A Case of Cataract Surgery in an Epikeratophakia Patient

PURPOSE: To report a case of cataract surgery in an epikeratophakia patient. CASE SUMMARY: A 59-year-old female with a history of epikeratophakic surgery 20 years ago complained of decreased visual acuity of both eyes for several months. She had nucleosclerotic and posterior subcapsular types of cataracts. Phacoemulsification and posterior capsule intraocular lens implantation were performed in both eyes. During surgery, corneal edema was especially prominent at the cornea with epikeratophakic lenticules in both eyes. In the left eye, severe corneal edema after one day of surgery was observed; however, after one week, corneal edema had subsided and visual acuity of both eyes had improved. CONCLUSIONS: When it necessary that cataract surgery is performed in patients with epikeratophakic lenticules, it is important to anticipate the corneal edema intraoperatively and postoperatively. Moreover, the surgeon should consider the acute calculation of the target refraction of intraocular lens in an epikeratophakia patient.

Tear Meniscus Evaluation Using Optical Coherence Tomography in Meibomein Gland Dysfunction Patients

PURPOSE: This study compared tear meniscus parameters between normal control, aqueous tear deficient dry eye, and meibomein gland dysfunction groups using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). METHODS: This study included 33 normal eyes, 79 aqueous tear-deficient dry eyes (ATD), and 48 meibomein gland dysfunction dry eyes (MGD). Following routine examination including Schirmer test, tear break-up time, corneal staining, and tear meniscus parameters such as tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus depth (TMD), and tear meniscus area (TMA) were obtained using FD-OCT. The differences among groups were assessed. RESULTS: The averages of TMH, TMD, and TMA were 295.58 +/- 58.36 microm, 166.67 +/- 30.43 microm, and 0.0360 +/- 0.01100 mm2 in normal eyes, respectively, 226.43 +/- 42.18 microm, 147.44 +/- 38.38 microm, and 0.0209 +/- 0.01015 mm2 in ATD, respectively, 272.81 +/- 64.21 microm, 159.37 +/- 44.05 microm, and 0.0295 +/- 0.01271 mm2 in MGD, respectively. Tear meniscus parameters were significantly lower in ATD. Tear meniscus parameters in MGD were higher than ATD and lower than normal eyes, but the TMA was the only statistically significant value. CONCLUSIONS: Although tear meniscus parameters in MGD were higher than ATD, they could not be distinguished from normal eyes. Tear meniscus evaluation using FD-OCT could be a useful measurement system in classification and treatment choice for dry eye patients.

A Case of Carcinoma Ex Pleomorphic Adenoma at 1st Operation

PURPOSE: To report a case of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma observed during the patient's first operation. CASE SUMMARY: A 63-year-old female presented with proptosis and ptosis that was aggravated 1 year prior. On preoperative CT image, a 32 x 20 x 21 mm-sized well demarcated mass (suspected as pleomorphic adenoma) was observed and was removed entirely by anterolateral orbitotomy. The excised mass surface was uneven but the capsule appeared intact on gross examination. Hard, yellow-colored and soft, dark-colored materials were found concurrently on cross section. The histological examination showed malignant cells as part of the soft material and was diagnosed as carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the lacrimal gland that presented with malignant change during the patient's first operation. Supposedly, during the process of mass growth, minimal rupture occurred causing malignant transformation. Clinically, although a mass is believed benign based on imaging, the possibility of malignant transformation of a tumor increasing rapidly or enlargement causing development of rapid proptosis should be considered.