Epithelial Keratitis After Cataract Surgery

Herpes simplex keratitis: A brief clinical overview

The aim of our minireview is to provide a brief overview of the diagnosis, clinical aspects, treatment options, management, and current literature available regarding herpes simplex keratitis (HSK). This type of corneal viral infection is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which can affect several tissues, including the cornea. One significant aspect of HSK is its potential to cause recurrent episodes of inflammation and damage to the cornea. After the initial infection, the HSV can establish a latent infection in the trigeminal ganglion, a nerve cluster near the eye. The virus may remain dormant for extended periods. Periodic reactivation of the virus can occur, leading to recurrent episodes of HSK. Factors triggering reactivation include stress, illness, immunosuppression, or trauma. Recurrent episodes can manifest in different clinical patterns, ranging from mild epithelial involvement to more severe stromal or endothelial disease. The severity and frequency of recurrences vary among individuals. Severe cases of HSK, especially those involving the stroma and leading to scarring, can result in vision impairment or even blindness in extreme cases. The cornea's clarity is crucial for good vision, and scarring can compromise this, potentially leading to visual impairment. The management of HSK involves not only treating acute episodes but also implementing long-term strategies to prevent recurrences and attempt repairs of corneal nerve endings via neurotization. Antiviral medications, such as oral Acyclovir or topical Ganciclovir, may be prescribed for prophylaxis. The immune response to the virus can contribute to corneal damage. Inflammation, caused by the body's attempt to control the infection, may inadvertently harm the corneal tissues. Clinicians should be informed about triggers and advised on measures to minimize the risk of reactivation. In summary, the recurrent nature of HSK underscores the importance of both acute and long-term management strategies to preserve corneal health and maintain optimal visual function.

Herpes Simplex Keratitis as a Complication of Pterygium Surgery

BACKGROUND Infectious keratitis after pterygium surgery is a rare but potentially devastating complication. The present study presents 5 cases of herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) after pterygium surgery. CASE REPORT This study was conducted in our clinic in a 5-year period from February 2017 to September 2021. The 5 patients were men, aged between 42 and 73 years, with no prior history of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections. Symptoms appeared near 1 month (median 30 days, range 10 to 70 days) after primary pterygium surgery. Diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms and laboratory test results, such as tear HSV-sIgA, corneal tissue polymerase chain reaction, and next-generation sequencing of metagenomics. The epithelial (1/5) and stromal (4/5) subtypes of HSK were identified. The patients received topical ganciclovir gel, immunosuppressive eyedrops, and oral acyclovir tablets, along with additional surgical interventions if necessary. Three were healed with conservative therapy, 1 eye required amniotic membrane transplantation due to corneal melt, and 1 was perforated and followed by corneal grafting. Finally, a literature review of previous publications on HSK after ocular surgeries was conducted. CONCLUSIONS HSK is a rare but serious complication that can arise after uneventful pterygium surgery. It is worthy of attention that both epithelial and stromal forms can occur. Timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent unfavorable outcomes. Consequently, routine corneal fluorescein staining, tear sIgA examination, and corneal scraping for polymerase chain reaction or next-generation sequencing of metagenomics should be performed in any suspected cases.

Combined versus sequential penetrating keratoplasty and cataract surgery for herpes simplex keratitis: a retrospective study

Purpose

To compare the surgical outcomes of combined penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and cataract surgery with those of sequential surgery (cataract surgery after PK) for herpes simplex keratitis (HSK).

Methods

The medical records of consecutive patients diagnosed with HSK who underwent combined or sequential PK and cataract surgery in active and stable stages between June 2015 and June 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. Complications, graft survival, endothelial cell density (ECD), and final BCVA were compared and analyzed between both surgical methods in each stage.

Results

A total of 171 eyes of 171 patients were enrolled, including active stage (69 combined, 46 sequential) and stable stage (34 combined, 22 sequential). The average follow up was 24.2 ± 15.8 months (range, 3 months - 48 months). The final BCVA had obvious improvement and the postoperative ECD was not different in combined and sequential groups of each stage. In sequential group of active stage, 66.7% of persistent epithelial defects and 50% of HSK recurrence occurred within 3 months after cataract surgery; nevertheless, compared to that in sequential group, capsular rupture (p = 0.021), persistent epithelial defects (p = 0.027), and HSK recurrence (p = 0.035) occurred more frequently in combined group, leading to a lower graft survival rate (p = 0.045); at the last visit, 46.4 and 67.4% of grafts remained clear in combined and sequential groups, respectively. By contrary, 82.4 and 50.0% of grafts remained clear in stable stages of combined and sequential groups at the last visit, respectively, and a higher graft survival rate was observed in combined group (p = 0.030).

