Trends in the indications for penetrating keratoplasty in Shandong,2005-2010

AIM:To identify the current indications and the trend shifts for penetrating keratoplasty(PKP) in Shandong.METHODS:The medical charts of all patients who underwent PKP at Shandong Eye Institute from June 1,2005 to May 31,2010 were analysed retrospectively.RESULTS:A total of 875 patients(875 eyes) received PKP in this 5-year period,accounting for 61.6% of all corneal transplantation surgeries.The leading indications for PKP were infectious keratitis(37.1%),HSK(19.1%),keratoconus(11.2%),bullous keratopathy(8.5%),regrafting(6.7%) and corneal scarring(4.8%).The percentage of PKP for keratoconus declined year by year,whereas the percentage of bullous keratopathy had a mild annual increase.Fungal infections accounted for 65.2% of the infectious keratitis cases,remaining the leading cause of corneal infection.In addition,54.1% of bullous keratopathy cases were associated with cataract surgery.The leading initial diagnoses associated with regrafting were infectious keratitis(38.9%),HSK(18.6%) and corneal burn(16.9%).The major causes of regrafting included graft endothelial dysfunction(39.0%),graft ulcer(28.8%) and primary disease recurrence(15.3%).CONCLUSION:Infectious keratitis remained the leading indication for PKP in Shandong,and fungal infections were still the major cause of corneal infections.There was an increasing trend in the percentage of PKP cases indicated for bullous keratopathy but a decline in the same for keratoconus.Even with a decline in the overall proportion among all corneal transplantation surgeries,PKP is still the major corneal transplant choice in Shandong.     

角膜移植术后排斥反应的防治探讨

目的:为控制角膜移植术后发生排斥反应,探讨防治排斥反应的有效途径。方法:对73例73眼穿透性角膜移植术患者术后排斥反应发生率进行回顾性分析。结果:患者73眼中28眼发生免疫排斥反应(38%),其中高危角膜病变21眼,非高危角膜病变7眼,有角膜新生血管者占88%,排斥反应发生时间为术后2wk～3a,以内皮型排斥反应为主(43%)。经药物联合治疗,角膜排斥反应得到明显抑制,有效率达61%。结论:高危角膜病变免疫排斥反应几率明显增加,发生时间及持续时间较长,因此应根据不同角膜病变在术前、术中、术后采取相应措施减少排斥反应发生率。     

Comparison of visual and topographic outcomes of deep-anterior lamellar keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty in keratoconus

AIM: To compare visual, surgical and topographic outcomes of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for keratoconus (KC). METHODS: In this multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial 76 eyes of 71 KC patients operated between January 2011 and July 2014 in 2 tertiary referral hospitals were included. Consecutive patients were alternately selected to receive one of the two surgical methods. Thirty eight eyes underwent DALK with the big-bubble technique and 38 eyes underwent PK. RESULTS: Mean best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) at the first postoperative week (P=0.012) and the first postoperative month (P＜0.001) was statistically significantly higher in DALK group. The mean BSCVA at 12mo was not significantly different for DALK (0.30±1.99 logMAR) versus PK (0.40±0.33 logMAR) (P=0.104). The 76.3% of the eyes had a BSCVA over 0.5 in DALK and 47.4% in PK group (P=0.009). The 7.9% of the eyes had a BSCVA of 1.0 in DALK and 5.3% in PK group (P=0.644). Mean spherical equivalent was -2.94 D in DALK and -3.09 D in PK group. Mean topographic astigmatism was 4.62 D and 4.18 D respectively. Regular topographic patterns were observed in 31 (81.6%) of DALK and 29 (76.3%) of PK (P=0.574). The most frequent topographic pattern was oblate asymmetric bow tie, seen in 39.5% in DALK and 23.7% in PK. CONCLUSION: Big bubble DALK provides an earlier visual improvement compare to PK. However, visual and topographic outcomes are similar to those in PK at 1y. Postoperative complications including rejection and intraocular pressure elevation are more frequent in PK. DALK is a safer alternative to PK for KC. However, intraoperative perforation of the Descemet’s membrane is a significant complication.     

穿透性角膜移植联合白内障摘出及人工晶状体植入术疗效观察

目的　评价同时行穿透性角膜移植、白内障囊外摘出联合人工晶状体植入术（简称三联手术）患者的手术效果,探讨三联手术术后角膜屈光力与术前晶状体度数的选择。方法　回顾性分析2016年4月至10月在北京佑安医院行三联手术的15例患者资料,观察患者术后1 a的最佳矫正视力（best corrected visual acuity,BCVA）、眼压、角膜屈光度、眼轴长度、并发症及角膜内皮细胞数以及植片存活情况。结果　所有患者术后1 a角膜植片均保持透明,角膜内皮细胞数为（1974.20±472.82）个·mm^-2。术后BCVA为(0.80±0.27）LogMAR,与术前（2.63±0.62）LogMAR相比,有显著性提高（t=13.042,P<0.001）。术后眼压为（14.53±3.04）mmHg（1 kPa=7.5 mmHg）,与术前眼压（15.27±2.37）mmHg相比,差异无统计学意义（t=0.685,P=0.505）。术后眼轴长度为（23.62±2.12）mm,与术前（23.69±2.01）mm相比,差异无统计学意义（t=-0.138,P=0.893）。术后角膜屈光度为（42.56±5.48）D,与术前对侧眼（45.01±1.66）D相比,差异无统计学意义（t=1.202,P=0.260）。术前目标屈光度为（0.58±0.25）D,术后等效球镜度为（0.40±4.65）D。结论　三联手术对于治疗伴有白内障的角膜疾病是一种安全有效的手术方式,术前选择预留偏正视的晶状体度数可能获得满意的术后视力,但术后不可预知的角膜曲率改变仍会对屈光状态造成影响。     

