The accuracy of finger tension for estimating intraocular pressure after penetrating keratoplasty.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Intraocular pressure (IOP) estimation by Goldmann tonometry is inaccurate in the immediate postoperative period after penetrating keratoplasty. For this reason, many corneal surgeons use a finger tension (FT) IOP estimation technique in the early post-keratoplasty period. The authors performed a prospective clinical study to evaluate the accuracy of this traditional technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: FT estimates were performed by three experienced corneal surgeons on 68 patients on the first and second days after penetrating keratoplasty. These estimates were compared with MacKay-Marg (MM) tonometry readings for these patients. RESULTS: The mean confident FT from the pooled data of the three surgeons exceeded the MM reading by 5.0 mm Hg (22.6 vs. 17.6). The mean FT exceeded the MM reading by only 3.9 mm Hg for the most accurate surgeon. Some observers were significantly more accurate than others, however, lid edema and tenderness of the globe markedly diminished the FT accuracy of all of the observers at significance levels of P < .001 and P < .01, respectively. Among all of the FT estimates, in only one patient (2%) did the FT underestimate the MM reading by more than 10 mm Hg. CONCLUSION: The authors' results suggest that for some patients, and for some surgeons, the FT or digital method of IOP estimation remains useful for detecting elevated IOP early after corneal transplantation if the proper technique is used and substantial lid edema and patient discomfort are absent.

Ocular hydrofluoric acid burns.

A 30-year-old man sustained exposure of his eyes, face, and neck involving 4% of body surface area to hydrofluoric acid. He was treated with immediate lavage and topical calcium gluconate. Because free fluoride ions from ocular and facial exposures can form complexes with body stores of calcium and magnesium, the patient was transferred to a burn unit for cardiac and electrolyte monitoring. He was also treated with calcium gluconate skin injections, pulmonary nebulizer therapy, and topical antibiotics and corticosteroids. In another case, a 25-year-old man with less severe exposure to hydrofluoric acid was treated as an outpatient with topical antibiotics, corticosteroids, and cycloplegia. If an ophthalmologist is the first to treat a patient with chemical exposure, the history of hydrofluoric acid exposure must be obtained, and the burn team and other medical specialists must be quickly consulted to avoid potentially fatal complications.

Effect of gas-permeable contact lenses on the endothelium of corneal transplants.

The effects of gas-permeable contact lens wear on the density and morphologic characteristics of corneal endothelial cells were prospectively studied by wide-field specular microscopy in 18 eyes that had undergone keratoplasty at least 14 months previously. Daily-wear rigid gas-permeable lenses were fitted to allow as much movement and tear exchange as possible. There was no evidence of morphologic instability of the endothelial cells during the course of the study, with a mean duration of lens wear of 9.8 months. Although there is concern over adverse effects associated with polymethylmethacrylate contact lens wear, this study suggests that the endothelium of a corneal transplant tolerates rigid gas-permeable lens wear without adverse effect during a limited period of follow-up.

Corneal ulcers associated with contact lenses including experience with disposable lenses.

We conducted a retrospective study of corneal ulcers that had been managed on the Cornea Service at Wills Eye Hospital in 1988 and 1989. Forty-four percent (51 of 116) of the ulcers were associated with contact lens use. Pseudomonas was the most often isolated organism (25 of 116, 22%) and was most frequently associated with cosmetic soft contact lenses (16 of 25, 64%). Ulcers associated with disposable contact lenses (five cases) were similar to those associated with conventional extended wear myopic lenses (15 cases). Pseudomonas was the predominant organism with both disposable (four of five, 80%) and conventional extended wear lenses (nine of 15, 60%). Staphylococcus aureus (19 cases) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (19 cases) were the next most frequently isolated organisms and usually occurred in ulcers not associated with contact lenses (29 of 38, 76%). Ulcers were treated 3.3 times more often in people using extended wear than in those using daily wear myopic lenses. Disposable contact lenses have not eliminated the problem of corneal ulcers associated with extended wear contact lenses.

Management of contact lens associated Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Four patients with contact lens associated Acanthamoeba keratitis were treated at Wills Eye Hospital between 1987 and 1989. Two patients had used daily wear soft contact lenses and two had worn hard contact lenses. All four patients were treated with topical antibiotics (propamidine and neomycin), oral ketoconazole, and varying amounts of topical steroids. Two of these patients received topical clotrimazole. All four patients eventually required surgery for either control of their infection (three cases) or control of secondary disease (glaucoma and cataract). Medical therapy for Acanthamoeba keratitis remains problematic, and therefore prevention of this disease by avoidance of risk factors remains paramount.

Moraxella keratitis.

Moraxella corneal ulcers are uncommon but may be complicated by marked inflammation and corneal perforation. In a series of eight cases treated over a period of 6 years, despite appropriate antibiotic therapy, descemetoceles and/or perforations developed in four cases, resulting in loss of the eye in two cases. In our series, the final visual acuity was count fingers or less in most patients (six of eight; 75%). Ulcers not only occurred in patients with systemic diseases, including alcoholism and malnutrition, but also in patients with various pre-existing ocular surface diseases. It is important to be aware of the potential of Moraxella ulcers to result in loss of vision and the eye.

