Clinical Manifestations and Prognostic Factors of Ocular Infection Associated with Orbital or Preseptal Cellulitis

Purpose@#We assessed the clinical manifestations and prognostic factors associated with ocular infection in patients diagnosed with orbital and preseptal cellulitis. @*Methods@#We enrolled 40 patients diagnosed with ocular infection accompanied by orbital and preseptal cellulitis between October 2015 and December 2021. We divided patients into the “treatment success group” (patients whose infection resolved) and the “treatment failure group” (patients whose infection worsened and required evisceration). Clinical characteristics, such as infection-related ocular findings and microbiological features, were analyzed retrospectively in both groups. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors associated with treatment failure. @*Results@#The mean age of patients was 72.8 ± 11.92 years, with 17 (42.5%) of them being male. Among the patients, 11 had bacterial infections, and 3 had fungal infections. In total, 6 (15%) and 34 (85%) patients were classified into the treatment success and failure groups, respectively. The chi-square test revealed a significant association between the treatment failure group and several clinical factors, such as low best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the logarithm of the minimum angle resolution (logMAR) BCVA > 2, low intraocular pressure (IOP) 2, IOP < 5 mmHg, large size of the corneal lesion, and a prolonged duration of symptoms demonstrated significant association with treatment failure. Notably, hypopyon is an important prognostic factor for treatment failure.

Tear Neuromediators in Subjects with and without Dry Eye According to Ocular Sensitivity / 전남의대학술지

To investigate differences of tear neuromediators between subjects with and without dry eye (DE) depending on the ocular sensitivity. Thirty-one subjects with DE and 29 subjects without DE were recruited in this study. The eyes were stimulated by exposure to an irritating product applied to the periocular region. Both DE and non-DE subjects were divided into the high sensitivity and low sensitivity groups based on the degree of ocular sensitivity to ocular irritation. Baseline tear film break-up time (TBUT) and corneal staining score were examined, and tear samples were collected. The concentrations of the tear neuromediators, including nerve growth factor (NGF), serotonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P, neuropeptide Y, and vasoactive intestinal peptide were measured using the enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay. The baseline neuromediator concentrations were compared between subjects with and without DE based on ocular sensitivity. In both DE and non-DE subjects, baseline TBUT was significantly lower in the high sensitivity group than in the low sensitivity group. In the high sensitivity group, baseline tear NGF levels were higher in subjects with DE than in those without DE. In the low sensitivity group, baseline levels of tear CGRP were lower in subjects with DE than in those without DE. Tear neuromediators associated with DE had differences in their concentrations depending on ocular sensitivity. In patients with DE, tear NGF levels increased with high ocular sensitivity to ocular irritation, whereas tear CGRP levels decreased with low ocular sensitivity.

Clinical Manifestation of Infectious Keratitis in Ocular Graft Versus Host Disease

Purpose@#We evaluated the clinical manifestations of, and risk factors for, infectious keratitis in patients with ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). @*Methods@#A total of 11 patients who developed infectious keratitis after a diagnosis of ocular GVHD between January 2015 and December 2020, and 36 who did not (the control group), were included in this retrospective study. We recorded sex, age, any underlying disease, any other organ affected by systemic GVHD, systemic immunosuppressant use, follow-up duration, clinical manifestations, the severity of ocular GVHD prior to infection, the size of the epithelial defect, the depth of infiltration, hypopyon status, and the results of microbiological tests. Systemic and ocular indices (including systemic GVHD status) were compared using the chi-squared test. Risk factors for infection were identified. @*Results@#Of the corneal indices, the presence of corneal filaments, the extent of corneal neovascularization, and the number of corneal epithelial defects were significantly higher in the infected group (p = 0.023, p = 0.004, and p = 0.001, respectively). GVHD severity was also significantly higher in that group (p < 0.001). The presence of corneal filaments, corneal neovascularization, and corneal epithelial defects prior to infection correlated significantly with the risk of infection (p = 0.046, p = 0.010, and p = 0.003, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified corneal epithelial defects as a significant risk factor for infection (p = 0.029). @*Conclusions@#In patients with ocular GVHD, corneal epithelial defects, corneal neovascularization, and corneal filaments prior to infection were associated with the development of infection. In particular, corneal epithelial defects before infection was a significant risk factor for infection.

