Argon laser iridotomy-induced bullous keratopathy a growing problem in Japan

Surgical outcome of Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty for bullous keratopathy secondary to argon laser iridotomy

BACKGROUND: To report the 6-month clinical outcome of Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) for bullous keratopathy (BK) secondary to argon laser iridotomy (ALI), and compare the results with those of DSAEK for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) or Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (FED). METHODS: A total of 103 patients (54 with ALI, 28 with PBK, 21 with FED) undergoing DSAEK were retrospectively analyzed. Simultaneous cataract surgery was performed in 37 patients with ALI and 13 with FED. Preoperative ocular conditions, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), spherical equivalent refraction (SE), induced astigmatism, keratometric value, endothelial cell density (ECD), and complications were determined over 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Mean axial length in the ALI group (21.8 ± 0.8 mm) was significantly shorter than that in the FED (P = 0.02) or PBK groups (P = 0.003). Severe corneal stromal edema (n = 6), advanced cataract (n = 10), posterior synechia (n = 3), poor mydriasis (n = 5), and Zinn zonule weakness (n = 1) were found only in the ALI group. A significant improvement was observed in postoperative BSCVA in all groups. No significant difference was observed in BSCVA, SE, induced astigmatism, keratometric value, ECD, or complications among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty for BK secondary to ALI showed rapid postoperative visual improvement, with similar efficacy and safety to that observed in DSAEK for PBK or FED.

Use of pars plana vitrectomy with phacoemulsification in vitreous cavity to treat complete posterior dislocation of lens

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with phacoemulsification in the vitreous cavity for treatment of complete posterior dislocation of the lens without any damage to the lens capsule.

Methods

We evaluated factors such as cause of dislocation, scleral fixation of an intraocular lens (IOL), preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, corneal endothelial cell density, and intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Results

Displacement in the eleven eyes studied was mostly caused by ocular trauma and was idiopathic (four eyes each). Scleral fixation of the IOL was performed in seven of the eyes during first-time PPV. Visual acuity was improved in two eyes, unchanged in eight eyes, and worse in one eye. Mean corneal endothelial cell density was 2485 cells/mm² preoperatively and 2301 cells/mm² postoperatively. No significant differences were seen before and after the surgeries (P = 0.15, paired t-test). Intraoperative complications included retinal detachment and suprachoroidal hemorrhage in one eye each. The most common postoperative complication was transient ocular hypertension, which occurred in three eyes. IOL dislocation and vitreous incarceration of the anterior chamber in one eye required a second operation, while retinal detachment in one eye required a third operation.

Conclusion

When treating a completely dislocated lens, prevention of retinal detachment which subsequently can affect the visual prognosis is the most important factor to be addressed after PPV with intravitreal phacoemulsification.

Non-Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty for endothelial dysfunction secondary to argon laser iridotomy

PURPOSE

To report clinical outcomes of non-Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (nDSAEK) as treatment of endothelial dysfunction secondary to argon laser iridotomy (ALI).

DESIGN

Single-center, prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.

METHODS

Six eyes of six patients (two men, four women; mean age, 74.5 years) with bullous keratopathies secondary to ALI were treated with endothelial keratoplasty without recipient Descemet stripping. The donor endothelial lamella was inserted using a pull-through technique using a Busin glide with intraocular lens glide (i.e., Kobayashi double-glide technique). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), astigmatism, and donor central endothelial cell density (ECD) were recorded before surgery and at six months after surgery. Intraoperative and postoperative complications also were recorded. Main outcome measures were preoperative and postoperative central ECD, with calculation of cell loss rate. BCVA, induced astigmatism, and complications also were evaluated.

RESULTS

All patients reached more than 20/32 BCVA, with two (33.3%) reaching 20/20. Mean induced astigmatism in measurable cases was 0.85 +/- 0.49 diopters. The average and standard deviation ECD at six months were 2390.5 +/- 522.4 cells/mm(2) (range, 1589 to 2898 cells/mm(2)), representing a mean cell loss from preoperative donor cell measurements of 25.8% +/- 14.7%. Complications included one case of donor dislocation requiring rebubbling (16.7%) and one case of subclinical endothelial rejection (16.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

This modified endothelial keratoplasty technique (nDSAEK and double-glide technique) for treatment of endothelial dysfunction secondary to ALI produced excellent clinical outcomes such as reduced endothelial cell loss, good visual acuity, and minimal induced astigmatism.

In vivo laser confocal microscopy after descemet stripping with automated endothelial keratoplasty

PURPOSE

To investigate in vivo corneal changes in patients with bullous keratopathies before and after Descemet stripping with automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) using laser confocal microscopy.

DESIGN

Single-center, prospective, comparative clinical study.

METHODS

Seven patients (two men, five women; mean age, 68.9 years; range, 59 to 78) with bullous keratopathies who underwent DSAEK enrolled in this study. Laser confocal microscopy was performed before and one, three, and six months after DSAEK. Selected images were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively for degree of haze and density of deposits.

RESULTS

Preoperatively, corneal epithelial edema, subepithelial haze, keratocytes in a honeycomb pattern, and tiny needle-shaped materials in the stroma were observed in all patients. After DSAEK, subepithelial haze, donor-recipient interface haze, and interface particles were observed in all five measurable cases; postoperative haze and particles decreased statistically significantly (P < .05) over follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

In vivo laser confocal microscopy is capable of identifying subclinical corneal abnormality after DSAEK with high resolution. Further studies in a large number of patients and long-term follow-up after DSAEK using this device are needed to fully understand long-term corneal stromal changes after DSAEK and whether the preexisting corneal stromal pathologies are reversible.