Causes of congenital corneal opacities and their management in a tertiary care center.

PURPOSE: To evaluate causes and management of congenital corneal opacities (CCO) diagnosed in a tertiary care eye center and to compare the data with a previous study at the same institution. METHODS: Computerized medical records in all patients with congenital corneal opacities diagnosed in the Cornea Service at Wills Eye Hospital (Philadelphia, PA) between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. Children aged 12 years and younger at the first visit were included in the study. Patients\u27 demographics, ocular diagnosis, laterality, associated ocular abnormalities, other ocular surgery performed prior or subsequent to the first visit, and their treatment were extracted from the medical records. RESULTS: A total of 77 eyes in 56 patients were examined. The mean age at presentation was 32.8 ± 44.2 months, with the mean follow-up period of 26.7 ± 30.1 months. The most frequent diagnosis was Peters anomaly (53.2%), followed by limbal dermoid (13.0%), aniridia with glaucoma and microphthalmos (6.5%), sclerocornea and congenital glaucoma (5.2%), idiopathic (3.9%), Axenfeld-Rieger anomaly and Hurler syndrome (2.6%), and microcornea (1.3%). Primary keratoplasty was performed in 26 eyes, with the outcome rate in the clear cornea of 76.0% during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: Peters anomaly is the most common cause of congenital corneal opacities encountered at our institution. Penetrating keratoplasty is the most frequent choice of corneal surgery to treat congenital corneal opacities. Additional interventions during penetrating keratoplasty were moderately positively correlated with graft failure. This study also shows the rates of some etiologies of that changed over the recent decades in our tertiary care Cornea Service. Although Peters anomaly remains the most common presenting reason for congenital corneal opacities, its rate appears to be increasing over the recent decade. Congenital corneal opacities due to birth trauma, which is one of the preventable causes, were observed in a previous study in our clinic; however, no new cases were noted in this study

Anterior Chamber Characteristics, Endothelial Parameters, and Corneal Densitometry After Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty in Patients With Fuchs Dystrophy

Purpose: To compare anterior segment parameters in patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED) who underwent Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in one eye and no corneal surgery in the fellow eye. Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 28 eyes of 14 patients with FED who underwent DSAEK in one eye at least one year prior (DSAEK group) and no corneal surgery in the fellow eye (control group). Each eye was analyzed with the anterior segment optical coherence tomography, specular microscopy, and Scheimpflug imaging systems. Data were compared between the two groups. Results: The mean age of the patients was 76.9 ± 7.0 years. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean central corneal thickness (CCT), central anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber angle parameters, cylinder and keratometry values between two groups (all P-values > 0.05). The paracentral corneal thickness, corneal volume, endothelial cell density, and hexagonal cell ratio measurements were statistically significantly higher in the DSAEK group than the control (all P-values < 0.05), and anterior chamber volume in the DSAEK group was significantly less than the control (P = 0.046). While posterior and total corneal densitometry values in the DSAEK group were statistically significantly lower than the control (P < 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively), there were no statistically significant differences in the anterior or middle corneal densities (P = 0.108 and P = 0.134, respectively). Conclusion: We found that total corneal densitometry value decreased in DSAEK group. Although DSAEK surgery did not affect the anterior chamber angle parameters, it reduced the anterior chamber volume and increased the corneal volume and paracentral corneal thickness due to the addition of the DSAEK graft

Giant fornix syndrome: a case series.

PURPOSE: To describe the demographics, characteristics, and treatment of giant fornix syndrome, a rare cause of chronic purulent conjunctivitis in the elderly. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of five patients with giant fornix syndrome evaluated by the Cornea Service, Oculoplastics and Orbital Surgery Service and the Department of Pathology at the Wills Eye Institute. RESULTS: The median age of the 5 female patients was 75 years (mean 80, range 70-95). The median duration of eye symptoms before presentation was 2 years (mean 2.4, range 1-4). Before referral, the chronic conjunctivitis was treated with topical antibiotics in all 5 cases and with additional dacryocystorhinostomy in one case. The right eye was affected in 2 cases, and the left eye was affected in the other 3 cases. Floppy eyelids were present in 2 cases. The superior fornix was involved in 4 cases, and the inferior fornix was involved in one case. Pseudomembranes and superficial punctate keratitis (SPK) were seen in 3 cases. Diagnosis of giant fornix syndrome was made in all 5 cases. Conjunctival culture grew methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and S. aureus in singular cases. Case 1 was treated with topical moxifloxacin, Case 2 was treated with topical vancomycin and repair of the upper eyelid, Case 3 was treated with topical besifloxacin, and Case 4 was treated with dacryocystorhinostomy and topical vancomycin. Case 5 was treated with reconstruction of the left upper eyelid. The median duration of follow up was 4 months (mean 21.6, range 1-84). CONCLUSIONS: Giant fornix syndrome can lead to chronic relapsing conjunctivitis in the elderly. Deep conjunctival fornices in affected patients can be a site for prolonged sequestration of bacteria causing recurrent infections. Removing the infected debris from the superior fornix and reconstruction of the upper eyelid may prevent the recurrent chronic persistent infection

Spontaneously resolving macular cyst in an infant.