Efficacy of 0.15% Sodium Hyaluronate Eye Drops in Patients’ Ocular Surface after Upper Eyelid Surgery

Purpose@#To evaluate the clinical efficacy of preservative-free 0.15% sodium hyaluronate eye drops on the ocular surface after upper eyelid surgery. @*Methods@#This study included 43 patients who underwent upper eyelid surgery between December 2018 and May 2019. Patients were randomly assigned to group A (those treated with preservative-free 0.15% sodium hyaluronate eye drops) and group B (the control group). Ocular surface disease index score (OSDI), tear break up time (TBUT), Schirmer’s test, corneal staining score (CSS), meibomian gland (MG) quality, MG expressibility, and meiboscore were evaluated before surgery and at 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months after surgery. @*Results@#In group A, OSDI and TBUT showed a significant increase at 1 week after surgery compared with baseline values (all p < 0.05). In group B, OSDI, TBUT, and CSS were significantly higher at 1 week and 1 month after surgery (all p < 0.05), whereas there were no significant changes at 2 months after surgery compared with baseline values. At 1 month after surgery, OSDI (p = 0.03) and CSS (p < 0.01) showed significant changes between group A and group B; however, there was no significant change in the TBUT. There were no significant within-group differences in Schirmer’s test values, MG quality, MG expressibility, or meiboscore, and there were no significant between-group differences over time. @*Conclusions@#Preservative-free 0.15% sodium hyaluronate eye drops were shown to be an effective treatment for early dry-eye symptoms and ocular surface damage after upper eyelid surgery.

Infectious Keratitis Caused by Eikenella corrodens

Purpose@#We report a case of infectious keratitis caused by Eikenella corrodens in a patient who lost visual function.Case summary: A 65-year-old male with histories of a corneal ulcer, glaucoma, and bullous keratopathy visited our hospital complaining of redness and pain in his right eye for the past 10 days. Slit-lamp examination revealed stromal infiltration, a 2-mm-high hypopyon, and severe inflammation of the anterior chamber. Vitreous opacity was evident on ocular ultrasonography. Culture of corneal scrapings yielded Eikenella corrodens. After 5 days of antibiotic treatment, ceftazidime was injected intravitreally and histoacryl glue applied to treat the corneal perforation and the endophthalmitis. Two months later, the eye was not inflamed. @*Conclusions@#Eikenella corrodens should be considered a possible pathogen when a patient with an underlying ocular disease presents with infectious keratitis. A corneal ulcer caused by Eikenella corrodens has not previously been reported in the Republic of Korea.

Clinical Manifestations of Fungal Keratitis Following Penetrating Keratoplasty

Purpose@#We evaluated the clinical manifestations and risk factors of fungal keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). @*Methods@#Eighteen patients who experienced fungal keratitis after PKP between January 2005 and January 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Clinical characteristics including sex, age, underlying disease, indication for PKP, symptom duration, visual acuity, graft state before infection, suture-related problems, size of epithelial defect, depth of infiltration, presence of hypopyon, use of eyedrops before infection, and the results of microbiological tests were analyzed. Patients were classified into the treatment success or failure group, and the risk factors were evaluated accordingly. @*Results@#The mean age at diagnosis was 63.94 ± 15.53 years. Fungal infection occurred a mean of 55.31 ± 44.72 months after PKP. The mean symptom duration was 10.33 ± 7.36 days. Of the 18 patients, 5 (27.8%) and 13 (72.2%) were in the treatment success and failure groups, respectively. Of the treatment failure group, seven patients (38.9%) underwent surgical management. The graft state before infection, symptom duration, and size of epithelial defects had significant correlations with treatment failure (all p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified graft state (p = 0.046) as a significant risk factor for treatment failure. @*Conclusions@#Graft state before infection, symptom duration, and size of epithelial defects were associated with the prognosis of fungal keratitis after PKP. Graft state before infection was a significant risk factor for treatment failure.

