A beginner's guide to mucous membrane grafting for lid margin keratinization: Review of indications, surgical technique and clinical outcomes

Clinical use of cryopreserved ultra-thick human amniotic membrane for anophthalmic socket contracture

PURPOSE

To study the use of ultra-thick human amniotic membrane for management anophthalmic socket contracture.

METHODS

A prospective study done at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Thirty-six patients (45 eyelids) were involved. Contracted socket caused by trauma, previous surgery or radiotherapy, delay in use of prosthesis, Congenital Anophthalmia/Microphthalmia, and Anophthalmia secondary to Enucleation/Evisceration were included in the study.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients (42 eyelids) underwent fornix reconstruction with cryopreserved ultra-thick human amniotic membrane. Mean ± SD age at surgery was (40.90 ± 17.32) years. Mean follow up was 10.5 months. Grade II fornix contracture was the most common type in 23 (54.8%) eyelids. The most common involved primary diagnosis was Anophthalmia secondary to Enucleation/Evisceration (n = 13). The incidence of pyogenic granuloma (PG) after surgery was seen in 8 eyelids (19.0%).

CONCLUSION

Anophthalmic contracted socket secondary to significant history of multiple PG excision (> 5 times) and secondary to enucleation/evisceration were associated with good surgical outcome. Cryopreserved ultra-thick human amniotic membrane is an ideal material for the management of anophthalmic socket contracture.

Regenerative Therapy for Corneal Scarring Disorders

The cornea is a transparent and vitally multifaceted component of the eye, playing a pivotal role in vision and ocular health. It has primary refractive and protective functions. Typical corneal dysfunctions include opacities and deformities that result from injuries, infections, or other medical conditions. These can significantly impair vision. The conventional challenges in managing corneal ailments include the limited regenerative capacity (except corneal epithelium), immune response after donor tissue transplantation, a risk of long-term graft rejection, and the global shortage of transplantable donor materials. This review delves into the intricate composition of the cornea, the landscape of corneal regeneration, and the multifaceted repercussions of scar-related pathologies. It will elucidate the etiology and types of dysfunctions, assess current treatments and their limitations, and explore the potential of regenerative therapy that has emerged in both in vivo and clinical trials. This review will shed light on existing gaps in corneal disorder management and discuss the feasibility and challenges of advancing regenerative therapies for corneal stromal scarring.

Corneal blindness in the developing world: The role of prevention strategies

Corneal blindness is an important contributor to the burden of global blindness and has a greater prevalence in low-income countries of the developing world where resources and infrastructure are limited. The causes of corneal blindness too are different from high-income countries and include infectious keratitis, ocular trauma, and xerophthalmia. Persons with these indications tend to have unfavourable outcomes after corneal transplantation, limiting their chances of benefitting from this sight-saving procedure. However, most causes of corneal blindness in the developing world are preventable. This highlights the importance of understanding the unique challenges in these regions and the need for targeted interventions. This article discusses various prevention strategies, including primordial, primary, and secondary prevention, aimed at reducing the burden of corneal blindness in low-income countries. These include capacity building, training, and awareness campaigns to reduce the risk factors of ocular trauma, infectious keratitis, and to improve access to first aid. It is also important to promote safe eye practices and tackle nutritional deficiencies through public health interventions and policy changes. Providing the required training to general ophthalmologists in the management of basic corneal surgeries and diseases and enhancing the accessibility of eye care services in rural areas will ensure early treatment and prevent sequelae. Current treatment modalities belong to the tertiary level of prevention and are largely limited to corneal transplantation. In developing nations, there is a scarcity of donor corneal tissue necessitating an urgent expansion of eye banking services. Alternative approaches to corneal transplantation such as 3D printed corneas, cultured stem cells, and biomaterials should also be explored to meet this demand. Thus, there is a need for collaborative efforts between healthcare professionals, policymakers, and communities to implement effective prevention strategies and reduce the prevalence of corneal blindness in the developing world.

Mucous membrane grafting for cicatricial entropion repair: review of surgical techniques and outcomes

Mucous membrane graft (MMG) is used for moderate-to-severe cicatricial entropion repair either in primary or recurrent cases. We conducted a review to comprehensively summarize the various surgical techniques, outcomes, and complications of using MMG for cicatricial entropion. Though the comparison between different techniques is limited by multiple factors like small numbers of cicatricial entgropion patients, variable severity and success criteria across studies, and different underlying cicatricial entropion etiologies, the author has brought forth the nuances of the use of MMG for cicatricial entropion repair along with its outcomes and complications. MMG use in moderate-to-severe cicatricial entropion gives favourable outcomes. The shortened tarsoconjunctiva is lengthened using MMG, which is used either with terminal tarsal rotation or anterior lamellar recession (ALR) or tarsotomy alone. Non-trachomatous entropion has poor outcomes compared to trachomatous entropion. The most common source of MMG is labial or buccal mucosa and the exact size of MMG harvested is variable according to the defect, and very few prefer oversizing the graft by 10-30%. The outcomes of ALR+MMG appear similar to tarsal rotation and MMG for severe cicatricial entropion. The recurrences of trichiasis or entropion can occur for up to one year after surgery, irrespective of the technique used. Factors affecting the outcomes of cicatricial entropion repair are not well known. There is a non-uniformity in data reporting across literature; hence, future studies with details on severity of entropion, ocular surface changes, forniceal depth and ocular surface inflammation, and the degree of dry eye disease would be informative.

