Detection of graft detachments immediately following Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) comparing time domain and spectral domain OCT

Correct early graft attachment is believed to be crucial for final visual outcome after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). Nonetheless, it is not yet known which imaging technique gives superior results for examining early postoperative graft adherence status. We compared imaging data taken with two different OCT devices to examine the development of graft adherence immediately after DMEK and to determine the superior device in terms of visualization of graft adherence. Ten consecutive patients (1 man/9 women) were examined three times postoperatively within the first 7 h after DMEK surgery using spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT) and time domain OCT (TD-OCT), as prospective case series and retrospective image data analyses. The parameters analyzed were localization and number, visibility and size of graft detachments. TD-OCT was able to detect a greater number of graft detachments after DMEK; however, SD-OCT provided better resolution of minor detachments. Graft detachments varied in position and degree at different time points immediately after surgery. All patients had some graft detachment within the first 7 h after DMEK surgery. TD-OCT enabled better overall analysis of graft detachments, even in the periphery, whereas SD-OCT allowed for the detection of even minor detachments, which suggests that a combination of the two techniques is optimal. Our results indicate that dynamic processes affecting the DMEK graft immediately after transplantation are responsible for changes in the attachment of donor tissue at an early postoperative stage. Modulation of early graft attachment may improve the final graft attachment

Intensified topical steroids as prophylaxis for macular edema after posterior lamellar keratoplasty combined with cataract surgery

PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of intensified topical steroid therapy after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty combined with cataract surgery (triple-DMEK) on the incidence of postoperative cystoid macular edema (CME). DESIGN: Single-center comparative clinical study with historical controls. METHODS: SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Germany, tertiary hospital, performing 500 corneal transplant surgeries per year. PATIENTS: Total of 131 patients (150 eyes) undergoing triple-DMEK surgery. INCLUSION CRITERION: Triple-DMEK surgery. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Prior retinal surgery, history of prior CME. INTERVENTIONS: Prednisolone acetate eye drops 1% 5 times daily for the first week after surgery. After an internal change of therapy regimen: Prednisolone acetate eye drops 1% hourly for the first postoperative week. We compared 75 consecutive eyes before with 75 consecutive eyes after the change of therapy regimen. Patients received macular spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) preoperatively, as well as 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months post surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Development of CME detected by macular SD OCT during 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable regarding baseline age, sex, central corneal thickness, rebubbling rate, and visual acuity. With topical steroid therapy 5 times per day during the first postoperative week, we observed 9 cases of subsequent CME (12%). With hourly topical steroid therapy none of the patients developed CME subsequently (P=.003). Apart from the topical steroids during the first week, medical treatment was identical in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early intensified postoperative topical steroid therapy constitutes an effective prophylactic treatment to reduce incidence of CME after triple-DMEK surgery. (C) 2016 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

The Epidemiology of Herpes Simplex Virus Eye Disease in Northern California

Purpose: To calculate the incidence and prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) eye disease in a large, well-defined population in Northern California, USA, and to determine the recurrence rate following an initial episode of disease in this cohort. Methods: A retrospective, observational, cohort study using population-based data and medical record review. The patient database of a large, regional health maintenance organization (Northern California Kaiser Permanente) was searched, and the study population consisted of 1,042,351 people over a 1-year study period from 1 July 1998 through 30 June 1999. Only ocular HSV cases with definitive clinical or laboratory confirmed diagnoses were included. Active and inactive cases were included, however only active cases were used in incidence and prevalence calculations. Bilateral disease was counted as one case. Newly diagnosed cases were followed for recurrence from initial presentation through 31 December 2002. Results: After chart review of 322 possible cases, 71 new cases and 59 previously diagnosed active cases of ocular HSV were confirmed. This resulted in an incidence rate of 6.8 new cases/100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval, CI, 5.3-8.6). Incidence increased with age, and rates were highest in people over 75 years of age (p<0.001). The recurrence rate in new cases was 18% for the 3-year follow-up time, and was equal to 5% per year (95% CI 3-9%). Conclusion: The incidence and prevalence of ocular herpes simplex in this study was lower than previously reported. Incidence increased with age, and there were significantly higher rates in the older population