Efficacy of 0.15% Sodium Hyaluronate Eye Drops in Patients’ Ocular Surface after Upper Eyelid Surgery

Purpose@#To evaluate the clinical efficacy of preservative-free 0.15% sodium hyaluronate eye drops on the ocular surface after upper eyelid surgery. @*Methods@#This study included 43 patients who underwent upper eyelid surgery between December 2018 and May 2019. Patients were randomly assigned to group A (those treated with preservative-free 0.15% sodium hyaluronate eye drops) and group B (the control group). Ocular surface disease index score (OSDI), tear break up time (TBUT), Schirmer’s test, corneal staining score (CSS), meibomian gland (MG) quality, MG expressibility, and meiboscore were evaluated before surgery and at 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months after surgery. @*Results@#In group A, OSDI and TBUT showed a significant increase at 1 week after surgery compared with baseline values (all p < 0.05). In group B, OSDI, TBUT, and CSS were significantly higher at 1 week and 1 month after surgery (all p < 0.05), whereas there were no significant changes at 2 months after surgery compared with baseline values. At 1 month after surgery, OSDI (p = 0.03) and CSS (p < 0.01) showed significant changes between group A and group B; however, there was no significant change in the TBUT. There were no significant within-group differences in Schirmer’s test values, MG quality, MG expressibility, or meiboscore, and there were no significant between-group differences over time. @*Conclusions@#Preservative-free 0.15% sodium hyaluronate eye drops were shown to be an effective treatment for early dry-eye symptoms and ocular surface damage after upper eyelid surgery.

Infectious Keratitis Caused by Eikenella corrodens

Purpose@#We report a case of infectious keratitis caused by Eikenella corrodens in a patient who lost visual function.Case summary: A 65-year-old male with histories of a corneal ulcer, glaucoma, and bullous keratopathy visited our hospital complaining of redness and pain in his right eye for the past 10 days. Slit-lamp examination revealed stromal infiltration, a 2-mm-high hypopyon, and severe inflammation of the anterior chamber. Vitreous opacity was evident on ocular ultrasonography. Culture of corneal scrapings yielded Eikenella corrodens. After 5 days of antibiotic treatment, ceftazidime was injected intravitreally and histoacryl glue applied to treat the corneal perforation and the endophthalmitis. Two months later, the eye was not inflamed. @*Conclusions@#Eikenella corrodens should be considered a possible pathogen when a patient with an underlying ocular disease presents with infectious keratitis. A corneal ulcer caused by Eikenella corrodens has not previously been reported in the Republic of Korea.

Clinical Manifestations of Fungal Keratitis Following Penetrating Keratoplasty

Purpose@#We evaluated the clinical manifestations and risk factors of fungal keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). @*Methods@#Eighteen patients who experienced fungal keratitis after PKP between January 2005 and January 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Clinical characteristics including sex, age, underlying disease, indication for PKP, symptom duration, visual acuity, graft state before infection, suture-related problems, size of epithelial defect, depth of infiltration, presence of hypopyon, use of eyedrops before infection, and the results of microbiological tests were analyzed. Patients were classified into the treatment success or failure group, and the risk factors were evaluated accordingly. @*Results@#The mean age at diagnosis was 63.94 ± 15.53 years. Fungal infection occurred a mean of 55.31 ± 44.72 months after PKP. The mean symptom duration was 10.33 ± 7.36 days. Of the 18 patients, 5 (27.8%) and 13 (72.2%) were in the treatment success and failure groups, respectively. Of the treatment failure group, seven patients (38.9%) underwent surgical management. The graft state before infection, symptom duration, and size of epithelial defects had significant correlations with treatment failure (all p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified graft state (p = 0.046) as a significant risk factor for treatment failure. @*Conclusions@#Graft state before infection, symptom duration, and size of epithelial defects were associated with the prognosis of fungal keratitis after PKP. Graft state before infection was a significant risk factor for treatment failure.

