Use of cryopreserved donor corneal tissues first time in India for therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty during COVID-19 pandemic – A case series

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused restricted eye retrieval leading to acute scarcity of donor corneas. Nine patients with perforated corneas needed urgent donor tissues where we used 10 cryopreserved corneal tissues for therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK). Repeat TPK was done in one eye for recurrence of infection. The anatomical integrity of the eyeball was maintained in seven eyes, while two eyes were lost to phthisis. Thus, cryopreserved corneas can be taken into consideration for TPK when other donor tissues are not available.     

Reverse graft suturing to avoid Descemet’s membrane detachment of glycerol-preserved donor cornea used for therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty during COVID-19 to overcome the tissue shortage – A novel surgical technique

To overcome tissue shortage during pandemic, we switched to 100% glycerol preservation of the donor cornea, which is economical and provides longer duration of storage than the short and intermediate storage mediums we normally use like McCAREY Kaufman (MK) or cornisol. During our initial few cases of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty using glycerol preserved donor cornea, we faced spontaneous Descemet’s detachments resistant to air tamponade. We tried reverse graft suturing and successfully reinforced Descemet’s attachment along with air tamponade, in one of the cases after multiple failed air injections. In the subsequent two cases of infective keratitis needing therapeutic penetrating Keratoplasty, we took eight reverse sutures in between the eight cardinals, to anchor the Descemet’s membrane of the graft. Both the grafts showed attached Descemet’s and maintained good graft clarity. The reverse corneal suturing technique has not been described to the best of our knowledge and hope this helps our corneal fraternity.     

A surgical alternative of fusiform penetrating keratoplasty for the management of severe infectious keratitis

AIM: To describe the surgical procedure of fusiform penetrating keratoplasty (FPK) using multiple trephines of different sizes for treating patients with severe infectious keratitis. METHODS: Fourteen eyes underwent FPK, and 15 eyes received conventional penetrating keratoplasty (PK) were included in the study. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive outcomes, endothelial cell density, and postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: The FPK group was followed for an average of 15.3±2.1mo, whereas the PK group was followed for 16.1±1.9mo. The corneal ulcers were elliptical-shaped in all 14 eyes in the FPK group. The mean BCVA (logMAR, 0.26±0.13) showed no statistically significant differences from that in the PK group (logMAR, 0.21±0.12, P>0.05) at 1y after surgery. But the mean curvature, mean astigmatism, and mean spherical equivalent in the FPK group were lower than those in the PK group (P<0.05). Peripheral anterior synechia was observed in one patient in the FPK group, whereas 6 patients in the PK group. Suture loosening and neovascularization were observed in 4 and 5 eyes in the PK group, respectively. No graft immune rejection or elevation of intraocular pressure was observed in the two groups. CONCLUSION: For patients with elliptical-shaped corneas or corneal ulcers, FPK can avoid disrupting of corneal limbus, reduce the risk of postoperative complications, and can result in satisfactory visual quality.     

真菌性角膜炎治疗性角膜移植术后局部应用FK506的临床评价

目的探讨真菌性角膜炎治疗性角膜移植术后局部应用0.05%FK506替代糖皮质激素在预防移植免疫排斥反应以及真菌复发中的作用。方法经实验室确诊的154例真菌性角膜炎,治疗性角膜移植术后局部应用0.05%FK506滴眼液1年以上,2周内联合局部0.2%氟康唑滴眼液滴眼。记录术后定期复诊时的视力、植片的透明度及并发症。结果随访患者127例(127眼),平均随访时间(14.63±2.41)个月。共分离出15属127株真菌,居于前3位的主要致病菌属依次为镰孢菌属(38.58%)、曲霉菌属(31.50%)和弯孢霉属(16.54%)。127眼中121眼(95.28%)无复发,105眼(82.68%)最终保持植片透明,62眼(48.82%)视力在0.02以上;8眼(6.30%)出现免疫排斥反应;真菌复发6眼(4.72%);继发性青光眼、并发性白内障的发生率分别为8.66%(11眼)和2.36%(3眼)。结论真菌性角膜炎的治疗性角膜移植术后局部应用FK506,可以替代糖皮质激素有效地预防角膜移植排斥反应的发生,抑制真菌复发,避免局部应用糖皮质激素所带来的相关并发症。     

