Photoastigmatic refractive keratectomy in myopes. Nidek US Investigators Group.

PURPOSE: Photoastigmatic refractive keratectomy (PARK) was studied in a multi-center clinical trial. The Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser was evaluated for its effect on refraction, visual acuity, and safety measures as part of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated study. METHODS: Eight U.S. centers enrolled adults with eyes having refractive astigmatism up to 4.00 D and a myopic spherical equivalent refraction up to -8.00 D. Results are reported for 749 eyes of 486 patients with at least 6 months follow-up. The rectangular beam scanning Nidek EC-5000 used a 5.5-mm-diameter treatment zone, a 7.0-mm-diameter peripheral blend zone, and a 40 Hz pulse rate for surface treatment of myopic astigmatism. Nomogram corrections to machine settings were required to achieve the desired results. RESULTS: Preoperative average spherical equivalent refraction of -4.90+/-1.74 D was reduced to -0.02+/-0.79 D at 6 months. Refractive stability was established at 3 months. Over 62% of eyes were within +/-0.50 D of desired correction at 6 months, with over 86% within +/-1.00 D. Uncorrected visual acuity improved by an average of 10 Snellen lines; over 64% of eyes saw 20/20 or better uncorrected and over 93% saw 20/40 or better uncorrected at 6 and 12 months. PARK treatment effectively reduced astigmatism with little average axis error or magnitude error. Corneal haze and safety concerns were minimal. CONCLUSIONS: Photoastigmatic refractive keratectomy using the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser provided significant reduction of myopia and astigmatism, with minimal complications.

Customized corneal ablation and super vision.

PURPOSE: To review the early development of new technologies that are becoming available through customized corneal ablation techniques. METHODS: The authors describe the early development of two diagnostic methods to perform customized corneal ablation as well as a variety of new treatment modalities in development. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Results using the wavefront sensors indicate that these techniques have the potential to be more sensitive than traditional refraction and keratometry. Subtle defects such as coma and spherical aberration can be detected and treated. A whole series of new technologies are being incorporated to treat patients with customized corneal ablation. [J Refract Surg 2000;16(suppl):S230-S235].

Long-term effects of radial keratotomy on the corneal endothelium.

BACKGROUND: The long-term effects of radial keratotomy on the corneal endothelium are not well understood. We evaluated the effects of radial keratotomy on the corneal endothelium on the central and midperipheral corneal endothelium. METHODS: Anterior radial keratotomy in 25 eyes was performed and patients were followed for a duration of 4 to 10 years after surgery. Eleven non- contact lens wearing control eyes did not have surgery and were followed for the same period. Morphometric analysis of specular microscopic images was performed with regard to cell density, percent hexagonality, and coefficient of variation. RESULTS: Mean corneal endothelial cell loss rates were 0.4% per year in the radial keratotomy group and 0.9% in the untreated control group over the study duration (mean 7 yr). Morphometric analysis of the cells failed to show a significant change in hexagonality and coefficient of variation. Evaluation of the midperipheral corneal cell counts demonstrated a 1% per year cell loss rate. The cell loss rates in radial keratotomy patients followed over this period were consistent with that noted for normal aging (0.5 to 2.5% per year). CONCLUSION: Radial keratotomy does not cause accelerated endothelial cell loss over 4 to 10 years.

The long-term effects of polymethylmethacrylate contact lens wear on the corneal endothelium.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the long-term effects of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) contact lens wear on the corneal endothelium. The authors had noted previously advanced polymegethism and decreased cell densities in a few long-term PMMA contact lens wearers. They evaluated a large group of such lens wearers to determine the prevalence of polymegethism and reduced endothelial cell density within this lens-wearing population. METHODS: The authors examined the morphologic characteristics of the corneal endothelium in 162 PMMA contact lens wearers or age-matched controls. Eighty-one subjects had worn contact lenses for more than 20 years. RESULTS: Patients showed advanced polymegethism and pleomorphism compared with controls. Mean cell density in the contact lens-wearing group was not different from controls, but a significantly greater percentage of contact lens wearers (11%, 9 of 81 patients) had cell densities less than 2000 cells/mm2 compared with controls (2.5%, 2 of 81 patients), and were also significantly more likely to have severe polymegethism (coefficient of variation, > 0.60) and severe pleomorphism (frequency of hexagons < 40%). CONCLUSION: This study is unique, in that it notes a subgroup of PMMA contact lens wearers who are more susceptible to significant morphometric changes and reduced endothelial cell densities with long-term contact lens use.

