Amniotic Membrane Transplantation in the Management of Corneal Ulceration Following Infectious Keratitis.

PURPOSE: To report on the outcomes of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for corneal ulceration following infectious keratitis. METHOD: In this retrospective cohort study of 654 patients with culture-proven infectious keratitis from 8 hospitals in Galicia (Spain), a total of 43 eyes of 43 patients (6.6%) underwent AMT for postinfectious corneal ulceration. The indications for AMT were sterile persistent epithelial defects, severe corneal thinning or perforation. RESULTS: AMT was successful in 62.8% of cases, with 37.2% requiring an additional surgery. Median time to healing was 40.0 days (IQR 24.2-101.7 days) and final BCVA was lower than baseline (p = 0.001). Ulcers were large (>3 mm) in 55.8% of cases. Previous herpetic keratitis and topical steroid use were more common in patients who received AMT (p < 0.001). 49 microorganisms (43 bacteria and 6 fungi) were isolated. CONCLUSIONS: AMT is a therapeutic option for complications following infectious keratitis, which present with a sterile persistent epithelial defect, significant corneal thinning or perforation.

Acetazolamide-induced bilateral choroidal effusion following insertion of a phakic implantable collamer lens.

PURPOSE: To present the case of a 28-year-old man with acetazolamide-induced bilateral choroidal effusion after uneventful surgery of the second eye in delayed sequential bilateral insertion of an implantable collamer lens for hyperopia. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: Surgery of the left eye was uneventful, and the implantable collamer lens was implanted 3 weeks later in the right eye. Twenty-four hours after surgery, the patient presented with bilateral shallow anterior chamber, vault 0, and myopic shift (-8 diopters) in both eyes. B-scan ultrasound showed choroidal thickening in both eyes, which was consistent with choroidal effusion syndrome. A causal relationship was suspected with oral acetazolamide, which had been prescribed after surgery. When the drug was stopped, the condition improved slowly and resolved completely within 5 days. CONCLUSIONS: Choroidal effusion should be included in the differential diagnosis of shallow anterior chamber after implantation of an implantable collamer lens.

Intraocular pressure during the early postoperative period after 100 consecutive implantations of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lenses with a central hole.

PURPOSE: To study changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) during the early postoperative period in eyes having implantation of a posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) (Visian Implantable Collamer Lens V4c). SETTING: Clínica Baviera, Instituto Oftalmológico Europeo, Madrid, Spain. DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: This retrospective review included the first consecutive eyes having implantation of a spherical or toric myopic pIOL with a central hole at Clínica Baviera from December 2011 to June 2012 by the same experienced surgeon. The IOP was evaluated preoperatively and 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively. RESULTS: The study comprised 100 eyes. The mean IOP changed from 14.6 mm Hg ± 3.4 (SD) (range 8 to 26 mm Hg) preoperatively to 14.5 ± 4.6 mm Hg (range 6 to 30 mm Hg) 1 day postoperatively, 14.2 ± 4.2 mm Hg (range 6 to 29 mm Hg) at 1 week, and 12.3 ± 3.4 mm Hg (range 9 to 24 mm Hg) at 1 month. No statistically significant changes were detected over time postoperatively (P>.2). No perioperative complications associated with the implantation of the pIOL were recorded. No pIOLs were explanted, no toric pIOL rotation was detected, and no pupillary block or acute angle closure was observed. CONCLUSION: The short-term clinical data for the new pIOL model with the central hole (KS-Aquaport) suggest that it is a safe and effective means for controlling postoperative IOP.

Intracameral phenylephrine 1.5% for prophylaxis against intraoperative floppy iris syndrome: prospective, randomized fellow eye study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of intracameral phenylephrine (IPH) administered as prophylaxis against intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) and to analyze the ability of IPH to reverse IFIS. DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, randomized, comparative case series of fellow eyes. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-two patients receiving tamsulosin who underwent cataract surgery between January and April 2011. METHODS: Phacoemulsification was performed by 2 experienced surgeons at 2 surgical sites (Complexo Hospitalario Universitario Orense and Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña). One eye of each patient was randomized to receive 0.6 ml of nonpreserved bisulfite-free IPH 1.5% (group 1) or balanced saline solution (group 2) at the start of surgery. If significant miosis or iris prolapse occurred, IPH was injected during phacoemulsification in group 2. No changes were performed in the surgeon's standard fluidic parameters or viscoelastic preferences. Routine topical mydriatics were instilled before surgery. Intraoperative iris billowing and prolapse and pupil size were recorded and videotaped. Surgical complications; adverse events; pre- and postoperative pulse rate and blood pressure; and final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and endothelial cell count (ECC) were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of IFIS and change in pupil size after IPH administration in those eyes of group 2 requiring IPH because of significant miosis or iris prolapse. RESULTS: Signs of IFIS were observed in 88.09% of eyes in group 2. No signs of IFS were noted in group 1 (P < 0.001). Significant miosis, iris prolapse, or both occurred in 54.76% of eyes in group 2, although the condition was successfully reverted with IPH, with a significant increase in pupil size after IPH administration (from 4.77±0.88 mm to 6.68±0.93 mm; P=0.000). No intraoperative complications occurred. No significant differences in ECC, BCVA, or IOP were detected between IPH-treated and nontreated eyes. Blood pressure/pulse rate did not differ significantly from preoperative values in IPH-treated cases. CONCLUSIONS: Intracameral phenylephrine is a highly efficient measure for prophylaxis against IFIS. Moreover, the drug can reverse IFIS, restoring iris rigidity and causing the pupil to return to its preoperative size.

