Colombian Ocular Diseases Epidemiology Study (CODES): incidence and sociodemographic characterisation of keratoconus between 2015 and 2020.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence and describe the demographic characteristics of keratoconus (KC) in Colombia using national health registry data between January 1st 2015 and December 31th 2020. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We conducted a nationwide, population-based study using the Integrated Social Protection Information System from the Colombian Ministry of Health, the unique official database in the country. We used the International Classification of Diseases code for KC (H186) to identify the number of new cases of KC and estimate the incidence rates both overall and according to age and sex. We made a standard morbidity ratio map to graph Colombia's morbidity risk of KC onset. RESULTS: Of 50 372 424 subjects, 21 710 had KC between 2015 and 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all the incidence rates of this study were based on the 18 419 reported until 2019. The incidence rate in the general population was 10.36 (95% CI 10.08 to 10.64) per 100 000 inhabitants. The incidence peak among males was in their early 20s and females in their late 20s. The overall male to female incidence rate ratio was 1.60. Regarding the distribution of the disease, most cases were reported in Bogotá (48.64%), Antioquia (14.04%) and Cundinamarca (10.38%). CONCLUSION: We performed the first nationwide, population-based study of KC in Latin America, finding distribution patterns similar to those reported in the literature. This study provides valuable information on the epidemiology of KC in Colombia, which is helpful in the development of policies for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the disease.

Virtual keratoconus monitoring clinic in a tertiary university hospital in the United Kingdom.

Purpose: To describe a new pathway for virtual keratoconus (KC) monitoring in the corneal department of a tertiary referral center in the UK during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: A virtual outpatient clinic to monitor KC patients (KC PHOTO clinic) was created. All patients from the KC database in our department were included. At each hospital visit, patients' visual acuity and tomography (Pentacam; Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) were collected by a health-care assistant and an ophthalmic technician, respectively. The results were virtually reviewed by a corneal optometrist to identify stability or progression of KC and discussed with a consultant if needed. Those with progression were contacted by telephone and listed for corneal crosslinking (CXL). Results: From July 2020 until May 2021, 802 patients were invited to attend the virtual KC outpatient clinic. Of them, 536 patients (66.8%) attended and 266 (33.2%) did not attend. After corneal tomography analysis, 351 (65.5%) were stable, 121 (22.6%) showed no definite evidence of progression, and 64 (11.9%) showed progression. Forty-one (64%) patients with progressive KC were listed for CXL and the remaining 23 patients deferred treatment after the pandemic. By converting a face-to-face clinic to a virtual clinic, we were able to increase our capacity by nearly 500 appointments per year. Conclusion: In pandemic times, hospitals have developed novel methods of delivering safe patient care. KC PHOTO is a safe, effective, and innovative method of monitoring KC patients and diagnosing progression. In addition, virtual clinics can increase the clinic capacity tremendously and reduce the need of face-to-face appointments, which is beneficial in pandemic conditions.

1 year posterior corneal changes after Bowman Layer Transplant for keratoconus.

INTRODUCTION: To report the posterior corneal changes after Bowman Layer Transplant for keratoconus in a tertiary hospital in the UK. METHODS: 5 eyes of 5 patients receiving Bowman Layer Transplant for advanced keratoconus in Royal Gwent Hospital (Newport, UK) were included. Pre and postoperative posterior corneal astigmatism, posterior Kmean, and back surface elevation were analysed. RESULTS: No significant changes were seen in the posterior corneal astigmatism, posterior Kmean, or back surface elevation between the pre- and postoperative period. CONCLUSION: This results would support the idea that the corneal changes seen after Bowman Layer Transplant are mainly in the anterior corneal surface.

Five Cases of Corneal Graft Rejection After Recent COVID-19 Vaccinations and a Review of the Literature.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report 5 cases of acute corneal graft rejection after COVID-19 vaccination and perform a review of the literature. METHODS: This was a case series and review of literature dated on the October 10, 2021. RESULTS: We describe 5 cases-2 patients with Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (for Fuchs endothelial dystrophy) who presented with acute corneal graft rejection after their first dose of mRNA (BNT162) vaccine. The other 3 patients who had penetrating keratoplasty performed more than 10 years ago for keratoconus presented with acute graft rejection-2 patients after their second dose of adenovirus vector (AZD1222) vaccine and 1 patient after first dose of mRNA (BNT162) vaccine. Three patients were not using any topical steroid treatment at the time of diagnosis of graft rejection. The mean duration between vaccination and onset of symptoms was 16.86 ± 6.96 days for the mRNA vaccine and 17 ± 11.89 days for the adenovirus vector vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal graft rejection has recently been reported after COVID-19 vaccination. Patients with keratoplasty need to be advised regarding the risk of corneal graft rejection and warning symptoms of rejection after COVID-19 vaccination. Seeking early referral to the emergency department and increasing topical steroids pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 vaccination may reduce the risk of rejection.