Penetrating keratoplasty after ocular trauma.

We reviewed the records of 41 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for a corneal opacity caused by trauma between Jan. 1, 1983, and Dec. 31, 1988. Most of the patients were young males whose average age was 35 years. Common tools accounted for many injuries (14 of 41, 34%). Sixteen injuries (39%) were work-related. Thirty-six patients (88%) had corneal scars from a perforating injury, four patients (10%) had corneal edema, and one patient (2%) required emergency penetrating keratoplasty for extensive tissue loss. Of the 39 patients with one year of follow-up, 31 (82%) maintained clear corneal grafts. Rejection occurred in nine of 39 patients (23%) and only three (33%) of the rejections resolved. Visual outcome was favorable with 20 patients (51%) attaining best-corrected postoperative visual acuity of 20/20 to 20/40, nine patients (23%) attaining visual acuity of 20/50 to 20/100, and ten patients (26%) attaining visual acuity of 20/200 or worse. Preoperative retinal disease (six of 39, 15%), astigmatic errors (five of 39, 13%), graft failures (four of 39, 10%), and postoperative glaucoma (12 of 39, 31%) adversely influenced the outcome. Although the prevalence of postoperative complications is relatively high, good visual results can be obtained in patients who undergo penetrating keratoplasty after ocular trauma.

Keratoconus after penetrating keratoplasty.

Signs of keratoconus, including Munson's sign, apical thinning, and Vogt's striae, developed in a 41-year-old woman 6 years after successful penetrating keratoplasty. Screening donor corneas for ectatic diseases may prevent such occurrences.

Indications for and outcomes of repeat penetrating keratoplasty.

We reviewed data on 150 repeat corneal transplants performed between 1983 and 1988 at Wills Eye Hospital. Minimal postoperative follow-up was six months. The most common diagnoses before regraft were pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (29 of 150), aphakic bullous keratopathy (28 of 150), Fuchs' dystrophy (21 of 150), failed graft (17 of 150), and keratoconus (14 of 150). Herpes simplex keratitis, interstitial keratitis, chemical burns, traumatic scars, and corneal dystrophies accounted for most of the remaining regrafts. Of the 150 regrafts, 39 (26%) failed during the study period. Almost half of the regraft failures occurred within six months, and over four fifths occurred within 18 months. Of the 111 eyes with clear grafts, final visual acuity data were available for 68 eyes (minimal follow-up, two years; mean, 3.3 years). A best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 to 20/40 (22 of 68) or 20/50 to 20/100 (27 of 68) was achieved in most patients.

Anterior stromal puncture for recurrent erosion: further experience and new instrumentation.

Anterior stromal puncture has recently been proposed as a new treatment for recalcitrant cases of recurrent corneal erosion. Concerns about the risks of corneal perforation and scarring, as well as doubts regarding its efficacy have prevented many patients from benefiting from this procedure. We introduce a new, inexpensive, commercially available instrument designed to standardize this technique, minimize scarring, and prevent corneal perforation. In a clinical trial involving 25 consecutive patients with recurrent erosions resistant to vigorous conservative treatment, the first 11 patients underwent stromal puncture in which a straight tuberculin needle was used; the following 14 were treated with a newly designed prototype needle. All patients in this series remained free of erosions after completion of stromal puncture, except for one woman with marked diffuse anterior basement membrane dystrophy, who went on to develop spontaneous bilateral erosions. Follow-up ranged from 2 months to 30 months (mean, 13 months). There were no complications of stromal puncture, and subjective and objective evaluations revealed no significant postoperative glare. Microscopic analysis of eye bank eyes subjected to anterior stromal puncture procedures demonstrated that the new prototype needle provided shallower penetration and thus less likelihood of perforation or excessive scarring than the straight needle. Also, postoperative discomfort and scarring appeared to be significantly less in patients treated with the prototype needle.

Microbial keratitis and corneal ulceration associated with therapeutic soft contact lenses.

We reviewed the records of 22 patients whose corneal ulcers were associated with therapeutic soft contact lens wear. The patients required hospitalization on the Cornea Service at Wills Eye Hospital between January 1, 1978 and September 1, 1988. A majority of the ulcers were associated with pseudophakic or aphakic bullous keratopathy (9 of 22 cases; 41%); neurotrophic/exposure keratitis was the second most common diagnosis (7 of 22; 32%). Most patients used topical antibiotics (15 of 22; 68%) and/or corticosteroids (13 of 22; 59%). Cultures were positive in 15 of 22 cases (68%). Gram-positive organisms were isolated in 60% the culture-positive cases (9 of 15). Streptococcus was the most common organism isolated (6 of 15 culture positive-cases; 40%). Gram-negative organisms were found in four of 15 culture-positive ulcers (27%). There was only one Pseudomonas infection in the series. Uncommon organisms--including Candida, atypical mycobacteria, Achromobacter, Acinetobacter and Micrococcus--were isolated in five cases. Therapeutic soft contact lens wearers are at risk for developing corneal ulcers; most often these are caused by gram-positive bacteria, especially streptococci, and uncommon organisms.

