Clinical course and risk factors of recurrent corneal erosion: Observational study

Efficacy of topical insulin for recurrent epithelial corneal erosions

BACKGROUND

Topical insulin can promote and accelerate corneal regeneration, even in eyes with serious comorbidities, and offers several benefits over other treatment options.

AIMS

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of topical insulin in treatment of recurrent epithelial corneal erosion.

METHODS

Patients with recurrent epithelial erosions were included in a prospective non-randomized hospital-based study, divided into two groups, one of them received persistent epithelial defects (PEDs) conventional treatment and the other received the same treatment with insulin eye drops 4 times/day. All patients were examined carefully by slit lamp. Patients during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks as well as after 2 months. Demographics, etiology, therapy, comorbidities, and the healing time of PED were performed.

RESULTS

Area shows significant improvement after 2 weeks (p = 0.006), 2 months (p = 0.046), and 3 months (p = 0.002) in group II (cornetears gel and topical insulin) as compared to group I (cornetears gel). The recurrence was statistically significant decreased with cornetears gel and topical insulin (group II) by 0.0%, as compared to cornetears gel (group I) by 3 patients (21.4%).

CONCLUSION

Topical insulin can promote corneal reepithelization in recurrent epithelial erosion and decreases recurrence in these cases. Other advantages include excellent tolerance, availability, and cost-effectiveness.

Matrix Metalloproteinases and the Pathogenesis of Recurrent Corneal Erosions and Epithelial Basement Membrane Dystrophy

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of proteolytic enzymes which are members of the zinc endopeptidase family. They have the ability to degrade extracellular matrix elements, allowing for the release of binding molecules and cell migration. Although metalloproteinases regulate numerous physiological processes within the cornea, overexpression of metalloproteinase genes and an imbalance between the levels of metalloproteinases and their inhibitors can contribute to the inhibition of repair processes, the development of inflammation and excessive cellular proliferation. The involvement of MMPs in the pathogenesis of dystrophic corneal diseases needs clarification. Our analyses focus on the involvement of individual metalloproteinases in the pathogenesis of recurrent corneal erosions and highlight their impact on the development of corneal epithelial basement membrane dystrophy (EBMD). We hypothesize that abnormalities observed in patients with EBMD may result from the accumulation and activation of metalloproteinases in the basal layers of the corneal epithelium, leading to basement membrane degradation. A barrier formed from degradation materials inhibits the normal migration of epithelial cells to the superficial layers, which contributes to the development of the aforementioned lesions. This hypothesis seems to be lent support by the elevated concentrations of metalloproteinases in the corneal epithelium of these patients found in our previous studies on the relationships between MMPs and recurrent corneal erosions.

Implementation of the Corneal Sweep Test in the Diagnosis of Recurrent Corneal Erosion: A 2-Year Retrospective Study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and epidemiology of recurrent corneal erosion within a clinical population using standard diagnostic techniques and a new technique called the corneal sweep test (CST).

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted on 58 eyes of 51 patients with the diagnosis of recurrent corneal erosion from July 2018 to June 2020. All underwent a thorough history and physical examination. The CST was performed as a confirmatory test and on any patient who lacked visible corneal pathology.

RESULTS

The CST was necessary on 49 of the 58 eyes to help confirm the diagnosis of a corneal erosion. Among them, 34 had an occult corneal erosion, which is defined as having a normal-appearing cornea on slitlamp examination but found to have loose corneal epithelium with the CST. Clear corneal cataract surgery (28 eyes, 48.2%) was the most common presumed mechanism of injury, with 20 (71.4%) developing symptoms only after cataract surgery. All 20 eyes had an erosion located directly over a clear corneal cataract incision.

CONCLUSIONS

The CST is a new and effective technique to help diagnose corneal erosions in the absence of visible corneal findings. Clear corneal cataract surgery is an under-recognized but important risk factor to consider because the incision can be the source for an erosion. Using the CST could lead to a paradigm shift in the way clinicians approach RCEs and patients with a persistent ocular pain syndrome.

A Population-Based Study of Social Demographic Factors, Associated Diseases and Recurrent Corneal Erosion in Taiwan

Purpose

To investigate the association of recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) with sociodemographic factors and associated ocular conditions or systemic diseases.

