Comparative Outcomes of Standard Perioperative Eye Drops, Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide-Moxifloxacin, and Intracameral Dexamethasone-Moxifloxacin-Ketorolac in Cataract Surgery.

Background: Since the advent of cataract surgery, topical eye drops have been the mainstay of postoperative prophylaxis and treatment. Due to factors such as high expenses and poor patient compliance, there has been a growing interest and acceptance of "dropless" or "less drops" alternatives. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide-moxifloxacin and intracameral dexamethasone-moxifloxacin-ketorolac to a standard eye drop regimen in controlling postoperative inflammation, corneal edema, and intraocular pressure (IOP) among cataract patients. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal comparative study among 619 consecutive eyes receiving either a standard eye drop regimen, intraoperative triamcinolone acetonide-moxifloxacin, or dexamethasone-moxifloxacin-ketorolac was performed between October 2016 and December 2020. Primary endpoints at postoperative day one (POD1), week one (POW1), and month one (POM1) included corneal edema, anterior chamber inflammation (ACI), and IOP. Results: Throughout the postoperative time points, there were no significant differences in corneal edema between intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide-moxifloxacin versus the standard eye drop therapy (OR [95% CI]: 1.09 [0.82, 1.45], P=0.54) and intracameral dexamethasone-moxifloxacin-ketorolac versus the standard eye drop treatment (OR [95% CI]: 1.22 [0.89, 1.67], P=0.22). The postoperative ACI severity was lower in the dexamethasone-moxifloxacin-ketorolac group than in the triamcinolone acetonide-moxifloxacin group by 35% on postoperative day 1 (P=0.01). The differences at subsequent postoperative time points were not statistically significant (P=0.27 and P=1.00 for POW1 and POM1, respectively). IOP at POM1 follow-up visit was statistically significantly higher for the triamcinolone acetonide-moxifloxacin group (mean (±SD): 15.64 (4.26)) than the dexamethasone-moxifloxacin-ketorolac (mean (±SD): 14.16 (4.02)) (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in rates of CME (P=0.16), and there were no cases of endophthalmitis. Conclusions: Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide-moxifloxacin and intracameral dexamethasone-moxifloxacin-ketorolac demonstrate similar levels of efficacy to a standard eye drop regimen after cataract surgery. This study reinforces them as viable alternatives to traditional postoperative drops.

Intraoperative aberrometry compared to preoperative Barrett True-K formula for intraocular lens power selection in eyes with prior refractive surgery.

To compare the predictive refractive accuracy of intraoperative aberrometry (ORA) to the preoperative Barrett True-K formula in the calculation of intraocular lens (IOL) power in eyes with prior refractive surgery undergoing cataract surgery at the Loma Linda University Eye Institute, Loma Linda, California, USA. We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with a history of post-myopic or hyperopic LASIK/PRK who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery between October 2016 and March 2020. Pre-operative measurements were performed utilizing the Barrett True-K formula. Intraoperative aberrometry (ORA) was used for aphakic refraction and IOL power calculation during surgery. Predictive refractive accuracy of the two methods was compared based on the difference between achieved and intended target spherical equivalent. A total of 97 eyes (69 patients) were included in the study. Of these, 81 eyes (83.5%) had previous myopic LASIK/PRK and 16 eyes (16.5%) had previous hyperopic LASIK/PRK. Median (MedAE)/mean (MAE) absolute prediction errors for preoperative as compared to intraoperative methods were 0.49 D/0.58 D compared to 0.42 D/0.51 D, respectively (P = 0.001/0.002). Over all, ORA led to a statistically significant lower median and mean absolute error compared to the Barrett True-K formula in post-refractive eyes. Percentage of eyes within ± 1.00 D of intended target refraction as predicted by the preoperative versus the intraoperative method was 82.3% and 89.6%, respectively (P = 0.04). Although ORA led to a statistically significant lower median absolute error compared to the Barrett True-K formula, the two methods are clinically comparable in predictive refractive accuracy in patients with prior refractive surgery.

