The Long-term Clinical Outcome after Corneal Collagen Cross-linking in Korean Patients with Progressive Keratoconus

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term clinical effectiveness and safety of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in progressive keratoconus compared with untreated contralateral eyes. METHODS: In this retrospective study, nine eyes of nine patients with progressive keratoconus who received CXL (treatment group) and nine untreated contralateral eyes with keratoconus (control group) were included. All patients were followed for at least 5 years and assessed with best-corrected visual acuity, maximum keratometry, mean keratometry, corneal astigmatism, and corneal thickness. Clinical data were collected preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months, postoperatively. RESULTS: Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly from 0.58 ± 0.37 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution preoperatively to 0.39 ± 0.29 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution at 5 years after corneal CXL (p = 0.012). There was significant flattening of the maximum keratometry and mean keratometry from preoperative values of 63.39 ± 10.89 and 50.87 ± 6.27 diopter (D) to postoperative values of 60.89 ± 11.29 and 49.54 ± 7.23 D, respectively (p = 0.038, 0.021). Corneal astigmatism decreased significantly from 7.20 ± 1.83 D preoperatively to 5.41 ± 1.79 D postoperatively (p = 0.021). The thinnest corneal thickness decreased from 434.00 ± 54.13 to 365.78 ± 71.58 µm during 1 month after treatment, then increased to 402.67 ± 52.55 µm at 5 years, which showed a statistically significant decrease compared to the baseline (p = 0.020). In the untreated contralateral eyes, mean keratometry increased significantly at 2 years compared with the baseline (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: CXL seems to be an effective and safe treatment for halting the progression of keratoconus over a long-term follow-up period of up to 5 years in progressive keratoconus.

The Effect of Prophylactic IOP-Lowering Medication after Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implantation

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of prophylactic intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medication after intravitreal dexamethasone implantation. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of 39 eyes undergoing intravitreal dexamethasone implantation for macular edema. Eyes were divided into two groups, those which had used prophylactic IOP-lowering medication and those which had not. IOP was measured preoperatively, at one week, and monthly until six months post-injection in each group. RESULTS: The mean pre-injection IOP for the group that had not used prophylactic IOP-lowering medication and the group that had was 13.95 +/- 3.32 mm Hg and 13.56 +/- 3.71 mm Hg, the mean post-injection IOP at two months was 15.81 +/- 3.75 mm Hg and 12.56 +/- 5.02 mm Hg, and that at six months was 12.90 +/- 2.95 mm Hg and 11.44 +/- 3.59 mm Hg, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant at one week, one month, two months, and three months (p = 0.001, 0.002, 0.011, 0.035, respectively). A greater than 22 mm Hg increase in IOP was seen in four eyes (19.05%) in the group that had not used IOP-lowering medication and in one eye (5.56%) in the group that had. A greater than 5 mm Hg increase in IOP from baseline was seen in eight eyes (38.10%) in the group that had not used IOP-lowering medication and in one eye (5.56%) in the group that had. CONCLUSIONS: After intravitreal dexamethasone implantation, prophylactic IOP-lowering medication will significantly prevent IOP increase and decrease the number of patients requiring additional treatment that could cause potential damage to the retina and optic nerve.

The Effect of Prophylactic IOP-Lowering Medication after Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implantation

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of prophylactic intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medication after intravitreal dexamethasone implantation. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of 39 eyes undergoing intravitreal dexamethasone implantation for macular edema. Eyes were divided into two groups, those which had used prophylactic IOP-lowering medication and those which had not. IOP was measured preoperatively, at one week, and monthly until six months post-injection in each group. RESULTS: The mean pre-injection IOP for the group that had not used prophylactic IOP-lowering medication and the group that had was 13.95 +/- 3.32 mm Hg and 13.56 +/- 3.71 mm Hg, the mean post-injection IOP at two months was 15.81 +/- 3.75 mm Hg and 12.56 +/- 5.02 mm Hg, and that at six months was 12.90 +/- 2.95 mm Hg and 11.44 +/- 3.59 mm Hg, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant at one week, one month, two months, and three months (p = 0.001, 0.002, 0.011, 0.035, respectively). A greater than 22 mm Hg increase in IOP was seen in four eyes (19.05%) in the group that had not used IOP-lowering medication and in one eye (5.56%) in the group that had. A greater than 5 mm Hg increase in IOP from baseline was seen in eight eyes (38.10%) in the group that had not used IOP-lowering medication and in one eye (5.56%) in the group that had. CONCLUSIONS: After intravitreal dexamethasone implantation, prophylactic IOP-lowering medication will significantly prevent IOP increase and decrease the number of patients requiring additional treatment that could cause potential damage to the retina and optic nerve.

Two Cases of Intravitreal Ganciclovir Injection for Cytomegalovirus Retinitis

PURPOSE: To report 2 cases of cytomegalovirus retinitis treated with intravitreal ganciclovir. CASE SUMMARY: A 29-year-old female (Case 1) who received immunosuppressive therapy with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil for 3 months after pancreatic transplantation, was given an intravitreal Bevacizumab injection 4 times in each eye under the suspicion of bilateral central retinal vein occlusion. During follow-up, a new lesion with white opacification and multiple snowballs appeared in the left eye. Suspecting cytomegalovirus retinitis, we administered an intravitreal ganciclovir injection resulting in a decrease of white opacification and improvement of visual acuity. A 66-year-old male (Case 2) who was receiving treatment for general weakness and heart failure, presented with visual disturbance in both eyes. Fundoscopic examination revealed white opacification, multiple snowballs and retinal hemorrhage in the left eye; diagnostic vitrectomy was performed. Macular edema and subretinal fluid continued after the vitrectomy and the serologic testing revealed an IgG titer positive for cytomegalovirus, therefore, an intravitreal injection of ganciclovir was given. Macular edema and subretinal fluid decreased and visual acuity improved. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal ganciclovir can be an effective treatment option for the management of CMV retinitis.

Three Cases of Pupil Abnormality in Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus

PURPOSE: We report the occurrence of pupil abnormality in 3 patients with herpes zoster ophthalmicus. CASE SUMMARY: Three patients diagnosed with herpes zoster ophthalmicus developed pupil abnormality. (Case 1) A 37-year-old male diagnosed 1 month prior with anterior uveitis secondary to herpes zoster ophthalmicus presented with peripheral corneal erosions, inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber, diffuse iris atrophy, almost fully-dilated pupils, and loss of pupil light reflex in the right eye. (Case 2) A 72-year-old male presented with vesicles on the right side of the face, and dendritic corneal ulcer, and inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber on initial examinations. After 5 days without treatment by his choice, decreased vision, decreased pupil light reflex, and ovoid-shaped pupils developed. (Case 3) A 63-year-old female presented with left ocular pain, vesicles around the left eye, dendritic corneal ulcer, inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber, and isocoric pupils with normal pupil light reflexes. However, in her left eye, the pupillary ruff was partially lost and the pupil was larger than the right pupil after the start of a 3-week treatment regimen. The pupil in Case 2 returned to normal after 1 month, but in cases 1 and 3, no improvements of pupil abnormalities were observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Herein we presented 3 patients that were diagnosed with herpes zoster ophthalmicus and subsequently developed pupil abnormalities. In the cases of pupil abnormalities, checking for a history of herpes zoster ophthalmicus is necessary to make a differential diagnosis.