Conclusion

Although the postoperative ECD is not different between two surgical groups in each stage, sequential surgery in active stage of HSK seems to have advantages in less complications and higher graft survival rate, whereas combined surgery in stable stage has a better outcome than that in sequential surgery.

Unexpected Poor Vision within 24 h of Uneventful Phacoemulsification Surgery-A Review

Review on day one post uneventful phacoemulsification surgery is no longer standard practice due to the infrequency of complications when using modern cataract removal techniques. Clinicians are therefore likely to be unfamiliar with the potential causes of reduced vision when presented with a patient in the immediate postoperative period. The purpose of this review is to discuss the various differential causes of early visual loss, for the benefit of clinicians presented with similar patients in emergency care, with the use of an illustrative clinical case of paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM), which recently presented to the authors. A thorough literature search on Google Scholar was conducted, and only causes of visual loss that would manifest within 24 h postoperatively were included. Complications are inherently rare in this period; however, various optical, anterior segment, lens-related and posterior segment causes have been identified and discussed. Front-line clinicians should be aware of these differentials with different mechanisms. PAMM remains to be the only cause of unexpected visual loss within this time frame that may have no abnormal findings on clinical examination.

Evidence in the prevention of the recurrence of herpes simplex and herpes zoster keratitis after eye surgery

OBJECTIVE

Herpetic keratitis, either due to herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) or herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), can recur after eye surgery.º Prophylaxis is postulated as necessary to avoid it. The objective of this study was to review the scientific evidence on the preventive methods used in the perioperative period in patients previously affected by HSK/HZO.

METHODS

An exhaustive search was carried out in the PubMed and Web of Science databases to identify relevant articles on prophylaxis and risk of recurrence of HSK/HZO in patients undergoing eye surgery up to 31 December 2019.

RESULTS

There is strong evidence that oral prophylaxis should be recommended after penetrating keratoplasty in patients who have previously had HSK/HZO. For other types of surgery, the evidence is less compelling. However, a latent period of inactivity should be considered between disease and oral prophylaxis.

CONCLUSIONS

Penetrating and lamellar keratoplasty, corneal crosslinking, cataract surgery, and photorefractive and phototherapeutic surgery cause an alteration of the subbasal nerve plexus of the cornea. Due to surgical trauma, as well as the modulation of the ocular immune response caused by steroids applied in the postoperative period, it is possible to induce the reactivation of HSK/HZO, which is common in some cases. Within this article, we discuss the available evidence for HSK/HZO prophylaxis in eye surgery. Further studies are necessary to define the real risk of HSK/HZO recurrence after ocular surgeries, particularly in cataract surgery, and to confirm the efficacy of perioperative prophylaxis with anti-HSK/HZO antivirals.

Clinical Features, Risk Factors, and Therapy of Epithelial Keratitis after Cataract Surgery

Purpose

The study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and therapy of epithelial keratitis after cataract surgery.

Methods

Medical data of 89 consecutive patients who developed epithelial keratitis after cataract surgery, including 37 patients with diabetes mellitus (37 eyes) and 52 patients without diabetes mellitus (52 eyes), were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical characteristics, risk factors, and therapy in those patients were evaluated.

Results

The preoperative tear film function determined by the tear breakup time, meibomian gland atrophy score, and low tear meniscus height in diabetic patients was poorer than nondiabetic patients (P < 0.001). Of diabetic patients, 83.78% (31/37) had been diagnosed with meibomian gland dysfunction before cataract surgery and treated with topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs after cataract surgery for 44.69 ± 10.51 days, compared to 42.31% (22/52) of nondiabetic patients receiving the topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory treatment for 33.35 ± 5.16 days (both P < 0.001). Epithelial lesions progressed within three to four days following cataract surgery in 59.46% (22/37) of diabetic patients, versus 30.77% (16/52) of the nondiabetic patients (P=0.025). Patients with combined meibomian gland dysfunction and epithelial defects accounted for 48.65% (18/37) in the diabetic group and 25.00% (13/52) in the nondiabetic group (P < 0.001). In vivo confocal microscopy showed absence of subbasal never fibers in eyes with epithelial defects, and central corneal sensation was also significantly depressed in those eyes, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.227). Corneal ulceration and herpes simplex keratitis were found in 2.70% (1/37) and 5.41% (2/37) of diabetic patients, respectively. Amniotic membrane transplantation was required in 32.43% (12/37) of patients in the diabetic group, and the proportion was higher than 1.92% (1/52) in the nondiabetic group (P < 0.001). Average healing time of the corneal epithelium in the diabetic group was 40.62 ± 20.0 days, much longer than 21.74 ± 6.94 days in the nondiabetic group (P=0.002).

Conclusion

Epithelial keratitis after cataract surgery in diabetic patients has the characteristics of rapid development, severe epithelial damage, and slow repair of the corneal epithelium. Amniotic membrane transplantation is a good choice for persistent epithelial defects associated with such epithelial keratitis. Attention should be paid to the tear film function and use of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients undergoing cataract surgery.