Comparative analysis of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide-moxifloxacin versus standard perioperative eyedrops in cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide-moxifloxacin (Tri-Moxi) to a standard eyedrop regimen in controlling postoperative inflammation, corneal edema, and the rate of high intraocular pressure (IOP) among cataract patients. SETTING: Loma Linda University Eye Institute, California, USA. DESIGN: Retrospective longitudinal comparative study. METHODS: The electronic medical records of patients who underwent cataract surgery using triamcinolone acetonide-moxifloxacin injection along with a postoperative nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug drop were reviewed (Group 1). Group 1 was compared with patients who received a standard eyedrop (Group 2) in terms of intraocular inflammation and corneal edema severity, and the rate of high IOP, postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 1195 consecutive eyes (Group 1 [681 eyes], Group 2 [514 eyes]) of 919 patients were included in the study. The anterior chamber cell reaction severity decreased by 34.0% and 35.7% at 1 week and 1 month, respectively, after surgery following triamcinolone acetonide-moxifloxacin injection compared with standard eyedrop therapy (P = .001 and P = .02, respectively). Group 1 was associated with increased severity of corneal edema (odds ratio, 1.48; P = .001) on postoperative day 1, with no statistically significant difference at 1 week and 1 month postoperatively (P = .25 and P = .48, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of high IOP between the two groups at different timepoints postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Triamcinolone acetonide-moxifloxacin injection is an effective method to control intraocular inflammation after cataract surgery. It is a promising substitute for standard eyedrop therapy, especially for patients who have poor compliance with eyedrop usage.

Descemet's Membrane Detachment Management Following Trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To present a case of total Descemet's membrane detachment (DMD) after trabeculectomy and its surgical management. CASE REPORT: A 68-year-old woman presented with large DMD and corneal edema one day after trabeculectomy. Intracameral air injection on day 3 was not effective. Choroidal effusion complicated the clinical picture with Descemet's membrane (DM) touching the lens. Choroidal tap with air injection on day 6 resulted in DM attachment and totally clear cornea on the next day. However, on day 12 the same scenario was repeated with choroidal effusion, shallow anterior chamber (AC), and DM touching the lens. The third surgery included transconjunctival closure of the scleral flap with 10/0 nylon sutures, choroidal tap, and intracameral injection of 20% sulfur hexafluoride. After the third surgery, DM remained attached with clear cornea. Suture removal and needling bleb revision preserved bleb function. Lens opacity progressed, and the patient underwent uneventful cataract surgery 4 months later. CONCLUSION: Scleral flap closure using transconjunctival sutures can be used for DMD after trabeculectomy to make the eye a closed system. Surgical drainage of choroidal effusions should be considered to increase the AC depth.

Effect of periocular injection of celecoxib and propranolol on ocular level of vascular endothelial growth factor in a diabetic mouse model.

AIM: To investigate the effects of periocular injection of propranolol and celecoxib on ocular levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a diabetic mouse model. METHODS: Forty 4-6wk BALB-C male mice weighing 20-25 g were used. The study groups included: non-diabetic control (group 1), diabetic control (group 2), diabetic propranolol (group 3), and diabetic celecoxib (group 4). After induction of type 1 diabetes by streptozotocin, propranolol (10 µg) and celecoxib (200 µg dissolved in carboxymethylcellulose 0.5%) were injected periocularly. The ocular level of VEGF was measured in all the study groups using enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS: Ocular VEGF level was significantly increased (1.25 fold) in the diabetic control group when compared to the non-diabetic group one week after induction with streptozotocin (P=0.002). Both periocular propranolol and celecoxib significantly reduced ocular VEGF levels (P=0.047 and P<0.001, respectively). The effect was more pronounced with celecoxib. CONCLUSION: The periocular administration of propranolol and celecoxib can significantly reduce ocular VEGF levels in a diabetic mouse model.

Refractive Outcomes, Contrast Sensitivity, HOAs, and Patient Satisfaction in Moderate Myopia: Wavefront-Optimized Versus Tissue-Saving PRK.

