Accelerated versus standard corneal cross linking in the treatment of ectasia post refractive surgery and penetrating keratoplasty: a medium term randomized trial.

AIM: To compare the clinical outcomes of the standard corneal cross linking (CXL) and the accelerated CXL in patients with progressive corneal ectasia post refractive surgery and penetrating keratoplasty. METHODS: Totally 120 eyes of 83 patients scheduled to receive either standard CXL (3 mW/cm2 for a period of 30min) or accelerated CXL (18 mW/cm2 for a period of 5min). The main outcomes for comparison were the change in: maximum-K reading (K-max), manifest refractive spherical equivalent (SE), central corneal thickness (CCT), and the best corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA). RESULTS: One hundred and eleven eyes completed the study. The main outcome measurement was the K-max reading. Both group showed significant improvement in the value postoperatively at 6 and 12mo. The mean change in the standard group was 1.21±0.11 D and in the accelerated group was 0.90±0.05 D at the end of 12mo postoperatively, with no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. Similarly, CDVA improved significantly from their preoperative value in the standard group by 2.98±0.11 letters, and in the accelerated group by 2.20±0.06 letters, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Both of the SE, and CCT showed no statistically significant difference at the end of follow up period in each group. CONCLUSION: Both standard CXL and accelerated CXL are safe and effective treatment in halting ectasia after corneal refractive surgery. The accelerated CXL results are comparable to the standard CXL with short time exposure of the cornea to ultraviolet irradiation, leading to reduced operation time, reduced operative ocular discomfort, and corneal haze.

A Simple Surgical Approach for the Management of Acquired Severe Lower Punctal Stenosis.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of using pigtail probe to detect and open severely stenosed lower lacrimal punctum followed by self-retaining bicanalicular intubation. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective nonrandomized clinical study. METHODS: The study included 24 patients with severe lower punctal stenosis (grade 0 according to Kashkouli scale) attending at Menoufia University Hospitals. The upper punctum and canaliculus were patent. All patients were complaining of epiphora and had a thorough ophthalmological examination including dye disappearance test and slit-lamp examination. Pigtail probe was used from patent upper punctum to detect the lower stenosed punctum which was opened with a scalpel. Syringing of the lower lacrimal passages was done to confirm its patency, and self-retaining silicone bicanalicular stent was inserted. The silicone tube was left in place for 6 months before it was removed. Patients were then followed-up for 1 year after the surgery. RESULTS: One year after surgery, epiphora was absent (grade 0) in 16 eyes (66.7%) and was present only occasionally (grade 1) in 4 eyes (16.7%). The difference from preoperative epiphora was statistically significant. One year after surgery, fluorescein dye disappearance time was grade 1 (<3 minutes) in 20 cases (83.3%), and grade 2 (3-5 minutes) in 4 cases (16.7%). There was a statistically significant difference compared with preoperative results. CONCLUSION: Using the pigtail probe is effective in treatment of severe punctal stenosis. Maintaining the punctal opening and prevention of restenosis can be achieved by using self-retaining bicanalicular stent after confirmation of nasolacrimal duct patency. This trial is registered with NCT03731143.

Sutureless Scleral Tunnel Trabeculectomy: Evaluation of Feasibility and Effectiveness versus Conventional Trabeculectomy for Management of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the intraocular pressure-lowering effect of sutureless scleral tunnel trabeculectomy with Mitomycin-C (MMC) compared to the standard trabeculectomy with MMC in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: This was a masked, randomized, controlled comparison trial involving 34 eyes of 34 patients with bilateral POAG. Patients were randomized to receive sutureless sclera flap trabeculectomy with MMC or conventional trabeculectomy with MMC. The main outcome for comparison was the IOP-lowering effect of both procedures. Complete surgical success was considered if the patient's IOP was <22 mmHg and the IOP were lowered by more than 20% with the use of maximum two anti-glaucoma medications. RESULTS: All surgeries passed uneventfully without intraoperative complications and all patients showed significantly (p<0.05) lower IOP on the first postoperative day compared to their respective preoperative IOP with non-significant (p>0.05) difference between both study groups. All patients, irrespective of operative procedure, maintained significantly (p<0.05) lower IOP compared to their respective preoperative IOP until the end of 12 months' follow-up. There were no recorded serious postoperative complications in either groups, like wound leaks or endophthalmitis. CONCLUSION: Sutureless scleral tunnel trabeculectomy exhibits potential as an alternative to conventional trabeculectomy surgery. Over 12 months of follow-up, sutureless sclera flap trabeculectomy was safe and effective with an IOP-lowering effect comparable to that achieved with the conventional technique, but with increased rate of postoperative transient hypotony.