The purpose of this study is to describe transient macular cysts in an infant and correlate their occurrence with normal development events. A newborn Caucasian girl presented with a protruding corneal mass in her left eye at birth. She underwent a complete ophthalmic examination. A keratinized staphylomatous malformation involving the entire cornea and precluding further visualization of the anterior and posterior segment was observed in the left eye. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) of the right eye performed when the child was approximately 6-week-old had revealed an unexpected finding of macular cysts involving the inner nuclear and outer retinal layers. Corneal transplant in the left eye was performed a month later. Ocular examination under anesthesia just prior to surgery revealed normal intraocular pressure, anterior segment and retina in the right eye. SD-OCT was normal in both eyes and showed complete resolution of the cysts in the right eye. The patient had not been on any medications at that time. Although clinical retinal examination might be unremarkable, SD-OCT may reveal cystic spaces in the macula. In the absence of conditions known to be associated with macular edema, transient macular cysts may arise due to a developmental incompetence of the blood-retinal barrier or may represent transient spaces created during normal migration of retinal cells. Further study is warranted to delineate the entity of transient macular cysts in infancy

Dynamic contour tonometry - A new way to assess intraocular pressure in ectatic corneas

Purpose: To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements in patients with keratoconus (KC), pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD), and unilateral penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for KC by Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), Tono-Pen tonometry (TP), and Pascal dynamic contour tonometry (DCT)

Macrostriae and Descemet\u27s membrane folds in the Descemet\u27s stripping endothelial keratoplasty graft.

Descemet\u27s stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) is a good alternative to penetrating keratoplasty in eyes with endothelial dysfunction due to faster healing, better refractive outcomes, absence of suture-related complications, and better wound security. The complications usually encountered after DSEK are graft dislocation, detachment, and rejection, secondary glaucoma, epithelial downgrowth, retrocorneal fibrous membrane, aqueous misdirection, cataract development and other minor non-vision threatening complications.[1–3] Wrinkles or folds after endothelial keratoplasty can cause poor visual outcome.[4] We report a case of macrostriae and Descemet\u27s membrane folds in a DSEK graft. A 63-year-old woman with a 4-year history of Fuchs\u27 endothelial dystrophy in both eyes (OU) presented with floaters in her left eye (OS). She had undergone uncomplicated cataract surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation OS 3 years ago. One year later, she developed blurred vision in the same eye. Visual acuity was 20/200 OU. Increasing corneal edema was noted OS. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was 15 mm Hg in the right eye (OD) and 18 mm Hg OS. Central corneal thickness was 575 mm OD and 630 mm OS. Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy and progressive Fuchs’ dystrophy OS was diagnosed and DSEK OS was performed

Graft rejection risk and incidence after bilateral penetrating keratoplasty

Purpose. To assess the risk and incidence of rejection in patients who underwent bilateral penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and had at least one rejection episode. Methods. The records of patients undergoing PK between January 1994 and December 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were bilateral PKs and at least one rejection within 18 months of either PK. Exclusion criteria were PK performed elsewhere, multiple grafts in the same eye, and fewer than 18 months between PKs in the two eyes. Results. Eighty-three patients had bilateral PKs (56 women and 27 men) at least 18 months apart and had a rejection episode within 18 months of at least one surgery. Their mean age was 57.1 +/- 17.7 years. The mean follow-up after the first and second PKs were 9.6 +/- 5.4 and 4.1 +/- 3.7 years, respectively. Kaplan-Meier Survival analysis showed that PK in the second eye did not impose an increased risk of rejection in the first eye. There was no significant difference in the frequency of rejections between the two eyes during the first 18 months after the second PK. The first eye was significantly more likely to have a rejection during the first 18 months after the first PK than during the first 18 months after the second PK (P=0.01). Conclusions. Having a PK in the second eye does not impose a significantly increased risk of rejection for the first eye when PKs are performed at least 18 months apart. There is an indefinite risk for rejection. Lifelong regular follow-up and immediate evaluation for new symptoms are essential

Virtual versus In-Person Ophthalmology Interviews: Perceptions of U.S. Ophthalmology Fellowship Applicants in 2022–2023

Purpose Despite easing restrictions on social distancing and travel since the beginning of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, virtual interviews remain a widely used format for ophthalmology fellowship interviews. This study aims to evaluate the relative benefits and drawbacks of in-person versus virtual interviews during a cycle where both formats were prevalent