Corneal Irregularity Induced by Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy in a Patient With Partial Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to present a case of transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (trans-PRK) laser ablation in a patient with partial limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) that resulted in corneal irregularity. METHODS: A 23-year-old man with bilateral partial LSCD underwent trans-PRK for myopia correction 2 months before presentation to our department. Trans-PRK ablation was performed with a phototherapeutic keratectomy ablation profile set at 60 µm in the OD and 57 µm in the OS and 8 mm zone. At the time of presentation, the patient complained of decreased visual acuity. Corrected distant visual acuity was 20/20 (-3.25, -0.75 × 180 degrees) and 20/50 (-3.00, -3.00 × 180 degrees) in the OD and the OS, respectively. No further ocular history was reported other than prolonged soft contact lens use for myopia. Pre-trans-PRK tomography (WaveLight Oculyzer II diagnostic system, WaveLight GmbH, Germany) revealed bilateral superior steepening with corresponding epithelial thinning as obtained by the epithelial map using Optovue optical coherence tomography (Visionix Luneau technology). Slit-lamp examination showed bilateral superficial neovascularization, suggestive of early-stage LSCD. RESULTS: A nonuniform laser stromal ablation resulting in corneal irregularity and decreased visual acuity was observed 2 months postoperatively. During the 6-month follow-up, corneal tomography was stable with only minimal improvement. At that time, corrected distant visual acuity remained 20/20 (-2.75, -0.75 × 160 degrees) in the OD and 20/50 (-3.00, -3.00 × 180 degrees) in the OS. CONCLUSIONS: Trans-PRK seems to be a contraindication in cases with corneal epithelial irregularities and could lead to abnormal and nonuniform stromal ablation .

Acute Corneal Melting Induced by the Concomitant Use of a Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Agent with an Antiseptic Eye Drop.

INTRODUCTION: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly employed perioperatively to reduce intraoperative prostaglandin release, diminishing pain, preventing miosis, modulating postoperative inflammation, and reducing the incidence of cystoid macular edema (CME). CASE REPORT: A 70-year-old female patient without previous history of ocular or systemic disease was urgently referred to our hospital because of a sudden corneal perforation concerning her left eye (OS). The patient had instilled bromfenac eye drops and antiseptic eye drops twice and four times daily, respectively, for 2 days only, in preparation of scheduled cataract surgery. Slit-lamp examination revealed diffuse inferior corneal melting with a 1 × 2 mm area of full-thickness perforation and a very shallow anterior chamber. Both topical agents were immediately discontinued. Cyanoacrylate glue was applied to seal the perforation and a bandage contact lens was applied together with a topical antibiotic given hourly. Two hours later, the anterior chamber started to reform. The following day, the anterior chamber was fully reformed with a negative Seidel test. At her next follow-up appointment, 1 month later, the glue was detached and the cornea was seen to have successfully healed with only some corneal thinning remaining inferiorly. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative use of topical NSAIDs in combination with antiseptic eye drops may rarely elicit corneal perforation in certain susceptible elderly individuals. Their use should therefore be carefully monitored.

Dichoptic Game Training in Strabismic Amblyopia Improves the Visual Evoked Response.

Dichoptic video gaming offers an alternative approach in amblyopia treatment by allowing different information to be presented in the two eyes, resulting to reduced suppression and/or enhanced fusion. The aim of this case report series is to evaluate the outcome of supervised dichoptic training, with the use of video games in a virtual reality (VR) system, on far and near visual acuity (VA), stereoacuity, and the visual evoked response of an adult and two children with strabismic amblyopia. Results suggest that despite the absence of improvement in VA following supervised dichoptic training, a remarkable increase in stereoacuity was evident with a concurrent decrease in phorias. Moreover, an improvement in the P100 latency of the pattern visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in the amblyopic eye was observed in all participants. Finally, at least two sessions per week were completed for each patient under continuous supervision, implying sufficient compliance and treatment efficiency with dichoptic video gaming. Supervised dichoptic training, consisting of at least 20 hours of video gaming using a VR system, improves stereoacuity and the latency of the visual evoked response in the amblyopic eye. This probably occurs by overcoming its suppression, indicating that the speed of visual processing, as evaluated by pattern VEPs, may precede improvements in VA.