Combined Oral and Topical Beta Blockers for the Treatment of Early Proliferative Superficial Periocular Infantile Capillary Hemangioma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined oral and topical beta blockers for the treatment of superficial periocular infantile hemangioma at the early proliferative stage. METHODS: This was a randomized, controlled comparison trial involving 25 patients. Patients were randomly enrolled into two groups: the topical and systemic treatment and systemic treatment only groups. The topical and systemic treatment group was treated with oral propranolol (1 mg/kg per day initially, increased to 2 mg/kg per day gradually in 2 weeks) and timolol maleate 0.5% gel. The systemic treatment only group received oral propranolol (1 mg/kg per day initially, increased to 2 mg/kg per day gradually in 2 weeks) and simple eye ointment to be applied to the lesion. The Hemangioma Activity Score was used to record the proliferative activity of the hemangioma. The main outcomes of the study were the change in the hemangioma size, the proliferative activity, and the treatment side effects. RESULTS: At the end of the treatment period, the Hemangioma Activity Score was significantly improved in both groups from their values before treatment. However, the score obtained after treatment was significantly better in the topical and systemic treatment group (P < .05). Regarding the response to treatment, 10 and 3 cases in the topical and systemic treatment and systemic treatment only groups, respectively, showed a good response, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < .50). There were no recorded serious local or systemic complications during treatment in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The results from combining topical with oral beta blockers showed that topical beta blockers are of additive value in treating superficial periocular infantile hemangioma in the early proliferative stage. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2018;55(1):37-42.].

Trabeculectomy With Mitomycin-C Versus Trabeculectomy With Amniotic Membrane Transplant: A Medium-term Randomized, Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of trabeculectomy with the use of amniotic membrane transplant (AMT) compared with the standard trabeculectomy with Mitomycin-C (MMC) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was a patient-masked, randomized, controlled comparison trial involving 52 eyes of 52 patients with bilateral primary open-angle glaucoma. Patients were randomized to receive trabeculectomy with AMT or trabeculectomy with MMC. The main outcome for comparison was the IOP-lowering effect of both procedures. Surgical success was considered if the patient's IOP was <22 mm Hg, and the IOPs were lowered by >20% without the use of any medication. RESULTS: All surgeries passed uneventfully without intraoperative complications, and all patients showed significantly (P<0.05) lower IOP on the first postoperative day compared with their respective preoperative IOP with nonsignificant (P>0.05) difference between both study groups. All patients, irrespective of the operative procedure maintained significantly (P<0.05) lower IOP compared with their respective preoperative IOP till the end of 24 months follow-up. Moreover, patients of the AMT group showed lower IOP compared with those included in the MMC group throughout the follow-up period; however, the difference was not statistically significant at any point of the study period. CONCLUSIONS: AMT exhibits potential as an alternative to MMC in trabeculectomy surgery. Over 24 months of follow-up, the use of AMT with trabeculectomy was safe and effective with an IOP-lowering effect comparable to that achieved with the use of MMC, and a reduced rate of postoperative complication.