Use of gas permeable contact lenses following trabeculectomy.

Some patients require a contact lens after glaucoma filtering surgery. The visual rehabilitation of such eyes can be challenging. We report on a total of eight eyes (seven patients) fit with lenticular-design, rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses after the successful establishment of a filtering bleb. In follow-up (mean: 40 months), all patients have successfully worn lenses without adverse effects. We believe that, with careful fitting, close monitoring, and appropriate patient selection, the presence of a filtering bleb need not be a contraindication to contact lens wear, particularly when a smooth-edged, rigid gas permeable (RGP) daily wear lens is used.

The effect of hard contact lens wear on the keratoconic corneal endothelium after penetrating keratoplasty.

Using wide-field specular microscopy, we evaluated the morphologic features of the corneal endothelium in 14 eyes of 14 patients with keratoconus who had worn a polymethylmethacrylate hard contact lens for at least four years (mean, 71 months) after penetrating keratoplasty. Comparisons were made with 14 non-lens-wearing eyes of 14 patients with keratoconus matched for age, length of postoperative period, and other variables. Examination of the endothelium of the contact lens wearers showed a significantly higher coefficient of variation in cell size (polymegethism) and a marked decrease in the percentage of hexagonal cells (pleomorphism), with a significant decrease in cell density (P less than .05). The cause of these morphologic abnormalities remains unclear but may be related to lens-induced hypoxic stress to the corneal endothelium causing ongoing cell loss.

Corneal endothelial changes associated with contact lens wear.

Contact lenses may induce short- and long-term corneal endothelial changes. The endothelial bleb response is a short-term, reversible change noted with contact lens wear. Long-term endothelial changes such as polymegethism (increased variation in cell size) and pleomorphism (a decrease in the frequency of hexagonal cells) have also been detected in polymethylmethacrylate, rigid gas permeable, and daily and extended wear soft contact lens patients. These morphometric changes have also been seen in myopes, aphakes, and corneal transplant recipients. Differences in endothelial morphometry between the central and mid-peripheral regions of the cornea have also been noted in hard lens wearers. The long-term significance of these findings is discussed.

Corneal endothelial changes associated with aphakic extended contact lens wear.

Wide-field specular microscopy and computer-assisted morphometry were performed on 20 aphakic eyes in 16 patients who had worn a high-water content hydrogel contact lens on an extended wear basis for at least 12 months (mean, 28 months) following intracapsular cataract extraction. When compared with 22 non-lens-wearing aphakic eyes matched for age and postoperative period, the endothelial cell changes in the above patients included a significantly higher coefficient of variation in cell area (polymegathism) and a marked reduction in the frequency of hexagonal cells (pleomorphism) without any significant difference in cell density. Although the clinical significance of these endothelial changes remains unclear, they may indicate hypoxic stress to the corneal endothelium or be an early sign of ongoing cell loss.

Recurrent erosion. Treatment by anterior stromal puncture.

The majority of patients with recurrent corneal erosion respond to conventional forms of therapy such as topical lubricants, patching, debridement, or bandage soft contact lenses. However, there remain a small number who do not. For the small number of patients who do not respond to this type of treatment, this report describes a procedure: multiple anterior stromal punctures are created that presumably stimulate more secure epithelial adhesion to the underlying stroma. Of 21 eyes in 18 patients treated in this manner, three eyes required retreatment of adjacent areas; otherwise, there were no recurrences in follow-up periods ranging from 5 months to 12 years. This procedure is a simple and effective method for safe office treatment of patients with recalcitrant recurrent erosion.

Vitamin A is present as retinol in the tears of humans and rabbits.

Vitamin A is required for the normal growth maintenance and maturation of the corneal epithelium and is effective in the treatment of xerophthalmia and experimental corneal epithelial wounds when applied topically as retinoic acid. The normal route of delivery of vitamin A to the cornea has remained undefined. We collected tears from normal and vitamin A deficient rabbits and from humans and analyzed them by high pressure liquid chromatography. A peak corresponding to a retinol standard was eluted from normal rabbit and human tears but was absent from the vitamin A deficient rabbit tears. The retinol concentration in rabbit tears was 69 ng/ml (0.2 X 10(-6)M) and in human tears was 16 ng/ml (0.5 X 10(-7)M). This demonstration that vitamin A is present in the tears as retinol establishes the rationale for treatment of corneal disease with topical vitamin A.