干燥保存角膜片在真菌性角膜溃疡手术治疗中的作用

目的 评价干燥保存角膜片在真菌性角膜溃疡手术治疗中的作用。方法 对５４例（５４只眼）药物治疗无产儿的真菌性角膜溃疡患者采用无在油蔌无水氯化钙保存的角膜片,分别行板有膜移植术及穿透性角膜移植术后治疗,术中分别以５％碘酊烧灼植床表面及氟康唑原液或移植液冲洗前房,以观察其治疗效果。结果 板层角膜移植组２３例,１镒手术成功者１８例,２次手术成功者３例、手术成功率为９１．３％２例术后角膜炎复发,改行穿性角膜     

Real-world outcomes of low-dose atropine therapy on myopia progression in an Australian cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background

To report the outcomes of low-dose atropine (0.01% and 0.05%) for preventing myopia progression in a real-world Australian cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Records of children presenting with myopia, from January 2016 to 2022, were retrospectively reviewed at a comprehensive ophthalmic practice. Children who discontinued treatment, ages >18, and cases with hereditary conditions were excluded. The rate of progression of myopia after treatment with atropine was compared with historical data to evaluate the effectiveness of the regime.

Results

One hundred and one children (mean baseline spherical equivalent [SphE] [−3.70 +/− 2.09 D] and axial length [AL] [24.59 +/− 1.00 mm]) were analysed. The mean age of the children was 10.4 +/− 2.89 years and 61% were females. The average follow-up time was 17.9 +/− 12.5 months. The mean rate of progression of AL and SphE on 0.01% atropine eyedrops was 0.219 +/− 0.35 mm and − 0.250 +/− 0.86 D/year, respectively. 68.1% of the children treated with 0.01% atropine were mild progressors (<0.5 D change/year). Non-responders when commenced on a higher dose of atropine (0.05%) experienced a 93% (p = 0.012) and 30% reduction in SphE and AL growth rate, respectively. Family history, higher myopia or younger age at baseline and shorter duration of treatment were associated with steeper progression (p < 0.01). Both doses were well tolerated.

Conclusions

Low-dose atropine was shown to be beneficial in a real-world clinical setting, despite interruptions to follow-ups secondary to COVID-19 pandemic. A 0.05% dose of atropine may be effective in cases where 0.01% was ineffective.     

Prevalence and risk factor assessment of digital eye strain among children using online e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: Digital eye strain among kids (DESK study-1)

Purpose:The aim of this study was to determine prevalence, symptoms frequency and associated risk factors of digital eye strain (DES) among children attending online classes during COVID-19 pandemic.Methods:The online electronic survey form was prepared on the Google app. Children/parents were asked to indicate the total duration of digital device use before and during COVID era. The symptoms of DES, its severity and frequency were recorded & measured with the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire.Results:Two hundred and sixty one parents responded to the questionnaire, of these 217 were complete. Mean age of children was 13 ± 2.45 years. Mean duration of digital device used during COVID era was 3.9 ± 1.9 h which is more than pre COVID era (1.9 ± 1.1 h, P = <0.0001). 36.9% (n = 80) were using digital devices >5 h in COVID era as compared to 1.8% (n = 4) before COVID era. The most common digital device used were smartphones (n = 134, 61.7%). One hundred and eight children (49.8%) were attending online classes for >2 h per day. Prevalence of DES in our cohort is 50.23% (109/217). Of these 26.3% were mild, 12.9% moderate and 11.1% of severe grade. Most common symptoms were itching and headache (n = 117, 53.9%). Multivariate analysis revealed age >14 years (P = 0.04), male gender (P = 0.0004), smartphone use (P = 0.003), use of device >5 h (P = 0.0007) and mobile games >1 h/day (P = 0.0001) as independent risk factors for DES in children.Conclusion:There is an increased prevalence of DES among children in COVID era. Parents should be considerate about duration, type and distance of digital device use to avoid DES symptoms in children.