Herpes simplex keratoconjunctivitis in the immediate postoperative period after strabismus surgery

The authors describe the case of bilateral herpes simplex keratoconjunctivitis (HSK) following uncomplicated 7 mm bilateral lateral rectus recessions in a 3-year-old child. The recovery was initially unremarkable, and the standard postoperative drops of dexamethasone and chloramphenicol (non-preservative free) were prescribed. The child presented 8 days postoperatively with fever, right upper lid swelling and ptosis. She was admitted for intravenous antibiotics for suspected pre-septal cellulitis. Over the next 2 days, she deteriorated with bilateral lid involvement. An examination under anesthesia (EUA) revealed bilateral corneal epithelial (dendritic and geographical) ulcers with conjunctival erosions and pseudo membranes prompting a diagnosis of HSK. This was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. The child recovered within 2 weeks after starting oral and topical antiviral medication. This case highlights the importance of EUA in infections not responding to standard treatment. Although HSK is known to occur after topical steroid use and ocular surgery, we were not able to find any other cases in the literature and believe this is the first reported case of bilateral HSK in the immediate postoperative period after strabismus surgery.

Ocular surgery after herpes simplex and herpes zoster keratitis

PURPOSE

The recurrence of herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK) and herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) has been reported after a variety of ocular surgeries. The aim of this study was to review the evidence on the preventive methods employed in the perioperative period in patients having undergone HSK/HZO.

METHODS

The PubMed and Web of Science databases were the main resources used to conduct the medical literature search. An extensive search was performed to identify relevant articles concerning the prophylaxis against and risk of HSK/HZO recurrence in patients undergoing ocular surgery up to December 31, 2019.

RESULTS

The disturbance of the corneal nerve plexus occurs during several ocular surgeries including penetrating keratoplasty, lamellar keratoplasty, corneal cross-linking, cataract surgery, as well as photorefractive and phototherapeutic procedures. Such trauma, as well as modulation of the ocular immunological response caused by steroids applied postoperatively, might engender the HSK/HZO reactivation which is not uncommon. There is strong evidence that oral prophylaxis should be recommended just after surgery in patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty and having suffered from HSK/HZO. For other types of surgeries, the evidence is less compelling; nevertheless, a period of disease quiescence and oral prophylaxis should still be considered.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the article, we discuss the available evidence for HSK/HZO prophylaxis in ocular surgery. Additional studies would be required to define the real risk of HSK/HZO recurrence following eye surgeries, and particularly cataract surgery, and to confirm the utility of perioperative HSK/HZO prophylaxis.

Ocular manifestations of herpes simplex virus

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review ocular manifestations and complications of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and discuss recent advancements in diagnostic and treatment strategy.

RECENT FINDINGS

In-vivo confocal microscopy has expanded our understanding of corneal nerve degeneration, corneal dendritic cell activity, and changes in biomechanical properties in HSV keratitis. Although currently available only as a research tool, metagenomic deep sequencing has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy beyond the well established PCR technology, especially in atypical cases. Development of an HSV vaccine has shown some encouraging results in a murine model. New treatment options for neurotrophic cornea offer promise, specifically cenegermin nerve growth factor.

SUMMARY

Ocular herpes simplex infection and its complications continue to cause significant visual burden and decreased quality of life. Familiarity with its clinical features, wider adoption of viral PCR diagnostic technology, and recognition of the need for long-term maintenance medications for recurrent or chronic cases form the basis for effective management. Metagenomic deep sequencing, the development of a herpes vaccine, and cenegermin nerve growth factor offer promise as diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic options, respectively.

Epithelial keratitis mimicking herpes simplex keratitis in a patient after cataract surgery: A case report

RATIONALE

Epithelial keratitis is a common complication after cataract surgery. Many factors have been attributed to this clinical phenomenon.

PATIENT CONCERNS

An 82-year-old woman without previous herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) underwent an uncomplicated clear corneal phacoemulsification procedure in the right eye. In the late postoperative period, epithelial keratitis developed in this same eye.

DIAGNOSIS

An initial diagnosis of HSK was made clinically. The lesion was refractory to antiviral treatment and had progressed. After topical acyclovir cessation and vigorous lubrication, a diagnosis of toxic keratitis was finally made.

OUTCOMES

The corneal epithelial defect and dendritic lesion presented initially. Responding to antiviral treatment, this corneal lesion aggravated and revealed large epithelial erosion. After topical acyclovir cessation and initiation of vigorous lubrication, the toxic keratitis was completely resolved.

LESSONS

Epithelial keratitis following cataract surgery is a common complication and can be misdiagnosed early in its disease course. Physicians should be alert to the possibility of HSK. Polymerase chain reaction detection is helpful in diagnosing this disease.