Personality and keratoconus.

We studied personality traits of patients with keratoconus in a controlled prospective study using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Whereas four of 16 (25%) control patients with herpes simplex keratitis had scores indicative of psychological abnormality, 15 of 28 (54%) keratoconus patients had scores indicative of abnormality (P less than .05). Keratoconus patients who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty had a lower rate of abnormal scores (3 of 9; 33%) than unoperated keratoconus patients (12 of 19; 63%) (P less than .05). Patients who considered themselves moderate or severely limited by their eye condition were more likely to have abnormal scores (7 of 8; 87%) than patients who thought they were mildly affected (8 of 20; 40%) (P less than .05).

Factors associated with conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia: a case control study.

Familial and environmental factors may play a role in the development of conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Nineteen patients with biopsy-proven CIN completed a questionnaire to evaluate possible predisposing factors. Nineteen age-matched and sex-matched controls completed questionnaires and received slit-lamp examinations. Factors associated with a relatively increased risk of developing CIN included exposure to petroleum products, heavy cigarette smoking, light hair and ocular pigmentation, and family origin in the British Isles, Austria or Switzerland. Non-office and nonprofessional workers were more likely to develop conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (p = .05), as were those who were not college graduates (p = .07).

Pseudomonas corneal ulcer associated with disposable soft contact lenses.

Disposable contact lenses were developed to reduce the complications associated with cosmetic extended wear contact lenses. We describe two cases of Pseudomonas corneal ulcers that developed in patients wearing disposable soft contact lenses. Patients wearing these lenses remain at risk for infection.

Neodymium: YAG laser transscleral cyclophotocoagulation for glaucoma after penetrating keratoplasty.

Nd:YAG laser cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) of the ciliary body is a promising cyclodestructive treatment for the management of refractory glaucoma following penetrating keratoplasty. Twenty-eight eyes (27 patients) were treated between August 1985 and September 1987 and followed 6 to 24 months (median, 18 months). The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was initially 39 mm Hg (range, 30 to 70 mm Hg) on maximally tolerated medications. The Lasag Microrupter 2 was used in the free-running thermal mode with a mean pulse energy of 4.13 J. The laser was retrofocused 3.6 mm from the conjunctival surface and 30 to 50 applications per treatment (mean, 37.5) were given 2 to 3 mm from the limbus for 360 degrees (71%) or 180 degrees (29%). Multiple treatments were necessary in 13 eyes (46%). After CPC, IOP fell to 22 mm Hg or below in 18 eyes (64%) at 3 months, in 20 of 27 eyes (74%) at 6 months, and in 16 to 24 eyes (67%) at 1 year. Inadequate IOP control in four of 28 eyes necessitated cyclocryotherapy in three patients and a Schocket procedure in one other. Of the 14 clear pre-CPC grafts six (43%) became edematous during follow-up. All of the failed grafts had undergone multiple CPCs.

Diphtheroids as ocular pathogens.

Unlike Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Propionibacterium acnes, the pleomorphic gram-positive rods known as diphtheroids are generally regarded as nonpathogenic contaminants of the human external eye. We reviewed five years of microbiology records at Wills Eye Hospital and studied a series of eight cases of apparently infectious keratitis associated with heavy growth of diphtheroids on cultures of ulcer scrapings. All of these cases included indolent ulcers that occurred almost exclusively in elderly patients (mean age, 72 years; range, 11 to 92 years). All patients had preexisting ocular conditions that compromised the corneal surface such as exposed corneal sutures, eyelid surgery, aphakic extended wear contact lenses, viral keratitis, and diabetes mellitus. No other pathogens were isolated. All infections responded well to antibiotic therapy with all organisms sensitive to cefazolin and all but one sensitive to gentamicin.

Clinical indications for and procedures associated with penetrating keratoplasty, 1983-1988.

We reviewed the preoperative clinical indications and associated surgical procedures for 2,299 penetrating keratoplasties performed at our institution from 1983 through 1988. Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy was the most common indication overall, accounting for 526 cases (23%). A marked increase was noted in the incidence of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy as an indication for penetrating keratoplasty beginning in 1985. The association of anterior chamber intraocular lenses in eyes with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy undergoing penetrating keratoplasty increased from 19 of 43 cases (44%) in 1983 to 79 of 108 cases (73%) in 1988. The incidence of intraocular lens exchange at the time of penetrating keratoplasty in cases of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy increased from six of 43 (14%) in 1983 to 63 of 108 (58%) in 1988. Other major indications for penetrating keratoplasty included Fuchs' dystrophy (375 cases, 16%), keratoconus (348 cases, 15%), aphakic bullous keratopathy (331 cases, 14%), and regraft (233 cases, 10%). Cataract extraction, with or without intraocular lens implantation, was combined with penetrating keratoplasty in 397 of 1,532 phakic eyes (26%). The incidence of triple procedure (penetrating keratoplasty, cataract extraction, and intraocular lens implantation) increased from 27 of 248 phakic eyes (11%) in 1983 to 68 of 258 phakic eyes (26%) in 1988.