Evaluation of a Telemedicine Model for Following Keratoconus Patients in the Era of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of a telemedicine approach for detecting keratoconus patients' progression in the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study, comparing the office and telemedicine evaluations in determining whether keratoconus patients were at risk of progression and indicated for further treatment of corneal crosslinking, was conducted. The clinic examination included best spectacle corrected visual acuity measurement and manifest refraction, full ophthalmic examination, and corneal topography, which provided with the gold-standard diagnosis. The remote assessment included two decisions of keratoconus progression or stability: the first evaluation after revealing patient demographics and topography images, and the second with the manifest refraction and clinical findings as documented in the outpatient clinic visit. Results: Two-hundred and four eyes of 102 keratoconus patients were included. There was an agreement of assessment between the in-person and the remote diagnostic decisions in 192 (94%) of the eyes. Among the remaining 12 eyes, a false-positive diagnosis was made in 8 (3.9%) eyes, whereas a false-negative diagnosis was made in 4 (1.9%) eyes. The remote assessment showed a sensitivity and specificity of 69% and 96%, respectively. In no case was remote diagnostic decision 2 different from remote decision 1. Conclusions: The telemedicine model yielded high specificity, but low sensitivity values, therefore, not suitable as an alternative for keratoconus patient follow-up (Clinical trial number TLV-0363-20).

Acute Corneal Transplant Rejection After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 mRNA-1273 Vaccination.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article was to report a case of full-thickness corneal transplant rejection 3 days after immunization with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine. METHODS: Case Report. RESULTS: A 51-year-old man with a history of keratoconus and penetrating keratoplasty underwent repeat penetrating keratoplasty for graft failure. The patient had an uncomplicated intraoperative and postoperative course with improved vision and a healthy graft. The patient received the SARS-CoV-2 Moderna vaccine on postoperative week 3, and within 3 days, the patient began developing eye pain, photophobia, and blurred vision. The patient was found to have graft rejection with corneal edema and endothelial keratic precipitates. The rejection did not improve despite a trial of increased topical steroids and ultimately evolved into graft failure. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this case of full-thickness graft rejection after the Moderna SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination is the first to be reported worldwide. The temporal relationship between vaccination and subsequent rejection is highly suggestive of causation due to the short interval (3 days) between vaccination and rejection and the lack of other inciting factors in an otherwise healthy graft. Patients with corneal transplants who plan to take the COVID-19 vaccinations should be counseled on symptoms and closely monitored, and an individualized plan should be made in discussion with the ophthalmologist.

Impact of COVID-19 on keratoconus patients waiting for corneal cross linking.

PURPOSE: Royal College of Ophthalmologist recent guidance recommended delaying cross-linking services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates the effects of such delays in the delivery of cross-linking services in patients with keratoconus progression. METHODS: Retrospective observational study of 46 patients with keratoconus progression, whose cross-linking was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Demographic and clinical details were obtained from assessments on the day of listing, and subsequent review on the day of the procedure. Topographic indices included keratometry of the posterior and anterior corneal surface, maximum keratometry (Kmax), thinnest corneal thickness, ABCD progression and progression based on standard criteria recommendations (1.5 D Kmax & 20 microns thinning). RESULTS: A total of 46 eyes were analysed with an average time between being listed for CXL and having the procedure done was 182 ± 65 days. The delay due to COVID-19 was of 3 months. In this time period they had a significant worsening of all keratometric indices and lost almost one line of visual acuity (0.19 ± 0.19 to 0.26 ± 0.18 LogMAR, p: 0.03). Thirty two eyes (70%) demonstrated progression in accordance with the ABCD progression criteria, while 18 eyes (39%) showed either an increase in Kmax of more than 1.5D or a thinning in corneal thickness of at least 20 µm. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment delay for the keratoconus patients caused further progression and vision worsening. We recommend that corneal collagen crosslinking needs to be considered as a high priority intervention.

Acute Corneal Endothelial Graft Rejection With Coinciding COVID-19 Infection.

PURPOSE: To report a case of acute corneal endothelial graft rejection with the concurrent onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 31-year-old African American woman with a history of asthma, sleep apnea, obesity (body mass index of 40), and bilateral keratoconus was noted to have acute corneal endothelial graft rejection 3 months after uncomplicated penetrating keratoplasty of the left eye. The patient developed dysgeusia and subjective fever on the same day as ocular discomfort, and she was subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19 with only these 2 classic symptoms of the viral infection. CONCLUSIONS: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is known to cause conjunctivitis and has demonstrated transmissibility through ocular secretions. Acute immune and inflammatory dysregulations have been seen in cases of COVID-19 through various mechanisms. COVID-19 infection may potentially compromise ocular immune privilege contributing to acute corneal graft rejection.

Four in one: Four recepients with a single donor tissue - A novel concept for eye transplantation surgery post-COVID-19.

A donor corneo-scleral button was dissected into four parts using a simple manual technique. The anterior corneal lamellae was stripped from the Descemet's Membrane (DM) and Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) was performed in a patient with advanced keratoconus after removing the recipient's stroma using the big bubble technique. Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) was done with the stripped donor DM in a patient with Fuch's endothelial dystroph (FECD). The cadaveric limbal stem cells from the tissue were used for simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) in a Steven- Johnson Syndrome (SJS) with localized limbal stem deficiency and symblepharon. The sclera was used to revise a leaking hypotonus bleb in an advanced single-eyed glaucoma patient. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. At 1 year, all the 4 cases retained healthy transplanted tissues with good visual outcomes. Shortage of donor eyes is a global problem and with the present COVID-19 scenario the situation is bound to worsen. The advent of customized component corneal transplantation using simple cost-effective techniques will be the future trend in the years to come.