Complications and outcomes of descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty with artisan aphakia intraocular lens implantation

AIM: To evaluate the complications and outcomes of descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) combined with artisan aphakia intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in severely damaged eyes without capsular support. METHODS: DSAEK combined with artisan iris claw IOL implantation was performed on 29 eyes. All eyes were of abnormal structure due to complications from prior intraocular surgeries and ocular trauma. Ocular complications observed included graft dislocations, high intraocular pressure (IOP), IOL dislocations, macular edema and hyphema. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), IOP and mean central endothelial cell density (ECD) were recorded. RESULTS: Thirteen eyes had a history of ocular trauma, 10 eyes had an anterior chamber IOL, 16 eyes had prior vitrectomy. The iris was abnormal in 22 cases. Graft dislocation occurred in 5 (17.2%) of 29 eyes. IOL dislocation occurred in 2 eyes (6.9%). High IOP was found in 9 eyes and was controlled with treatment. The preoperative mean BCVA was 20/286. The 6mo postoperative mean BCVA was 20/42. The average center ECD was 1965.3 cells/mm2 at 6mo, and the rate of the donor cell loss was 34.7%. CONCLUSION: DSAEK combined with artisan aphakia IOL implantation is an alternative option for resolving endothelial and lens disorders in aphakic eyes without capsular support. However, it should be performed cautiously for eyes with severe iris defects.     

【In Press】Comparison of the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab and dexamethasone in experimental posterior penetrating eye injury

AIM: To compare the effects of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and dexamethasone in an experimental rabbit model of posterior penetrating ocular injury. METHODS: Thirty white New Zealand rabbits were included in the study. A posterior penetrating ocular injury was performed at the superotemporal quadrant. They were randomly divided into three groups. The rabbits in group 1 received intravitreal dexamethasone, in group 2 they received intravitreal bevacizumab and those in group 3 received intravitreal physiological saline solution in both eyes. All eyes were examined ophthalmologically on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days following the injury and the clinical findings were scored. On the day 28, the eyes were enucleated, evaluated and scored macroscopically, histopathologically and scanning electron microscopically. RESULTS: The median clinical score on the 14th and 28th days and the median macroscopic score of the dexamethasone group was significantly better than that of control (P=0.004, 0.018). Dexamethasone group was also better than that of bevacizumab group but the differences did not reach statistical significance. Retinal detachment rate was 8.3%, 16.6% and 12.5% in the dexamethasone group, bevacizumab group and control group, respectively (P=0.476). More extensive fibrocelluler proliferations were observed in controls compared with dexamethasone and bevacizumab groups. But these differences did not reach the statistical significance (P=0.538). In scanning electron microscopy all groups showed fibreous stalk and dense collagen fibrils in vitreous. CONCLUSION: This study shows that intravitreal injection of both dexamethasone and bevacizumab may reduce the intraocular fibrous proliferation after an experimental posterior penetrating ocular injury in rabbits.     

Lamellar keratoplasty with corneoscleral graft for limbal dermoids

To assess the postoperative outcomes of limbal dermoid excision with corneoscleral graft transplantation. The charts of 8 consecutive patients (mean age: 13.0y) who had undergone limbal dermoid excision with lamellar corneoscleral graft transplantation by a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed. Mean dermoid size was 7.75 mm (6.0-12.0 mm). Mean visual acuities (in logMAR units) before and after surgery were 1.8 and 1.7, respectively (P=0.29). Spherical equivalents were 1.3 diopter (D) before surgery and 0.7 D after surgery (P=0.40). The mean astigmatism measurements before and after surgery were 2.4 D and 1.5 D, respectively (P=0.17). Vector analysis revealed a mild change in astigmatism with a mean “d” of 3.2 (0.56-6.89). No intra- or post-operative complications occurred. Lamellar keratoplasty for limbal dermoids is safe and offers good cosmesis and tectonic stability. A significant decrease in the amount of astigmatism is not expected following surgery.     

Infectious crystalline keratopathy

Infectious crystalline keratopathy was first reported by Gorovoy and colleagues in 1983 when they identified bacteria colonizing a cornea after a penetrating keratoplasty. Subsequent cases have elaborated on the organisms responsible and the management outcomes. Patients present with a white or gray branching opacity originating from an epithelial defect, commonly after a penetrating keratoplasty. Local immunosuppression contributes to the quiescent nature and the limited inflammatory response associated with infectious crystalline keratopathy. Diagnosis of the infective pathogens may be difficult, with a corneal scraping often being too superficial to obtain an adequate specimen. A biofilm is present that advantages microorganism survival, reduces antibiotic bioavailability, and inhibits diagnostic microbial detection. Treatment begins with topical antimicrobials, initially broad spectrum and then targeted to microorganism sensitivity. Adjunctive therapies to enhance the efficacy of treatment include disruption of the microorganism biofilm by laser, intrastromal antibiotics, and keratectomy. In recalcitrant cases, or where corneal scarring ensues, corneal transplantation is required.     

Glaucoma after corneal replacement

Glaucoma is a well-known complication after corneal transplantation surgery. Traditional corneal transplantation surgery, specifically penetrating keratoplasty, has been slowly replaced by the advent of new corneal transplantation procedures: primarily lamellar keratoplasties. There has also been an emergence of keratoprosthesis implants for eyes that are high risk of failure with penetrating keratoplasty. Consequently, there are different rates of glaucoma, pathogenesis, and potential treatment in the form of medical, laser, or surgical therapy.