A prospective study on the implantation of anterior chamber intraocular lenses during keratoplasty for pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy

Between April 1986 and April 1989, the authors conducted a prospective study of the use of open-loop anterior chamber intraocular lenses (AC IOLs) in patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy or monocular aphakic bullous keratopathy. All patients underwent the same operation--a penetrating keratoplasty combined with insertion of an open-loop AC IOL. Pseudophakic patients had an IOL exchange at the time of surgery. Thirty-six patients have been followed an average of 15 months. Thirty-two (89%) of the grafts are clear. Preoperatively, 100% of eyes had visual acuity less than 20/200. Postoperatively, 11 eyes (31%) have visual acuity better than 20/40 and 23 eyes (64%) have visual acuity better than 20/100. The most common causes for visual acuity less than 20/200 were cystoid macular edema, glaucoma, and immunologic graft failure. Using open-loop AC IOLs in patients with pseudophakic or aphakic bullous keratopathy can give good postoperative results and functional vision.     

Penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy associated with closed-loop anterior chamber intraocular lenses

Closed-loop anterior chamber intraocular lenses (AC IOLs) are associated with a high incidence of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK). The prognosis for recovery of vision with penetrating keratoplasty and the exchange of one type of AC IOL for another remains controversial. A total of 40 consecutive patients with closed-loop AC IOLs and varying degrees of PBK underwent penetrating keratoplasty, explanation of the closed-loop AC IOL, and implantation of a flexible tripod AC IOL--all done with a uniform technique. The average follow-up study was 24 months. Average preoperative visual acuity was 20/170 (range, 20/25-hand motions) and average postoperative visual acuity was 20/44 (range, 20/20-no light perception). A total of 23 eyes (57.5%) achieved a visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Eleven eyes (27.5%) had a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse. Persistent cystoid macular edema was the most frequent cause of poor vision postoperatively (4 eyes), followed by age-related macular degeneration (3 eyes) and graft rejection (2 eyes). This is the first series documenting a good visual outcome for at least 2 years after penetrating keratoplasty and exchange of a closed-loop AC IOL for a single type of flexible tripod AC IOL.     

Penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy associated with semiflexible, closed-loop anterior chamber intraocular lenses

We performed penetrating keratoplasty on 32 eyes that developed pseudophakic bullous keratopathy associated with closed-loop anterior chamber intraocular lenses. All lenses were exchanged at the time of keratoplasty. Seventeen patients received anterior chamber intraocular lenses and 15 patients had a posterior chamber lens sutured to the iris or sclera. Postoperatively, 13 of 32 eyes (41%) achieved a visual acuity of 20/100 or better, and 27 of 32 eyes (84%) had a clear graft. A high incidence of cystoid macular edema (eight cases), and graft rejection (seven cases) resulted in marked visual loss.     

Visual acuity after penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy

PURPOSE: To identify prognostic factors that determine the visual acuity after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) for bullous keratopathy secondary to cataract surgery. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. METHODS: Twenty-six patients who had PKP for bullous keratopathy were examined before and after surgery. The patients were divided into 3 groups: pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) after cataract extraction with implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) (Group 1) or an anterior chamber IOL (AC IOL) (Group 2); aphakic bullous keratopathy (ABK) (Group 3). The following parameters were recorded: preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, age at the time of surgery, interval between cataract surgery and development of bullous keratopathy, presence of an AC IOL or a PC IOL, aphakia, and presence of concomitant ocular pathology. RESULTS: Visual acuity improved in Group 1 (0.02 to 0.26); no visual improvement was observed in the other groups. Posterior segment damage occurred in one third of the patients in Group 1 and in all patients in the other groups. Patients with an intact posterior segment had a significantly better visual outcome. In eyes without posterior segment pathology, visual acuity improved from a mean of 0.03 (range 0 to 0.20) to a mean of 0.37 (range 0.03 to 0.90). In eyes with posterior segment pathology, no visual acuity improvement could be obtained. CONCLUSIONS: The most important negative prognostic factors affecting visual acuity were the presence of concomitant ocular pathology, an AC IOL, and a long interval between surgery and the development of bullous keratopathy.     