Effects of Amniotic Membrane Extract Eye Drops on Persistent Epithelial Defects of the Cornea

Purpose@#To evaluate the clinical efficacy of amniotic membrane extract eye drops (AMEEDs) in patients with persistent epithelial defects (PEDs) of the cornea. @*Methods@#Sixteen patients with PEDs refractory to the conventional treatment were further treated with AMEEDs six times a day. Visual acuity, visual analog scale (VAS), esthesiometer score, and areas of the epithelial defects before and after 1 and 2 months of treatment were evaluated. After 2 months, AMEEDs were considered effective if all epithelial defects were healed, partially effective if the epithelial defects decreased in size compared with the baseline, and ineffective if the epithelial defects increased in size and required additional treatment. @*Results@#After 2 months of treatment with AMEEDs, there was a reduction in the area of epithelial defects (5.2 ± 3.1 mm2 vs. 0.1 ± 0.1 mm2, respectively, p = 0.01), as well as a significant improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (0.8 ± 0.5 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution [LogMAR] vs. 0.6 ± 0.3 LogMAR, respectively, p = 0.03), and VAS scores (4.3 ± 1.0 vs. 2.8 ± 0.7, respectively, p = 0.04) compared with the baseline values. Treatment with AMEEDs was effective in 13 (81.3%) patients and partially effective in three (18.8%) patients. @*Conclusions@#AMEEDs could stimulate epithelial wound healing and improve ocular symptoms in patients with refractory PED. Therefore, AMEEDs could be considered an effective treatment option for refractory PEDs.

Efficacy of Intense Pulsed Light Treatment in Patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome Associated with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Purpose@#To investigate the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) associated with Sjögren’s syndrome. @*Methods@#This study included 43 patients with MGD and Sjögren’s syndrome. Patients received either IPL with meibomian gland expression (IPL/MGX) (n = 22) or MGX only (n = 21). Treatments were administered three times at a 3-week interval. Patients were followed up 6 weeks after the end of the treatment. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear film breakup time with fluorescein dye (FBUT), non-invasive tear breakup time, tear meniscus height (TMH), Schirmer test, SICCA ocular surface staining score, meibum quality score (MQS), and meibum expression score (MES) were evaluated at each visit. Meibomian gland dropouts (meiboscore) and tear film lipid layer grade were measured using keratography. @*Results@#OSDI, FBUT, corneal surface staining score, MQS, meiboscore, and tear film lipid layer grade improved after IPL/MGX treatment (p < 0.05). In both treatment groups, MES significantly improved (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 for IPL/MGX and MGX groups, respectively). The Schirmer test score, conjunctival surface staining score, and TMH after treatment were not significantly different between the groups. After treatment, the IPL/MGX group had significantly lower OSDI, FBUT, corneal staining score, MQS, and MES, but higher FBUT, compared with the MGX group (p < 0.05). @*Conclusions@#IPL treatment effectively improved tear film, ocular surface parameters, meibomian gland function, and lipid layer grade in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and MGD.

Tear Osmolarity and Matrix Metallopeptidase-9 in Dry Eye Associated with Sjögren’s Syndrome

Purpose@#To evaluate the correlations between tear osmolarity and matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) and dry eye (DE) indices in patients with DE associated with Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). @*Methods@#Sixty-three patients with DE associated with SS who underwent tear analysis were included. DE tests performed were ocular surface disease index, tear break-up time, Schirmer’s test, ocular staining score, and tear osmolarity and MMP-9 tests. Correlations between tear osmolarity and DE indices, differences between patients with abnormal and normal tear osmolarity, and those between positive and negative MMP-9 patients were analyzed. Patients were classified into four groups according to tear osmolarity and MMP-9 results, and between-group differences were analyzed (group 1: abnormal tear osmolarity, MMP-9 positive; group 2: abnormal tear osmolarity, MMP-9 negative; group 3: normal tear osmolarity, MMP-9 positive; group 4: normal tear osmolarity, MMP-9 negative). @*Results@#Mean age of patients was 54.2 ± 13.9 years, and 96.2% were female. Thirty-five patients had abnormal tear osmolarity and 40 patients were MMP-9 positive. DE indices differed between groups with abnormal and normal tear osmolarity (p < 0.01), but not between positive and negative MMP-9 groups. There were 22 patients in group 1, 13 in group 2, 18 in group 3, and 10 in group 4. Compared to group 4, tear break-up time was shorter in groups 1 (p < 0.01) and 2 (p = 0.02). Schirmer’s test values in group 1 were lower than those in group 4 (p = 0.03). Ocular staining score was higher in groups 1 (p < 0.01) and 2 (p < 0.05) than in group 4. @*Conclusions@#Tear osmolarity was correlated with ocular surface indices in DE associated with SS. Combination of tear osmolarity and MMP-9 test results may be helpful to determine the severity of DE associated with SS.

