Spontaneous corneal perforation in a patient with unusual unilateral pellucid marginal degeneration.

A 56-year-old man presented with acute loss of vision and tearing in his left eye. Slitlamp examination demonstrated peripheral corneal edema extending between the 2 and 6 o'clock positions as well as a perforation located inferiorly. The right eye was unremarkable. An emergent crescentic lamellar keratoplasty was performed. The patch graft remained clear during the 30-month follow-up, and visual acuity improved significantly. No changes occurred in the right eye. This case represents an unusual, unilateral corneal ectatic disorder, most likely pellucid marginal degeneration.     

Pseudomonas-induced bilateral endophthalmitis with corneal perforation in a neonate.

Neonatal endophthalmitis is a rare entity that may be exogenous or endogenous. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous gram-negative rod that may appear as a nosocomial source of infection in the neonatal intensive care unit. A case of bilateral Pseudomonas-induced endophthalmitis is presented, and a discussion of the case and of the relevant literature follows.     

Surgical rehabilitation of a patient with corneal perforation in keratoconjunctivitis sicca syndrome

The authors describe effective surgical rehabilitation of a female patient with corneal perforation and subsequent complicated cataract developing against the background of chronic deficiency of lacrimal production associated with Sjogren's syndrome which developed in the presence of rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment with artificial tears during complex pre- and postoperative therapy prevented serious complications and made unnecessary the preliminary interventions aimed at inhibition of lacrimal production. Long remission of the underlying disease and stability of visual functions during 2 years evidence the efficiency of rehabilitative measures.     

Blepharokeratoconjunctivitis in a patient with ichthyosis

A 30-year-old man with autosomal recessive ichthyosis had severe keratitis. Examination revealed decreased visual acuity, erythema, and drying of the eyelids with blepharitis, conjunctivitis, and keratinization of his corneas. There was no ectropion. The association of ichthyosis with blepharokeratoconjunctivitis and keratinization of the cornea has only rarely been described.     

Successful nonsurgical management of corneal perforation in a patient with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy

PURPOSE: To describe a patient with a history of autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) who has experienced two episodes of noninfectious corneal ulceration with perforation that has been successfully managed with nonsurgical therapy. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: An 18-year-old male with a history of APECED has been followed up with recurrent keratoconjunctivitis and episodes of microbial keratitis since 4 years of age. Ophthalmic complications have included two episodes of sterile corneal ulceration associated with corneal perforation. These episodes of stromal ulceration associated with a flat anterior chamber were managed with a bandage contact lens, topical antibiotics, and a topical cycloplegic agent. In one instance, addition of cyclosporine led to reformation of the anterior chamber and arrest of the ulcerative process. CONCLUSION: Sterile corneal ulceration and perforation associated with APECED may be managed medically to avoid surgical intervention, which has been reported to lead to a poor outcome.     

Recurrent bilateral corneal erosions and opacities in corneal stroma. Pre-Descemet dystrophy in X chromosome recessive ichthyosis

Ohne Zusammenfassung Martin Rudolf Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universit?tsklinikum Kiel, Hegewischstr.2, 24105 Kiel, E-Mail: mirudolf@aol.com     

Marginal corneal perforation associated with herpes simplex virus in a patient with essential cutaneous porphyria

We report a case of herpetic perforated peripheral corneal ulcer in a patient with cutaneous porphyria and hepatitis C. The patient underwent peripheral lamellar keratoplasty. Antiherpetic antibodies were found at a significantly higher level in the aqueous humor than in the serum. Outcome was favorable with antiviral treatment. We discuss the causal role of the hepatitis C virus, porphyria and herpes simplex.     

Spontaneous, bilateral intraocular lens dislocation in a patient with exfoliation syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is a relatively common age-related disorder characterized by the production and progressive accumulation of a fibrillar extracellular material in numerous ocular tissues and throughout the body. XFS is a known identifiable cause of open-angle glaucoma. However, because of its widespread distribution, other structures in the eye are affected. Because of weakening of the zonular apparatus and posterior capsule, and subsequent loss of support for the lens or posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs), its presence must be factored into the pre- and postoperative management of persons undergoing cataract surgery. CASE REPORT: An 89-year-old white female presented with the sudden onset of decreased vision in her left eye. She had a history of uncomplicated cataract extraction and posterior chamber IOL implantation in each eye about 10 years previously. She was also known to have XFS. Examination found XFS, a dislocated posterior chamber IOL, anterior uveitis, and markedly elevated intraocular pressure. After stabilizing the eye medically, the patient presented 5 months later with the same condition in the right eye. This eye was also stabilized medically. The patient refused further treatment. CONCLUSIONS: It is imperative that the comanaging optometrist and cataract surgeon be cognizant of the presence of XFS when planning cataract surgery. However, the effects of XFS may not be seen for many years after apparently successful cataract surgery.     

Spontaneous corneal hydrops and perforation in keratoconus and pellucid marginal degeneration

PURPOSE: To report two cases of pellucid marginal degeneration and one case of keratoconus associated with spontaneous corneal hydrops leading either to perforation or imminent perforation, requiring urgent keratoplasty. METHOD: Retrospective interventional case series of three patients with noninflammatory peripheral corneal degenerations. A retrospective review was done of the clinical courses, surgical interventions, and pathologic specimens, development of spontaneous hydrops, perforation, need for surgical intervention, and final visual outcome. RESULTS: Two patients with pellucid marginal degeneration and one with keratoconus developed spontaneous hydrops followed by aqueous leakage through markedly thinned anterior stroma. In one case, the leak site was successfully sealed after three separate applications of tissue adhesive, although the remaining two cases required penetrating keratoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: These cases document the very unusual occurrence of corneal hydrops leading to spontaneous corneal perforation in patients with keratoconus and pellucid marginal degeneration.     

Human immunodeficiency virus-positive patient with bilateral corneal endothelial deposits.

BACKGROUND: Ocular disorders associated with the human immunodeficiency virus are numerous as are ocular side effects from medications used to treat all of the manifestations of the virus. This report presents a unique case of bilateral, peripheral, and corneal endothelial deposits that may be a result of either the human immunodeficiency virus or the medication rifabutin. Rifabutin was the only medication prescribed that is known to cause endothelial deposits. Rifabutin is part of a multidrug therapy to prevent or treat Mycobacterium avium complex, a common pulmonary disease of immunocompromised individuals. CASE REPORT: A 69-year-old man with a 20-year history of being human immunodeficiency virus-positive presented with bilateral, asymptomatic, peripheral, and corneal endothelial deposits of unknown etiology. Literature research suggested that the deposits did not appear like cytomegalovirus retinitis-related deposits but rather a variant of rifabutin-associated deposits. CONCLUSIONS: These rifabutin-associated deposits differed from known rifabutin-associated deposits previously reported in the literature. These deposits have increased in pigmentation and density 5 years after the patient discontinued the drug. This case may represent another variation of rifabutin-associated endothelial deposits. Knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus and all the associated ocular findings (owing to both the condition and its treatment) is important, because the length of time patients are living with human immunodeficiency virus is increasing.