Infectious keratitis in 18,651 laser surface ablation procedures.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence, culture results, risk factors, treatment strategies, and visual outcomes of infectious keratitis after surface ablation. SETTING: Multicenter study in Spain. DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: The medical records of patients who had surface ablation between January 2003 and December 2009 were reviewed to identify cases of infectious keratitis. The incidence, risk factors, clinical course, days to diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment, and visual outcome were recorded. Main outcome measures were incidence of infectious keratitis after surface ablation, culture results, response to treatment, and visual outcomes. RESULTS: The study reviewed the records of 9794 patients (18,651 eyes). Infectious keratitis after surface ablation was diagnosed in 39 eyes of 38 patients. The onset of infection was early (within 7 days after surgery) in 28 cases (71.79%). Cultures were positive in 13 of 27 cases in which samples were taken. The most frequently isolated microorganism was Staphylococcus species (9 cases). The final corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/20 or better in 23 cases (58.97%), 20/40 or better in 36 cases (92.30%), and worse than 20/40 in 3 cases (7.69%). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of infectious keratitis after surface ablation was 0.20%. Infectious keratitis is a potentially vision-threatening complication. Prompt and aggressive management with an intensive regimen of fortified antibiotic agents is strongly recommended. Proper management can preserve useful vision in most cases. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Management of late spontaneous in-the-bag intraocular lens dislocation: Retrospective analysis of 45 cases.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristics of and risk factors for spontaneous late in-the-bag intraocular lens (IOL) dislocation and to analyze the outcomes of surgical correction. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Complejo Hospitalario Orense, Orense, Spain. METHODS: In this retrospective single-surgeon interventional case series, the surgical database of a referral center was searched for cases of late spontaneous in-the-bag IOL dislocation between 2005 and 2009. The main outcome measures were interval between surgery and dislocation, dislocation site and grade, IOL type, associated capsular tension ring (CTR), predisposing factors, surgical technique to correct dislocation, preoperative and postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and surgical complications. RESULTS: Pseudoexfoliation was the main risk factor for in-the-bag IOL dislocation (66.66% of 45 cases identified). A CTR was present in the capsular bag in 8 cases. Dislocation was corrected by repositioning using scleral fixation (20 cases) or iris suturing (1 case), IOL exchange for an anterior chamber IOL (AC IOL) (19 cases) or iris-claw IOL (4 cases), or (3) anterior capsulotomy (1 case). The mean CDVA improved significantly postoperatively (P = .0001); it was 20/40 or better in 28 eyes (62.22%) and 20/25 or better in 10 eyes (22.22%). There was no significant difference in postoperative CDVA between scleral-fixated IOLs and AC IOLs (P = .316). CONCLUSIONS: Pseudoexfoliation was the main risk factor for in-the-bag IOL dislocation. The presence of a CTR in the bag did not prevent dislocation. Satisfactory results were achieved with a low rate of complications using different surgical techniques to correct IOL position. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Infectious keratitis in 204 586 LASIK procedures.

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence, culture results, risk factors, and visual outcomes of infectious keratitis after LASIK, and examine treatment strategies. DESIGN: Retrospective study. PARTICIPANTS: We included 107 613 patients who underwent LASIK at Clínica Baviera (Instituto Oftalmológico Europeo, Spain) from September 2002 to May 2008. METHODS: The medical records of post-LASIK patients (204 586 eyes) were reviewed to identify cases of infectious keratitis. Incidence, risk factors, clinical course, days to diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment, and final visual outcomes were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of post-LASIK infectious keratitis, culture results, response to treatment, and visual outcome. RESULTS: Post-LASIK infectious keratitis was diagnosed in 72 eyes from 63 patients. Onset of infection was early (within 7 days after surgery) in 62.5% of cases. Cultures were positive in 21 of 54 cases in which samples were taken. The most frequently isolated microorganism was Staphylococcus epidermidis (9 cases). Immediate flap lifting and irrigation with antibiotics was performed in 54 eyes; late flap lifting was subsequently required in 10 out of 18 cases initially treated with topical antibiotics alone. One case required flap amputation owing to flap necrosis. Final best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was >or=20/20 in 38 cases (52.7%) and >or=20/40 in 67 cases (93.05%); final BSCVA was <20/40 in 5 cases (6.94%). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of post-LASIK infectious keratitis was 0.035% per procedure. Infectious keratitis after LASIK is a potentially vision-threatening complication. The appearance of infections in asymptomatic patients highlights the need for a proper schedule of follow-up appointments. Prompt and aggressive management of this LASIK complication with early flap lifting, scraping, culture, and irrigation with antibiotics is strongly recommended. Proper management can result in preserving useful vision. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article.