Ophthalmic Aspects of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: A Narrative Review

The aim of our review article was to summarize the current literature on Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and its severe form, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). SJS/TEN is a serious, rare multi-system, immune-mediated, mucocutaneous disease with a significant mortality rate that can lead to severe ocular surface sequelae and even to bilateral blindness. Restoration of the ocular surface in acute and chronic SJS/TEN is challenging. There are only limited local or systemic treatment options for SJS/TEN. Early diagnosis, timely amniotic membrane transplantation and aggressive topical management in acute SJS/TEN are necessary to prevent long-term, chronic ocular complications. Although the primary aim of acute care is to save the life of the patient, ophthalmologists should regularly examine patients already in the acute phase, which should also be followed by systematic ophthalmic examination in the chronic phase. Herein, we summarize actual knowledge on the epidemiology, aetiology, pathology, clinical appearance and treatment of SJS/TEN.

Challenges in the management of bilateral eyelid closure in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Purpose

Observations

Conclusion and importance

Conjunctival Autograft for Tarsal Keratinization in a Case of Chronic Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

This report describes the clinical features and management in a case of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) with bilateral tarsal conjunctival keratinization. A 32-year-old male presented with VKC since childhood that had exacerbated in the eight years prior to presentation. Examination revealed partial limbal stem cell deficiency in both eyes, with keratinization of the superior tarsal conjunctiva. The corresponding areas of the cornea exhibited punctate keratopathy in both eyes. To address this, the patient underwent excision of the conjunctival keratinization in both eyes. The resultant bare areas were covered with conjunctival autografts (CAGs). Postoperatively, the grafts were well apposed, and there was no recurrence of keratinization observed during the period of follow-up of four years. Resolution of corneal epitheliopathy was also noted. Although keratinization can occur in eyes with VKC, it is usually limited to the bulbar conjunctival areas. This is the first report of tarsal conjunctival keratinization in such cases. Milder cases may be observed or managed with scleral contact lenses. In more severe forms, there is associated corneal epitheliopathy, which may progress to corneal vascularization and scarring. Surgical excision of the lesion is recommended in these eyes. Following excision, several options exist to cover the bare area, which include a CAG, an amniotic membrane, or an oral mucous membrane. Of these, a CAG is an autologous tissue that can be harvested with a simple surgical technique and yields stable long-term results. Thus, tarsal conjunctival keratinization is a rare complication of chronic VKC. Excision of the lesion followed by a CAG is a viable approach for treatment, which reestablishes and maintains a stable ocular surface.

Clinical Aspects of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis With Severe Ocular Complications in India

Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) is a spectrum of rare, severe immunological blistering skin reactions which are triggered by medication intake or infections. The acute phase is characterized by necrolysis of the skin and desquamation of mucosa, primarily oral and ocular, with significant mortality rates. The chronic phase is characterized by multi-organ sequelae with increased rates of morbidity and reduced quality of life for patients who have survived the acute phase. Since the primary goal in the acute phase is saving the life of the patient, ocular involvement is often missed and a significant proportion of patients present to an ophthalmologist with the chronic ocular sequelae. In India, chronic ocular sequelae and low vision are observed in two-thirds of patients who present in the chronic phase of SJS/TEN. In the chronic phase of ocular involvement, there are definite windows of opportunity which if targeted with specific interventions such as scleral lenses and mucous membrane grafts can help reduce the incidence of corneal blindness and improve the quality of life for patients with SJS/TEN. Over the last decade, several studies from India have advanced the understanding of the natural course of ocular involvement in SJS/TEN and the outcomes of timely interventions in the chronic phase of the disease. We present an overview of the epidemiology of ocular complications of SJS/TEN in India, the specific challenges faced in the management of ocular complications in the acute stage and recent advances in management of the chronic ocular complications of the disease.

Chronic Ocular Sequelae and Subsequent Surgical Interventions in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome After Amniotic Membrane Transplantation

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe the chronic ocular sequelae and subsequent surgical interventions after amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in a patient with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS).

METHODS

A 30-year-old woman was diagnosed with SJS after taking phenytoin prescribed for generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Bedside AMT covering the eyelid margins, the conjunctiva, and the cornea was performed in both eyes during the acute phase during hospitalization. A repeat AMT was necessary after 5 days. After AMT, she was prescribed topical steroids, antibiotics, and artificial tears. She was asked to follow up every 2 weeks in the first 3 months after AMT.

RESULTS

Eyelid-related complications such as trichiasis, distichiasis, eyelid margin keratinization (LMK), and cicatricial entropion developed during the follow-up period within the first year after AMT. Eyelid margin mucous membrane graft (MMG) of all eyelids was performed at the earliest clinical sign of lid-related keratopathy due to LMK. The right eye developed upper eyelid and lower eyelid cicatricial entropion, for which anterior lamellar repositioning with eyelid margin MMG was performed. Electroepilation of the trichiatic eyelashes in all 4 eyelids was performed more than once to maintain a healthy ocular surface.

CONCLUSIONS

Successful AMT was performed twice within the first week of ocular involvement in the acute phase of SJS. Chronic ocular sequelae affecting the eyelid margin were identified during the chronic phase and were successfully treated with eyelid margin MMG. Necessity for the close follow-up and the need for subsequent interventions to maintain visual acuity should be explained to patients after acute SJS with ocular involvement.

Acute and Chronic Management of Ocular Disease in Stevens Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in the USA

Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are on a spectrum of a severe, immune-mediated, mucocutaneous disease. Ocular involvement occurs in the vast majority of cases and severe involvement can lead to corneal blindness. Treatment in the acute phase is imperative in mitigating the severity of chronic disease. Advances in acute treatment such as amniotic membrane transplantation have shown to significantly reduce the severity of chronic disease. However, AMT is not a panacea and severe chronic ocular disease can and does still occur even with aggressive acute treatment. Management of chronic disease is equally critical as timely intervention can prevent worsening of disease and preserve vision. This mini-review describes the acute and chronic findings in SJS/TEN and discusses medical and surgical management strategies.