ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare clinical outcome of IVCD combined with oral therapy with IVCD alone in patients with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty eyes were reviewed. Two equal groups were identified (15 eyes each). Clinical outcome measures were resolution of active inflammation, changes in BCVA and CMT, adverse drug reactions, and rate of recurrence. RESULTS: Mean baseline of BCVA 1.08 ± 0.17 and 1.03 ± 0.15 improved to 0.64 ± 0.18 and 0.69 ± 0.17 at the end of follow-up in group I and II, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed. CMT was 392.6 ± 33.16 µm and 397.3 ± 14.6 µm significantly decreased to 314.7 ± 4.43 µm and 319.6 ± 7.8 µm. Resolution of acute inflammation was achieved in all cases in both groups. There were no recurrent cases in group I, and only one out of 15 (6.7%) in group II. No ocular or systemic adverse events were recorded. CONCLUSION: IVCD is an effective route of treatment for active toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis that can be used solely without the need to use systemic medications..
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the results of bipedicle conjunctival flap (CF) and cryopreserved amniotic membrane graft (AMG) in the treatment of non-viral infectious keratitis resistant to medical treatment. METHODS: This prospective randomised interventional study included 40 eyes of 40 patients with resistant non-viral infectious keratitis. Twenty eyes received CF and 20 eyes received AMG. In the CF group, there were 12 eyes with fungal keratitis, 7 eyes with bacterial keratitis and 1 eye with Acanthamoeba keratitis. In the AMG group there were 13 eyes with fungal keratitis, 5 eyes with bacterial keratitis and 2 eyes with Acanthamoeba keratitis. In the CF group, three ulcers had descemetocele and four ulcers were perforated. In the AMG group, four ulcers had descemetocele and two ulcers were perforated. In CF, 360° peritomy was done and a bipedicle CF from the upper conjunctiva was dissected from Tenon's capsule, mobilised to cover the cornea and sutured to episclera. In AMG, one or two layers of AM were trimmed to fit the ulcer and sutured to the cornea. The follow-up period was 6â months. RESULTS: Successful results were observed in 18/20 eyes (90%) in each group. Postoperatively, no significant differences between the two groups were found regarding success rate (p=1.0), epithelialisation time (p=0.75) or visual acuity improvement (p=0.84). CONCLUSIONS: CF and AMG are effective in treatment-resistant infectious keratitis. They could restore ocular surface integrity and provide metabolic and mechanical support for corneal healing. For large corneal perforation, it may be better to use another procedure such as penetrating keratoplasty to restore ocular integrity.