EBOV-RNA test with RT-PCR in ocular fluids of Ebola survivors can help to safely perform cataract surgery

Since the Ebola virus (EBOV) was discovered in 1976, the recent 2014−2016 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa was the largest with 28,600 cases and about 11,300 deaths. This epidemic started in Guinea and spread rapidly across the borders in Sierra Leone and Liberia (1). After an incubation period of 2 to 21 days EBOV manifests clinically as a hemorrhagic fever that can lead to death by hypovolemic shock and multisystem failure generally within a month of infection. Human-to-human transmission of EBOV occurs by direct contact (through cutaneous or mucosal lesions) with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected persons, and by indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids

Anterior lamellar keratoplasty in keratoconus

Keratoconus (KC) is a progressive, bilateral, but usually asymmetrical ecstatic corneal disease, characterized by progressive corneal protrusion and thinning, that leads to corneal surface distortion. The reported incidence in the general population varies from 1.3 to 25 per 100,000 per year across different populations, with a prevalence of 8.8–229 per 100,000. Onset typically is at puberty with progression of the disease for 10–20 years after which it tends to stabilize. It occurs in all racial groups and equally affects males and females

Corneal stromal demarcation line after collagen cross-linking in corneal ectatic diseases: a review of the literature

Collagen cross-linking (CXL) is a relatively new conservative approach for progressive corneal ectasia, which is able to strengthen corneal tissue reforming new covalent bonds. Subjective and objective results following this method seem to be promising. In recent years, newer CXL protocols have been developed to perform more effective and less invasive procedures. The increasing diffusion of CXL in the corneal ectatic disease has increased the need to have actual indices regarding the efficacy of the treatment. Evaluation of demarcation line (DL), a transition zone between the cross-linked anterior corneal stroma and the untreated posterior corneal stroma, is considered a measurement of the depth of CXL treatment into the stroma. Some evidence in the literature emphasize that DL could be a measure of effectiveness of the CXL. On the contrary, some authors believe that the "the deeper, the better" principle is rather a simplistic approach for interpreting the clinical importance of the corneal stromal DL

Use of ozone-based eye drops. A series of cases in veterinary and human spontaneous ocular pathologies

Conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis, and corneal ulcers are common eye disorders frequently diagnosed in both humans and animals, and are currently treated by topical administration of eye drops containing anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. The current molecules often lack efficacy because infections in hypoxic tissue contain methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; thus, new products for the treatment of ocular pain and inflammation are needed. The use of ozone, a molecule stabilized for topical use as an ozonide, could be providential due to its anti-inflammatory and bactericidal activity in certain anterior segment pathologies, in addition to promoting tissue repair properties. Ozonated oils have the same properties as gaseous ozone and are well tolerated by tissues. In the present study the repair and regeneration effect of ozonated oil in liposomes plus hypromellose (Ozodrop®, FB Vision, Ascoli Piceno, Italy) instilled 3–4 times a day in external ocular spontaneous pathologies both in animals and humans are reported

Effectiveness of Scraping and Mitomycin C to Treat Haze After Myopic Photorefractive Keratectomy

To report the possibility of post myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) haze treatment in a patient with expressed reluctance for any additional laser therapy. Seven months after bilateral PRK with subsequent development of corneal haze and refractive regression in both eyes, a 37-old-year male patient presented a best-spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) of 20/30 in the right eye and of 20/22 in the left eye. Both eyes were sequentially treated by scraping the stromal surface and application of mitomycin C (MMC) for 2 minutes. Both eyes had significant improvement in corneal transparency. Eighteen months after this treatment BSCVA had improved to 20/20 in each eye. No toxic effects were observed during either re-epithelialization or follow-up periods. In conclusion scraping and application of MMC could be considered a good tool in the treatment of selected cases of haze after myopic PRK, especially with patients that are reluctant to undergo a secondary laser procedure

