[Historic Survey of Posterior Lamellar Keratoplasty Techniques - an Overview]. / Historický prehled technik zadní lamelární keratoplastiky.

Some of the modifications of posterior lamellar keratoplasty is at the present considered by most of the corneal surgeons as method of choice in case of patients corneal endothelium damage. However, this surgical technique undergoes in the last 20 years relatively rapid development. Even in the current time, there exist side by side and are used different types and modifications of this sort of transplantation. Because of this reason, differences among individual methods are sometimes not accurately understood and the terminology may be used not exactly as well. The authors specify all until now described surgical methods, describe differences among single surgical procedures, and point out their advantages and disadvantages. The methods are described in the same order as they were historically introduced into the literature.Key words: posterior lamellar keratoplasty, surgical methods.

Professor Dr Med Oskar Fehr: the fate of an outstanding German-Jewish ophthalmologist: an early contributor to cornea and external disease.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to recount the immense and abrupt change in the private and professional life of a prominent German-Jewish ophthalmologist in the transition from democracy to dictatorship in Germany during the first half of the 20th century. METHODS: This involves a Retrospective analysis of Fehr's clinical and scientific work as the first assistant of Julius Hirschberg's world-famous eye clinic in Berlin; evaluation of Fehr's successful tenure as a chair of Virchow's Eye Hospital; the catastrophic influence of Hitler's seizure of power on the private and professional lives of German-Jewish physicians; and an analysis of Fehr's personal and professional will to continue the practice of medicine in England. RESULTS: Oskar Fehr published >50 articles and was the first to describe the endemic swimming pool conjunctivitis. He was the first to specifically distinguish granular, lattice, and macular corneal dystrophies. Professor Oskar Fehr was the chair of one of the most important eye clinics in Germany for nearly 30 years. The "Anti-Jewish Medical Laws" with their terrible consequences on private and professional lives led to Fehr's emigration from his homeland to England in 1939. He obtained a British medical doctor degree after 4 years of study, and at an advanced age, he demonstrated his determination to practice ophthalmology successfully in London. Oskar Fehr died in London on August 1, 1959.

[Corneal tatoo--art or science?]. / Tatuajul corneean--arta sau stiinta?

The permanent colouring of disfigured corneal scars is known for almost 200 years. Because of improvement in surgical reconstructive techniques, corneal tattoing is used today only with a restricted group on carefully chosen patients, and merely for esthetique reasons.

[The development of keratoplasty].

Corneal disease is a serious threat to human health. After recognizing the human cornea and corneal disease in early times, people began to hardly explore its treating method and eventually keratoplasty became one of the effective means. With the advancement of modern medicine and the development of molecular biology, keratoplasty had been greatly improved quantitatively and technically, and stem cell technology also begun to be used in keratoplasty. Although Chinese keratoplasty was already at the forefront of the international, there were still some problems to be solved, such as donor problem, its legal and ethical problems etc., the solution to which need to draw the experience of its history.

A short history of corneal transplantation: commemorating 100 years.

Corneal transplantation is the most commonly performed transplant surgery in the world today. This procedure replaces all or some of the recipient cornea with a cadaveric donor cornea. It has been 100 years since the first successful human allograft corneal transplantation was performed. This article provides the reader with a brief history of corneal transplantation.

Varicella-zoster virus: mechanisms of pathogenicity and corneal disease.

As ophthalmologists, many of our patients suffer from the ravages, both ocular and non-ocular, of the varicella-zoster virus. This article is a comprehensive review of the pathogenetic mechanisms of this ubiquitous virus. We review the basic virology, mechanisms of varicella, zoster, latency, reactivation, and the host immune response to the virus. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is discussed with special attention to the cornea and mechanisms of viral keratitis.

Thygeson lecture. Amniotic membrane transplantation: why is it effective?

PURPOSE: To review the uses and previously proposed mechanisms of action of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) and to suggest a new mechanism of action for the effectiveness of AMT in resolving a persistent epithelial defect (PED). METHODS: Significant clinical and experimental publications are reviewed. RESULTS: Evidence from the scientific literature suggests a new hypothesis for the effectiveness of AMT in the reepithelialization of a PED and the reduction of corneal stromal inflammation and continued fibrosis. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that reepithelialization of a PED, and hence the reduction of stromal inflammation and continued fibrosis following reepithelialization, is aided by the combination of oxygenation, moisture and protection of the fragile epithelium by the amniotic membrane.

Twenty-five years of contact lenses: the impact on the cornea and ophthalmic practice.

PURPOSE: The history of contact lenses has occurred in the latter half of the 20th century. In particular, events in the 1970s through the 1980s related to the invention of soft, hydrogel contact lenses have revolutionized the contact lens industry and the eye care attached to it. This article recounts that history from the perspective of market forces, inventions, and discoveries about the physiologic functioning of the cornea. METHODS: The relevant literature is critically reviewed. RESULTS: Discoveries about the oxygen needs of the cornea and consumer pressure for clear, comfortable, around-the-clock vision have resulted in a history of rigid gas permeable and soft lenses that leads to today's contact lens picture. The short-term and long-term effects of chronic hypoxia and the levels of lens oxygen transmissibility necessary to avoid them have been well-described. The advent of the soft lens, followed by the "human experiment" with initial extended-wear modalities, led to the advent of the disposable soft contact lens. CONCLUSIONS: In the past 25 years, the development and wide acceptance of soft contact lenses have revolutionized the management of refractive error and corneal diseases.

The past twenty-five years in eye banking.

PURPOSE: This review of milestones and challenges in eye banking describes efforts made by dedicated eye bankers to ensure the quality and quantity of corneal tissue for corneal blind patients over the last 25 years. METHODS: This account is the result of the recollection of the author, discussions with eye bankers, and a review of the literature, public documents, and Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) records. RESULTS: A measure of the success of eye banking is the fact that corneal transplant surgery is now scheduled as an elective procedure. Corneal tissue has also enjoyed a stellar safety record. This is due in part to the establishment of comprehensive medical standards by the EBAA, the accreditation of eye banks, and the training and certification of eye bank technicians. CONCLUSION: Advancements in eye banking over the last 25 years have improved the quality of life of several hundred thousand corneal blind persons in this country. More efforts must be made in the future to eliminate corneal blindness internationally.