PURPOSE: To compare refractive outcomes, contrast sensitivity, higher-order aberrations (HOAs), and patient satisfaction after photorefractive keratectomy for correction of moderate myopia with two methods: tissue saving versus wavefront optimized. METHODS: In this prospective, comparative study, 152 eyes (80 patients) with moderate myopia with and without astigmatism were randomly divided into two groups: the tissue-saving group (Technolas 217z Zyoptix laser; Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) (76 eyes of 39 patients) or the wavefront-optimized group (WaveLight Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser; Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX) (76 eyes of 41 patients). Preoperative and 3-month postoperative refractive outcomes, contrast sensitivity, HOAs, and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean spherical equivalent was -4.50 ± 1.02 diopters. No statistically significant differences were detected between the groups in terms of uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity and spherical equivalent preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. No statistically significant differences were seen in the amount of preoperative to postoperative contrast sensitivity changes between the two groups in photopic and mesopic conditions. HOAs and Q factor increased in both groups postoperatively (P = .001), with the tissue-saving method causing more increases in HOAs (P = .007) and Q factor (P = .039). Patient satisfaction was comparable between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both platforms were effective in correcting moderate myopia with or without astigmatism. No difference in refractive outcome, contrast sensitivity changes, and patient satisfaction between the groups was observed. Postoperatively, the tissue-saving method caused a higher increase in HOAs and Q factor compared to the wavefront-optimized method, which could be due to larger optical zone sizes in the tissue-saving group.

Alcohol-assisted debridement in PRK with intraoperative mitomycin C.

PURPOSE: To compare corneal stromal and endothelial cells after photorefractive keratectomy with intraoperative mitomycin C in alcohol-assisted versus mechanical epithelial debridement using confocal microscopy. METHODS: This prospective randomized comparative study was performed on 88 eyes (44 patients) with myopia up to -6.00 diopters. The right eye of each patient was randomly assigned to either mechanical or alcohol-assisted groups, and the left eye was assigned to the alternate group. Confocal microscopy was performed preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively. The main outcome measures were epithelial thickness; number of keratocytes in the anterior, mid-, and posterior stroma; and characteristics of the central corneal endothelial cells in terms of density, mean cell area, and polymegathism and hexagonality. RESULTS: Three months after surgery, no statistically significant difference was noted between the study groups in terms of epithelial thickness. We also found no statistically significant difference in central corneal endothelial cells regarding cell density, mean cell area, hexagonality, or polymegathism. Compared with baseline values, the density of mid- and posterior stromal keratocytes showed no significant change in either group, whereas it decreased significantly in the anterior stroma in both groups 3 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the adverse effects of photorefractive keratectomy with mitomycin C on central corneal endothelial cells were comparable between the mechanical and alcohol-assisted epithelial debridement groups and the significant decrease in postoperative keratocyte density in anterior stroma was comparable between the two groups. The choice of their application could be left to the discretion of the ophthalmologist.

Central Corneal Thickness in Highly Myopic Eyes: Inter-device Agreement of Ultrasonic Pachymetry, Pentacam and Orbscan II Before and After Photorefractive Keratectomy.

PURPOSE: To determine inter-device agreement for central corneal thickness (CCT) measurement among ultrasound pachymetry, rotating Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam, Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany), and scanning slit corneal topography (Orbscan II, Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY, USA) in highly myopic eyes before and after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS: This prospective comparative study included 61 eyes of 32 patients with high myopia who underwent PRK. Six month postoperative CCT values were compared to preoperative values in 27 patients (51 eyes) who completed the follow up period. To determine the level of agreement, Pentacam and Orbscan II readings were compared to ultrasonic pachymetry measurements as the gold standard method. RESULTS: Mean CCT measurements with ultrasound, Pentacam, and Orbscan II before PRK were 557µm, 556µm, and 564µm, respectively; and 451µm, 447µm, and 438µm 6 months after surgery in the same order. Preoperatively, the 95% limits of agreement (LoA) with ultrasound measurements were -20µm to 17µm for Pentacam and -21µm to 33µm for Orbscan II. Six months postoperatively, the 95% LoA were -30µm to 23µm for Pentacam and -69µm to 43µm for Orbscan II. CONCLUSION: Preoperatively, CCT measurements were higher with Orbscan II as compared to ultrasound. Postoperatively, both Pentacam and Orbscan II measurements were lower than those obtained with ultrasound, but Pentacam had better agreement. The use of ultrasound, as the gold standard method, or Pentacam both appear to be preferable over Orbscan II among patients with high myopia.