Effect of corneal light scatter on vision: a review of the literature

The cornea is the transparent connective tissue window at the front of the eye. The physiological role of the cornea is to conduct external light into the eye, focus it, together with the lens, onto the retina, and to provide rigidity to the entire eyeball. Therefore, good vision requires maintenance of the transparency and proper refractive shape of the cornea. The surface structures irregularities can be associated with wavefront aberrations and scattering errors. Light scattering in the human cornea causes a reduction of visual quality. In fact, the cornea must be transparent and maintain a smooth and stable curvature since it contributes to the major part of the focusing power of the eye. In most cases, a simple examination of visual acuity cannot demonstrate the reduction of visual quality secondary light scattering. In fact, clinical techniques for examining the human cornea in vivo have greatly expanded over the last few decades. The measurement of corneal back scattering qualifies the degree of corneal transparency. The measurement of corneal forward-scattering quantifies the amount of visual impairment that is produced by the alteration of transparency. The aim of this study was to review scattering in the human cornea and methods of measuring it

Different graft thicknesses after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty for bullous keratopathy in the two eyes of the same patient

Objective: To describe a very unique case of two Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) surgeries performed in both eyes of the same patient with an extremely different graft thickness and overall corneal thickness but with the same corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) 2 years after surgery. Case presentation: A 75-year-old woman with bilateral bullous keratopathy (BK) was submitted to DSAEK surgeries in both eyes, first in right and after 6 months in left eye. CDVA was 20/160 in the right eye and 20/63 in the left eye. Corneal thickness evaluated by anterior segment optical coherence tomography was 569 µm in the right eye and 560 µm in the left eye. The root mean square (RMS) was 2.1 in the right and left eyes. Endothelial cell densities were not detectable in both eyes. The estimated precut donor graft thickness from eye bank was 250 and 40 µm in the right and in the left graft, respectively. Two years after surgery CDVA was 20/25 in both eyes. Corneal thickness was 633 µm with a lenticule thickness of 206 µm in the right eye and 439 µm with a lenticule thickness of 48 µm in the left eye. The RMS was 1.7 in the right eye and 1.4 in the left eye. Endothelial cell density was 2.272 cells/mm2 in the right and 2.154 cells/mm2 in the left eye. Conclusion: DSAEK was safe and effective in the treatment of BK. In our report, the visual outcome resulted to be poorly related either to donor graft thickness or to postoperative corneal thickness

Regression of Urrets-Zavalia Syndrome After Deep Lamellar Keratoplasty for Keratoconus: A Case Study

We report a case of pharmacologic regression of Urrets-Zavalia syndrome, following deep lamellar keratoplasty for severe keratoconus. Sympatholytic and parasympathomimetic drops were administered and a progressive reduction of mydriasis and restoring of pupillary kinetics were observed. Four years after surgery, it was resulting in only slight residual anisocoria

Canaloplasty: current value in the management of glaucoma

Canaloplasty is a nonpenetrating blebless surgical technique for open-angle glaucoma, in which a flexible microcatheter is inserted within Schlemm's canal for the entire 360 degrees. When the microcatheter exits the opposite end, a 10-0 prolene suture is tied and it is then withdrawn, by pulling microcatheter back through the canal in the opposite direction. Ligation of prolene suture provides tension on the canal and facilitates aqueous outflow. The main advantage of canaloplasty is that this technique avoids the major complications of fistulating surgery related to blebs and hypotony. Currently, canaloplasty is performed in glaucoma patients with early to moderate disease and combination with cataract surgery is a suitable option in patients with clinically significant lens opacities

Posterior corneal surface stability after femtosecond laser-assisted keratomileusis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate posterior corneal surface variation after femtosecond laser-assisted keratomileusis in patients with myopia and myopic astigmatism. Patients were evaluated by corneal tomography preoperatively and at 1, 6, and 12 months. We analyzed changes in the posterior corneal curvature, posterior corneal elevation, and anterior chamber depth. Moreover, we explored correlation between corneal ablation depth, residual corneal thickness, percentage of ablated corneal tissue, and preoperative corneal thickness. During follow-up, the posterior corneal surface did not have a significant forward corneal shift: no significant linear relationships emerged between the anterior displacement of the posterior corneal surface and corneal ablation depth, residual corneal thickness, or percentage of ablated corneal tissue