Methods

This nationwide, population-based, retrospective, matched case-controlled study included 98,895 RCE patients, identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code 371.42, were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The age-, sex-, and index date- matched control group included 98,895 non-RCE control group also selected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. Sociodemographic factors and associated ocular conditions or systemic diseases were examined using univariate logistic regression analyses, and continuous variables were analyzed using paired t-test. The odds ratio (OR) of developing RCE were compared using adjusted logistic regression analysis.

Results

Patients with ocular conditions including corneal abrasion, ocular allergic conditions, and corneal dystrophy were more likely to have RCE than the control group (adjusted OR = 63.56, 95% CI = 42.06-96.06, p < 0.0001; adjusted OR = 24.27, 95% CI = 20.51-28.72, p < 0.0001; adjusted OR = 17.10, 95% CI = 5.14-59.93, p < 0.0001, respectively). Patients with systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, and atopy trait have significantly higher ORs for RCE development. Patients residing in either Northern Taiwan or a metropolis city had higher odds of developing RCE; however, there were no significant differences in income or occupation on the probability to develop RCE.

Conclusion

RCE is strongly associated with corneal abrasion, ocular allergic conditions, corneal dystrophy, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, and atopy trait.

Association Between Atopic Keratoconjunctivitis and the Risk of Recurrent Corneal Erosion

Purpose: To investigate the risk of recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) in patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC).

Methods: This national, retrospective, matched cohort study enrolled 184,166 newly-diagnosed AKC patients, selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database and identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code 372.05. The control group comprised 184,166 non-AKC patients matched by age, sex, and potential comorbidities and they were selected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database, 2000. Information from patients was gathered from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2011, and both groups were traced from the index date until December 2013. The incidence and risk of RCE (ICD-9-CM code 361.42) was compared between the groups. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for RCE was obtained by a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. The Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to calculate the cumulative incidence of RCE.

Results: In total, 564 AKC patients and 406 non-AKC controls developed RCE during the follow-up span. The incidence of RCE was 1.45 times higher in AKC patients than in controls (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.27–1.64; P < 0.0001). After adjusting for potential confounders, including diabetes mellitus, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, corneal transplantation, ocular blunt trauma, corneal dystrophy, and band keratopathy, AKC patients were 1.36 times more likely to develop RCE than controls (adjusted HR, 1.36; 95% CI = 1.19–1.54; p < 0.05).

Conclusions: AKC Patients had an increased risk of developing RCE and should be informed of this risk.

Bandage Contact Lenses versus Deproteinized Calf Blood Extract Eye Gel for Recurrent Corneal Erosion Syndrome: A Case-Control Study

Background

The clinical efficacy of eye drops in the treatment of recurrent corneal erosion syndrome (RCES) is not satisfactory. Many studies have confirmed the positive effect of the bandage contact lens (BCL) in corneal diseases, but not many in patients with RCES. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of the BCL compared with deproteinized calf blood extract eye gel in the initial treatment of RCES.

Methods

Forty-seven patients with RCES treated in our hospital from September 2010 to September 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 24 cases (26 eyes) in the bandage contact lenses (BCLs) group wearing bandage contact lens and 23 cases (24 eyes) in the drug group treated with deproteinized calf blood extract eye gel. The efficacy was evaluated after 3 months of treatment, with a mean follow-up time of 21.15 ± 1.71 months in the BCL group and 20.87 ± 1.89 months in the drug group. Corneal erosion resolution, pain relief, visual acuity recovery time, recurrence and complications were observed.

Results

After 3 months of treatment, 22 eyes (22/26, 84.6%) in the BCLs group achieved complete resolution, compared with 14 eyes (14/24, 58.3%) in the drug group (P <0.05). The corneal healing time in the BCLs group was 4.77 ± 4.51 weeks, which was significantly shorter than that in the drug group (9.83 ± 5.93 weeks (P <0.01)). At 1 and 2 months after treatment, the visual analogue score (VAS) in the BCLs group (3.28 ± 1.15 at 1 month and 1.90 ± 0.77 at 2 months) decreased more significantly than that in the drug group (4.54 ± 0.89 at 1 month and 2.43 ± 0.93 at 2months, P =0.000 at 1 month and P=0.034 at 2 months). At 3 months after treatment, the mean BCVA in the BCL group (logMAR 0.03±0.08) improved more significantly than that in the drug group (logMAR 0.14±0.12,P=0.001). The complete recovery time of visual acuity was 5.46 ± 4.43 weeks in the BCLs group, compared with 10.33 ± 6.12 weeks in the drug group (P =0.003). During further follow-up, recurrence was observed in 2 eyes (2/22, 9.1%) of the BCLs group and 6 eyes (6/14, 42.8%) of the drug group. No patient in both groups developed adverse side effects.