Intraocular lens removal during penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy

Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy is now the most common reason for penetrating keratoplasty. In previous reports, the type of intraocular lens (IOL) most frequently encountered in these eyes was the iris plane IOL. The authors reviewed 27 cases of IOL removal during penetrating keratoplasty. Lenses were removed if they were dislocated or associated with iritis, recurrent hyphema, glaucoma, or persistent cystoid macular edema. The IOL encountered most often was the anterior chamber lens (in 22 eyes); closed thin loop, semiflexible or flexible anterior chamber lenses accounted for 19 of these. Iris plane lenses were removed from five eyes. No posterior chamber lenses were removed. Clear grafts were obtained in 24 of 27 cases (89%); visual acuity improved or remained the same in 24 cases, to 20/60 in 11 cases. The most common causes of poor postoperative vision were retinal disease (6/27 cases) and glaucoma (6/27 cases). The association between anterior chamber lenses and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy is probably the result of both the increase in use of these lenses and the documented propensity of the closed loop semiflexible anterior chamber lenses to cause complications.     

Implantation of scleral-sutured posterior chamber intraocular lenses during penetrating keratoplasty

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcome in 29 patients (29 eyes) who underwent penetrating keratoplasty and scleral-fixation of an intraocular lens. METHODS: The indications for penetrating keratoplasty with scleral-fixation of an intraocular lens were anterior chamber pseudophakic corneal edema, aphakic corneal edema, trauma, and corneal scars. Patients with pseudophakic corneal edema underwent IOL exchange and penetrating keratoplasty and patients with lens subluxation underwent cataract extraction and penetrating keratoplasty in the same operation session. RESULTS: Preoperative spectacle-corrected visual acuity was hand motion in 13 eyes (44.8%) and 20/400 in 18 eyes (61.5%). Postoperative spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/400 or better was observed in 25 eyes (86.2%). At last follow-up, 26 corneal grafts (89.7%) remained clear. Three grafts (10.3%) failed, two because of glaucoma and one because of endophthalmitis. Glaucoma was observed in 7 eyes. CONCLUSION: Trans-scleral fixation of intraocular lenses combined with penetrating keratoplasty was a useful surgical technique in eyes with keratopathy and lacking posterior capsular support.     

婴儿供体角膜穿透移植治疗无晶体大泡性角膜病变

采用４个月至１０个月的婴儿供体,行部分穿透性角膜移植治疗无晶体大泡性角膜病变２２例２２眼,随访１～３年。裸眼视力平均达０．２,矫正视力提高者１７例,矫正视力平均为０．５,屈光不正中,近视７例（４１．２％）,均为３．０Ｄ以内的轻度近视;远视１０例（５８．８％）,除１例为中度（４．５０Ｄ）外,其余均为轻度;散光者１１例（６４．７％）,均在３．０Ｄ以内。植片透明成功率达９１％。婴儿供体角膜具有屈光力强及内皮细胞密度高的特点,用于无晶体大泡性角膜病变的穿透性角膜移植术,可达到增视和治疗双重目的     

Ultrasound biomicroscopy study of the Verisyse aphakic intraocular lens combined with penetrating keratoplasty in pseudophakic bullous keratopathy