Solitary Pigmented Plexiform Neurofibroma in Lower Eyelid: A Case Report

PURPOSE: Solitary plexiform neurofibroma of the eyelid without neurofibromatosis is a rare disease. We report a case of solitary plexiform pigmented neurofibroma of the eyelid without neurofibromatosis. CASE SUMMARY: A 12-year-old male visited our clinic with a painless palpable subcutaneous mass on the right lower eyelid. He had a history of Batter syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. On initial presentation, clinical features regarding neurofibromatosis such as Lisch nodule, optic nerve glioma, or high myopia were not observed. We performed excision and biopsy of the lower lid mass under general anesthesia. Macroscopically, the tumor was 4.0 × 1.5 × 1.5 cm in size with irregular nodules. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of multiple, variably sized tortous enlarged nerve fascicles with clusters of pigmented cells. Immunohistochemical results revealed expression of S-100 protein. Pigmented cells express both S-100 and melan-A proteins, while nonpigmented cells express S-100 protein only. The tumor was finally diagnosed as plexiform pigmented neurofibroma. Dermatological evaluation revealed no evidence of systemic neurofibromatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Plexiform neurofibroma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an eyelid mass, even if the patient does not have a history or clinical features of neurofibromatosis. Plexiform neurofibroma can be successfully managed with surgical excision.

Bilateral Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Associated with Giant Cell Arteritis in Korea

No abstract available.

Analysis of Clinical Manifestations and Prognostic Factors in Herpetic Endotheliitis

PURPOSE: We aimed to analyze the clinical features of herpetic endotheliitis and to investigate the risk factors for recurrence of herpetic endotheliitis and corneal decompensation. METHODS: The medical records of 58 patients (58 eyes) who were diagnosed with herpetic endotheliitis were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with a follow-up period of less than 6 months and a previous history of ocular inflammation were excluded from this study. We recorded visual acuity, intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness, and endothelial cell density on both initial and final visit, and recorded clinical findings of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye only on initial visit. Factors affecting the recurrence of herpetic endotheliitis and corneal decompensation were also analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 58 patients, 45 patients had disciform type endotheliitis, 11 patients had diffuse type, and 2 patients had linear type. There were no significant differences between final clinical manifestations according to subtype. 14 patients exhibited recurrence of herpetic endotheliitis. High intraocular pressure and high-grade anterior chamber cells were associated with the recurrence of herpetic endotheliitis. On multivariate analysis, the only risk factor for the recurrence of herpetic endotheliitis was high intraocular pressure. We found that 8 patients exhibited corneal decompensation, and high intraocular pressure, high anterior chamber cell grade, and a history of cataract surgery were associated with corneal decompensation. On multivariate analysis, the risk factors for corneal decompensation were high anterior chamber cell grade and cataract surgery history. CONCLUSIONS: For herpetic endotheliitis, the subtype did not affect the final records of clinical manifestation, and the only risk factor for the recurrence of herpetic endotheliitis was high intraocular pressure. Additionally, the risk factors of corneal decompensation were found to be high-grade anterior chamber cells and a history of cataract surgery. Initial examinations of clinical manifestation are important for the successful treatment of herpetic endotheliitis.