Spectrum of autoimmune bullous diseases in Iran: a 10-year review.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune bullous diseases (ABDs) are potentially devastating bullous dermatoses of the skin and mucosae characterized by the presence of tissue-bound and circulating antibodies directed against disease-specific target antigens. These diseases comprise two major subgroups of subepidermal autoimmune bullous disorders and pemphigus, based on the level of blister formation. Although they occur worldwide, the relative frequencies of different ABDs show wide geographical variation. Most epidemiological studies on ABDs have focused on single diseases or a group of diseases; published surveys studying the whole spectrum of diseases are scarce. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the relative frequencies of different ABDs in patients presenting to the Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran, Iran. METHODS: Medical files for all newly diagnosed patients with ABD presenting to the Center between March 1997 and February 2006 were examined. Patients with dermatitis herpetiformis were not included. RESULTS: A total of 1402 patients were diagnosed with ABD during the study period. Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) was the most common ABD (81.2%), followed by bullous pemphigoid (BP) (11.6%), pemphigus foliaceus (PF) (4.4%), pemphigoid gestationis (0.7%), mucous membrane pemphigoid (0.7%), epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (0.5%), linear immunoglobulin A (IgA) disease (0.4%), paraneoplastic pemphigus (0.2%), IgA pemphigus (0.2%), and pemphigus erythematosus (0.1%). The mean age at diagnosis and male : female ratio were 43.4 years and 1 : 1.39, 42.2 years and 1 : 1.34, and 59.4 years and 1 : 1.36 for PV, BP, and PF, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pemphigus vulgaris was the most frequent ABD according to our study; cases of PV outnumbered those of BP by a ratio of almost 8 : 1. This finding contrasts with those of studies conducted in Western European countries, in which BP predominates. There was a female predominance in most subtypes of ABD. Mean age at onset of PV and BP was lower than in Europe. In view of its large population of PV patients, Iran should be considered a suitable field for future clinical trials.

Ahmed glaucoma valve and single-plate Molteno implants in treatment of refractory glaucoma: a comparative study.

PURPOSE: To report 2-year follow-up data after Ahmed valve implantation (New World Medical, Inc) and Molteno single-plate implantation surgical treatment of refractory glaucoma. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, comparative study. METHODS: Patients with refractory glaucoma, defined as uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) of more than 21 mm Hg despite maximal antiglaucoma medication, previously failed nonseton surgical treatment, or a combination thereof were included. Ninety-two patients were allocated randomly to each of the study groups and underwent implantation of either the Ahmed valve implant (model FP7; 184 mm(2) surface area) or Molteno single-plate implant (134 mm(2) surface area) and were followed up for 24 months. Main outcome measures were IOP and surgical success rate. Other outcome measures were changes in visual acuity, number of ant-glaucoma medications, mean deviation of visual field, and rate of intraoperative and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Those who successfully completed the trial (28 in the Molteno group and 29 in the Ahmed group) achieved significantly less IOP and fewer glaucoma medications, but worse visual acuity 24 months after surgery. The Molteno group, compared with the Ahmed group, achieved significantly lower IOPs after the early postoperative period until the end of the study. Both groups reasonably maintained visual field during the follow-up. The rate of surgical failure was comparable in both groups. Median survival time was 24 months for both groups. There were no devastating intraoperative or postoperative complications in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Both Ahmed and Molteno implants successfully preserved visual field, although IOP control was more pronounced in the Molteno implant group.