothelial cell density of at least 2000 cells/mm at the initial screening (average of 3 specular images assessed with the center dot method) that had a clear zone of 7.5- to 8.0-mm diameter where a graft could be obtained were designated as eligible for offset punching for either prepunched or preloaded DMEK. RESULTS: A total of 2607 corneas were found to be suitable for DMEK using the conventional central clear zone criteria. An additional 62 corneas were deemed DMEK suitable by offsetting the punch, yielding a 2.4% increase in the availability of DMEK suitable corneas. CONCLUSIONS: Offsetting the DMEK punch can recapture corneas otherwise excluded from the DMEK donor pool because of a failure to meet the conventional central clear zone criteria, and by our estimation may help eye banks meet the growing demand for DMEK tissue while maximizing the transplant potential of every cornea.

Clinical Utility of Ultra-Widefield Imaging with the Optos Optomap Compared with Indirect Ophthalmoscopy in the Setting of Non-Traumatic Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical utility of ultra-widefield imaging as an adjunctive tool in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of eyes with non-traumatic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of patients with a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who received ultra-widefield imaging with the Optos® Optomap® P200Tx. Comparisons were made between UWF imaging and indirect ophthalmoscopy for features of detachments, including extent of detachment, holes, retinopexy, and related pathology. RESULTS: Thirty-six eyes of 34 patients were included. Preoperatively, ultra-widefield imaging more precisely documented the extent of retinal detachments in the superior, inferior, and nasal quadrants in 13.9% of cases. Ultra-widefield imaging failed to detect retinal holes in the superior and inferior quadrants in 11.1% and 19.4% of cases, respectively. In postoperative imaging, UWF photos did not detect retinopexy which was ophthalmoscopy-visible both superiorly and inferiorly in 19.4% of cases. The mean differences in clock hours of the detachments as documented on the clinical exam compared to ultra-widefield imaging in the superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal quadrants were -0.18 ± 0.84, 0.41 ± 1.16, 0.08 ± 1.08, and -0.13 ± 2.25 hours, respectively. CONCLUSION: Ultra-widefield imaging is a useful adjunct for documentation of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments and their postoperative repair. However, detection of retinal holes, tears, and postoperative scarring is poor, especially in the inferior and superior periphery.

Corneal nerve structure and function after long-term wear of fluid-filled scleral lens.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether long-term wear of a fluid-filled scleral lens alters basal tear production, corneal sensation, corneal nerve density, and corneal nerve morphology in 2 disease categories. METHODS: Patients recruited from the Prosthetic Replacement of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem (PROSE) treatment program at the Weill Cornell Medical College were categorized into 2 groups: distorted corneas (DC) or ocular surface disease (OSD). We measured tear production, central corneal sensation, subbasal nerve density and tortuosity, and stromal nerve thickness before and after long-term wear of the prosthetic device used in PROSE treatment, defined as at least 60 days of wear for a minimum of 8 hours a day. RESULTS: Twenty patients were included in the study. After long-term wear of the prosthetic device, tear production decreased in patients with DC (21.2 ± 8.5 to 10.4 ± 4.6 mm; P < 0.0001) but did not change in patients with OSD (7.5 ± 5.2 to 8.7 ± 7.2 mm; P = 0.71). Corneal sensation increased in the DC group (45.6 ± 9.2 to 55.0 ± 5.6 mm; P < 0.05). There was no significant change in sensation in patients with OSD (45.0 ± 8.7 to 49.1 ± 14.8 mm; P = 0.37). Subbasal nerve density, subbasal nerve tortuosity, and stromal nerve thickness remained unchanged in both DC and OSD groups after long-term wear (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with DC had significantly reduced basal tear production and increased corneal sensation after long-term wear of the scleral lens, but patients with OSD did not show any changes in tear production or corneal sensation.