Conclusion

Bandage contact lenses are safe and effective in the initial treatment of RCES. Compared with topical deproteinized calf blood extract eye gel, the use of BCLs can provide a higher cure rate, better pain control, faster visual recovery and lower recurrence rate.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000031241. Registered 25 March 2020- Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=51309andhtm=4.

Cataract incision-related corneal erosion: recurrent corneal erosion because of clear corneal cataract surgery

Three patients developed recurrent corneal erosions (RCEs) over their cataract surgery corneal incisions. These cataract incision-related corneal erosions (CIRCEs) resulted in pain after cataract surgery. None had any physical findings for corneal erosion; thus, a new technique called the corneal sweep test was developed to identify the erosion. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time this association between the clear corneal cataract incision and RCEs has been reported. Considering the high number of cataract surgeries performed around the world, it is important for ophthalmologists to recognize CIRCEs as a potential cause of ocular discomfort after clear corneal cataract surgery.

Combined Phototherapeutic Keratectomy and Peripheral Anterior Stromal Puncture for the Treatment of Recurrent Corneal Erosion Syndrome

PURPOSE

To investigate the efficacy of the combined phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) and peripheral anterior stromal puncture (ASP) compared with that of PTK alone in patients with recurrent corneal erosion syndrome (RCES).

METHODS

The medical records of 25 patients (25 eyes) who underwent combined treatment of PTK and peripheral ASP for RCES from March 2016 to May 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-three patients (23 eyes) treated with PTK alone from March 2015 to February 2016 served as a control group. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon. This retrospective clinical study comprised 48 patients (48 eyes) who were followed up for more than 18 months. Clinical records of age, sex, laterality, etiology of RCES, and history of recurrence after treatment were evaluated.

RESULTS

Twenty-five eyes were treated with combined PTK and ASP, and 23 eyes were treated with PTK only. The mean follow-up period was 19.63 ± 2.97 and 19.75 ± 6.83 months, respectively. There were no differences in baseline parameters between the groups. In the combined treatment group, one patient experienced recurrence 6 months after the surgery. In the single treatment group, five patients showed recurrence at 4, 7, 8, 11, and 13 months after the surgery, respectively. Compared to the single treatment group, the combined treatment group showed significantly lower recurrence rate (p < 0.05). All recurred patients required no additional treatment except temporary therapeutic contact lenses and topical lubricants.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that combined treatment of PTK and peripheral ASP is effective in alleviation of symptoms and prevention of recurrence in refractory RCES compared with treatment using PTK alone.

Risk of recurrent corneal erosion in patients with diabetes mellitus in Taiwan: a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the risk of recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective, nationwide, matched cohort study included 239 854 patients with DM recruited between 2003 and 2005 from the Longitudinal Cohort of Diabetes Patients database. The control group included the same number of age-matched and sex-matched patients without DM selected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database, 2000. Data for each patient were collected from the index date until December 2013.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The incidence and risk of RCE were compared between the two groups. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the HR for RCE after adjustment for potential confounders. The cumulative RCE incidence rate was calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 1236 patients with DM and 884 controls developed RCE during the follow-up period, resulting in an incidence rate of RCE in patients with DM (5.87/10 000 person-years (PY)) higher than that in the controls (4.23/10 000 PY). After adjustment for potential confounders, including hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, chronic renal disease and keratoconjunctivitis sicca, patients with DM were 1.35 times (95% CI, 1.24 to 1.48) more likely to develop RCE than the total sample cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

DM increases the risk of RCE, which is an interdisciplinary issue. Therefore, close collaboration between endocrinologists and ophthalmologists is important in managing RCE following DM.