Clinical Aspects of Phlyctenular Keratoconjunctivitis Using a Tear Film Interferometer

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical findings in phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis patients and assess the function and morphology of Meibomian glands using an interferometer (LipiView®, TearScience, Morrisville, NC, USA) in such patients.METHODS: This retrospective study included 19 eyes of 13 patients diagnosed with phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis. The lipid layer thickness (LLT) and meibograph of each eye was quantified by tear interferometry. Tear film break-up time (TBUT) and corneal staining score were measured. Meibomian gland morphology (lid margin vascularity, plugging of gland orifices, lid margin irregularity, lid margin thickening, and partial glands) was evaluated based on anterior photographs and meibographs.RESULTS: The mean age was 21.3 years (8–44 years). Mean BUT and Oxford corneal staining scores were 2.6 ± 1.2 seconds and 1.9 ± 0.8, respectively. Abnormal findings of the Meibomian glands were observed in all patients. The mean LLT was 79.6 ± 27.4 µm and the incomplete eye blinking frequency was 3.8 ± 5.9 during 20 seconds. The graphs of the tear lipid layer showed various patterns such as flat, up-hill, down-hill, and mixed.CONCLUSIONS: Meibomian gland dysfunctions and changes in the tear film lipid layer were noted in patients with phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis. These factors are to be considered for the treatment of phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis in young patients under 10 years of age.

Two Cases of Corneal Neovascularization Improved by Electrocauterization and Subconjunctival Bevacizumab Injection

PURPOSE: To report an experience of improving symptoms through treatment with electrocauterization and subconjunctival bevacizumab injection in two patients with keratitis accompanied by corneal neovascularization and opacity. CASE SUMMARY: (Case 1) A 20-year-old woman visited our institution complaining of binocular blurred vision and congestion for the previous 3 years. Her best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.07 in the right eye and 0.4 in the left eye (Han Chun-suk visual acuity chart, decimal). The diagnosis was bilateral rosacea keratitis. Antibiotics, steroid eye drops and oral antibiotics were administered, but no improvement was observed. Electrocauterization was performed at the origin of the neovascularization of the cornea and bevacizumab was injected at the peripheral subconjunctiva in the right eye. Thereafter the corneal neovascularization did not recur, corneal opacity was reduced, and BCVA improved to 0.5. (Case 2) A 19-year-old woman visited complaining of left eye congestion for the previous 3 years. Her BCVA was 1.0 in the right eye and 0.08 in the left eye.The diagnosis was phlyctenular keratitis of the left eye. Antibiotics, steroid eye drops and oral antibiotics were administered, but no improvement was observed. Therefore, electrocauterization and subconjunctival bevacizumab injection were performed in the cornea of the left eye, after which corneal neovascularization and opacity decreased. CONCLUSIONS: In these cases, we report improvement of symptoms after treatment with electrocauterization and subconjunctival bevacizumab injection after failed treatment of palpebral sanitation, antibiotic and steroid.

Analysis of Clinical Characteristics in Phlyctenular Keratoconjunctivitis at a Tertiary Center

PURPOSE: To report the clinical characteristics of patients with phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis at a tertiary care center in Korea. METHODS: The authors of the present study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 26 patients who were diagnosed with phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, identifying the age and sex at diagnosis, diagnosis of the referring clinic, laterality and location of the lesions, the results of bacterial cultures from the meibum, and treatment options. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (76.2%) were female, and the mean age at diagnosis was 18.4 +/- 10.5 years. Nine patients (34.6%) showed evidence of bilateral diseases, and corneal lesions were observed in 27 eyes of 21 patients. Bacterial cultures from the meibum were performed for 17 patients, with the following results: 6 cases of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 4 cases of Corynebacterium species, and 1 case of Propionibacterium acne. Neovascularization with corneal phlyctenules occurred from the inferior quadrant mostly. Twenty-four patients received the remission treatment of prednisolone acetate 1% eye drops and evidence of regression of new vessels was observed in all patients. Three patients (16.7%) experienced recurrence despite the maintenance treatment of cyclosporine 0.05% eye drops. Visual acuities improved significantly after the remission treatment, as compared to the initial visit. CONCLUSIONS: The phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis patients who visited the tertiary center in Korea showed similar findings regarding demographics, involvement of blepharitis, and identified microorganisms, as compared with patients in previous reports. However, corneal lesions involving the visual axis were frequent, suggesting that with proper diagnosis and treatment, improvement in visual acuities is possible.