Intracorneal inlay complicated by intrastromal epithelial opacification.

OBJECTIVE: To report epithelial perilenticular opacity as a new complication of intracorneal inlay implantation for the correction of hyperopia. DESIGN: Prospective observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven eyes of 7 patients underwent intracorneal inlay implantation for the correction of hyperopia. METHODS: Intracorneal inlays were implanted onto the stromal bed by using a microkeratome cut to create an inferior hinged corneal flap. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative complication occurrence of intracorneal perilenticular opacity, microbiological laboratory analysis, histopathological analysis, and confocal microscopy study. RESULTS: Of 11 implanted eyes, 5 showed diffuse perilenticular opacity of varying intensity that was unresponsive to steroid use following intracorneal inlay implantation. All patients had moderate to severe loss of best-corrected visual acuity. The inlays showed deposits at the edge and on the surface. Confocal microscopy in all eyes produced images compatible with the confocal morphologic features of epithelial cells. Explantation of inlays was performed in 5 eyes. The histopathologic study showed the presence of epithelial cells, and microbiological analysis and cultures were negative for bacteria, fungi, and mycobacteria. CONCLUSION: Epithelial perilenticular opacity is a new and serious complication in patients with intracorneal inlay implantation for the correction of hyperopia.

Quality assessment model of 3 different microkeratomes through confocal microscopy.

PURPOSE: To study the quality of the cut created by 3 microkeratomes from 2 different generations using corneal confocal microscopy. SETTING: Department of Refractive Surgery, Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, Alicante, Spain. METHODS: Two different studies were conducted: Study 1 and Study 2. Study 1 was a prospective analysis using confocal microscopy examination data from 2 reference groups: Group A (control) with 20 nonoperated eyes of 20 healthy volunteers, and Group B with 50 eyes of 30 patients operated on with the Bausch & Lomb Automated Corneal Shaper (ACS) microkeratome. Study 2 was a prospective randomized double-masked study in which 40 eyes of 20 patients underwent myopic laser in situ keratomileusis by 1 surgeon. The right and left eyes of each patient were randomly and alternatively assigned to Group C, flap made with the Hansatome microkeratome, or Group D, flap made with the Moria M2. Immediately after surgery, the microscopic appearance of the cut was subjectively evaluated by the surgeon. One month postoperatively, flap thickness, particle density, and the subclinical confocal wound healing opacity (WHO) index were evaluated with the corneal confocal microscope. RESULTS: Surgeon handling comfort was nearly the same with the Hansatome as with the M2 (P =.540). However, the apparent quality of the resulting flap was better with the M2 microkeratome (P =.041). The depth of the cuts made by the 3 microkeratomes were significantly different (P<.001), with the ACS flaps being thinner than the flaps made with the Hansatome or the M2. Particle density at the interface was significantly poorer in the eyes operated on with the ACS, but in these cases the WHO index was significantly greater (P<.001 in both cases). CONCLUSIONS: Confocal microscopy is a very useful tool to evaluate the quality of the cut made by different microkeratomes. Overall, the predictability in flap thickness and the apparent quality of the cut made by the Moria M2 microkeratome are better than those obtained with the Hansatome or the ACS. The thin flap made by the ACS microkeratome produced a significantly greater WHO index than the thicker flaps created with the other 2 microkeratomes.

Topical mitomycin C in the treatment of pigmented conjunctival lesions.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical efficacy of topical mitomycin C (MMC) 0.04% for the treatment of patients with pigmented conjunctival lesions. Clinical efficacy was evaluated on the basis of reduction in lesion size and degree of pigmentation and histologic study. METHODS: Two patients, one with primary acquired conjunctival melanosis with atypia and another with conjunctival melanoma, were treated with topical MMC 0.04%. Before treatment, a biopsy was performed that confirmed the diagnosis and the absence of atypical melanocytes beyond the basal layer. In both patients, MMC was administered with sponges, while one patient additionally received MMC 0.04% drops. Each treatment cycle lasted 14 days, with repetition after 3 months when necessary. Follow-up was weekly, then monthly, and then every 6 months up to 3 years. RESULTS: Treatment with topical MMC 0.04% not only reduced the size and degree of pigmentation clinical lesions in both patients but also eradicated atypical conjunctival melanocytes as observed in histologic studies. In the patient with primary acquired conjunctival melanosis, adjunct cryotherapy was required, along with various cycles of MMC, to reduce the pigmented areas of skin of the internal canthus and caruncle. In the second case, only MMC was used. No severe adverse reactions to the treatment were observed. After 3 years of follow-up, no clinical relapse has been detected. CONCLUSION: Topical MMC 0.04% is an option worth considering for the treatment of pigmented conjunctival lesions, particularly as an adjunct to other forms of treatment.