Epithelium-on corneal cross-linking treatment of progressive keratoconus: a prospective, consecutive study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of collagen cross-linking (CXL) without corneal epithelial debridement in patients treated for progressive keratoconus for whom the standard epithelium-off treatment cannot be applied, as their central corneal thickness (CCT) is less than 400 µm. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, uncontrolled, interventional study involving 32 eyes of 30 patients with progressive keratoconus and CCT of less than 400 µm. All patients received CXL treatment with application of riboflavin and exposure to ultraviolet light A for 30 minutes without corneal epithelial debridement. Patients were followed up to 12 months postoperatively. The main outcomes were changes in maximum-K reading, manifest refractive spherical equivalent, CCT, and best-corrected visual acuity (logarithm of minimum angle of resolution). Patients were also asked to report any pain or discomfort during the procedure. RESULTS: At the end of the 12-month follow-up, CCT showed no significant change: from 392±5.17 µm preoperatively to 390±4.45 µm (P=0.102). Maximum-K reading decreased significantly, from 49.19±2.30 D preoperatively to 46.96±6.03 D postoperatively (P<0.05). The mean manifest spherical equivalent showed no significant change: from 4.04±1.51 D preoperatively to 4.17±1.63 D postoperatively (P=0.110). Mean best-corrected visual acuity showed no significant change: from 0.29±0.12 preoperatively to 0.31±0.11 postoperatively (P=0.110). CONCLUSION: Epithelium-on CXL exhibits potential as a method for treating patients with progressive keratoconus and CCT of less than 400 µm, in which the standard epithelium-off CXL cannot be applied. Over 12 months of follow-up, the epithelium-on CXL was safe and effective, with results comparable to that achieved with the epithelium-off technique in thicker corneas, and reduced rates of operative and postoperative discomfort.

Prophylactic postoperative ketorolac improves outcomes in diabetic patients assigned for cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prophylactic role of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in reducing the incidence of central macular edema (CME) in diabetic eyes post-cataract surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 86 eyes (70 patients) with high risk characteristics for the development of CME after cataract surgery. All patients underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. Patients were divided into two equal groups (n = 43 [eyes]): a control group given topical dexamethasone 0.1%, four times/day for 12 weeks postoperatively and a study group given topical ketorolac tromethamine 0.4% twice daily in addition to topical dexamethasone 0.1% four times daily for 12 weeks. Patients were examined at 3, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively for evaluation of CME development. The main study outcome was the change in the retinal fovea thickness measured with ocular coherence topography. RESULTS: Ten eyes developed CME (11.6%); eight eyes in the control group and only two eyes in the study group. Mean retinal fovea thickness was significantly higher in the control group compared to the study group. Moreover, eyes of the control group developed CME significantly earlier than those of the study group. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic postoperative ketorolac 0.4% may have a role in reducing the frequency and severity of CME in diabetic eyes post-cataract surgery.

A short-term randomized clinical trial of daily versus alternate day use of travoprost 0.004% in the treatment of ocular hypertension.

PURPOSE: To compare the daily versus the alternate day use of travoprost 0.004% in lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with ocular hypertension. METHODS: Fourteen patients with ocular hypertension in both eyes have been randomly assigned to receive travoprost 0.004% once a day in 1 eye and once every other day in the other eye. The main outcome measure was change in the mean of the IOPs measured at 9:00 AM, and 4:00 PM between baseline (before treatment) and measurement of IOPs at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: After 3 months of treatment, daily use of travoprost 0.004% significantly reduced IOP (mean±standard error of mean) by 6.1±0.5 mmHg (P<0.001) and alternate day use by 5.9±0.3 mmHg (P< 0.001) adjusted from an overall baseline of 24.3±0.5 mm Hg. The difference in the IOP-lowering effect was not statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Alternate day use of travoprost 0.004% was as safe and effective as its daily use in lowering the IOP in patients with ocular hypertension.

Effect of cataract extraction on SITA perimetry in patients with glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of cataract extraction on Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm (SITA) perimetry in patients with coexisting cataract and glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective noncomparative interventional study. Thirty-seven consecutive patients with open-angle glaucoma who had cataract extraction alone or combined with trabeculectomy were included. All patients had SITA-standard 24-2 visual fields before and after the surgery. The main outcome measures were changes in mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD). Additionally, changes in best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and number of glaucoma medications were also studied. RESULTS: Visual field tests were performed 3.9+/-4.4 months before surgery and 4.1+/-2.8 months after surgery. Mean visual acuity improved after the surgery, from 0.41+/-0.21 to 0.88+/-0.32 (P<0.001). After cataract extraction, SITA-standard mean MD improved from -12.3+/-5.8 to -11.1+/-6.3 (P=0.023), whereas the change in mean PSD was statistically nonsignificant (from 7.2+/-3.0 to 7.3+/-3.6; P=0.84). CONCLUSIONS: In glaucoma patients examined with SITA-standard, MD improved but PSD change was statistically nonsignificant, after the cataract surgery. SITA-standard PSD can be used to monitor glaucoma progression in patients with coexisting glaucoma and cataract.