PURPOSE: To evaluate anterior segment modifications after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), previous anterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) removal, and Verisyse IOL (AMO) implantation over the iris or under the iris for the treatment of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) using ultrasound biomicroscopy. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Poitiers University Hospital, Poitiers, France. METHODS: A prospective randomized comparative case series included 27 patients (27 eyes) with PBK who had PKP and implantation of a Verisyse VRSA54 aphakic IOL. The IOL was implanted over the iris in 13 patients (Group A) and under the iris in a reversed position in 14 patients (Group B). Ultrasound biomicroscopy scans 6 months after surgery measured central anterior chamber depth (ACD), iris thickness (IT), distance of the haptics from the corneal endothelium (CED), distance of the haptics from the ciliary body (CBD), angle opening distance (AOD) 500 mum from the scleral spur (AOD500) and the iridocorneal angle theta on the 4 o'clock meridian lines (AOD3; AOD9; AOD12; AOD6/theta12, theta6, theta3, theta9). RESULTS: No significant difference was found in IT, CBD, or AOD12 between Group A and Group B (P >.05). In Group B, the mean ACD was deeper by approximately 55% (P = .008); CED3 was larger by 69% (P = .0162), CED9 by 80% (P = .0128), AOD3 by 57% (P = .0309), AOD9 by 140% (P = .0057), and AOD6 by 44% (P = .0399); and theta3 was wider by 52% (P = .046), theta9 by 123% (P = .0068), theta12 by 50% (P = .0492), and theta6 by 81% (P = .0237). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed that in eyes that had PKP with Verisyse IOL enclavation to the posterior plane of the iris, which involved posterior translation of the iridal plane, the ACD was significantly deeper and the CED and AOD were significantly larger than in eyes with anterior enclavation of the IOL.     

Posterior lamellar keratoplasty for a case of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy

PURPOSE: To describe a new surgical technique for posterior corneal transplantation. METHODS: An elderly patient had painful, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy with low visual potential. Through a 9.0-mm scleral tunnel incision, a midstromal pocket was dissected across the cornea, and a posterior lamellar disk 7.0-mm in diameter, which consisted of posterior stroma, Descemet membrane, and endothelium, was excised. A similarly shaped donor posterior disk was implanted in the recipient opening without suture fixation, and the scleral incision was sutured. RESULTS: Throughout the postoperative period, the posterior corneal transplant remained clear and in position. Three months after surgery, the "suture-in" astigmatic error was 3.5 diopters. Pachymetry measured 0.44 mm. CONCLUSION: Posterior lamellar keratoplasty may be a new surgical approach with which to manage corneal endothelial disorders.     

Posterior chamber IOL implantation during keratoplasty for aphakic or pseudophakic corneal edema

Because of their many advantages, posterior chamber (PC) intraocular lenses (IOLs) were sutured to the posterior iris (in the absence of a lens capsule) in combination with penetrating keratoplasty for aphakic and pseudophakic corneal edema in 53 cases. Secondary PC IOL implantations were performed in aphakic corneal edema (nine cases), and IOLs were exchanged for PC IOLs in pseudophakic corneal edema (44 cases). Ninety-six percent of the grafts remained clear. Forty-three percent of the eyes had 20/40 or better visual acuity, 38% between 20/50 and 20/200, and 19% worse than 20/200, with an average follow-up time of 6.4 (range 3-13) months. The most common cause of poor vision was cystoid macular edema present preoperatively in 20 eyes and postoperatively in 22 eyes. Other causes of persistent visual impairment included macular degeneration (five cases), retinal detachment (two cases), preoperative glaucoma damage (one case), severe postoperative glaucoma damage (one case), endophthalmitis (one case), and graft rejection (one case). Our short-term results indicate that this procedure may be a viable alternative to the use of secondary anterior chamber IOL implantation during penetrating keratoplasty.     

穿透性角膜移植治疗人工晶状体植入术后大泡性角膜病变的临床观察

目的 评价穿透性角膜移植术治疗人工晶状体植入术后大泡性角膜病变临床疗效,探讨术中对原人工晶状体的处理。方法 对12例(12只眼)人工晶状体植入术后大泡性角膜病变施行穿透性角膜移植术或穿透性角膜移植术联合手术,观察术后角膜植片及视力变化。结果 随访6～16个月,平均11．2个月,术后临床症状明显缓解或消失,植片保持透明,视力较术前均有提高,其中矫正视力0．02以上11例(0．2以上4例);术后继发性青光眼1例,内皮型排斥反应1例。结论 穿透性角膜移植术是治疗人工晶状体植入术后大泡性角膜病变的一种理想手术方式,不仅能消除刺激症状且能增进视力。术中如何处理人工晶状体应视眼部具体情况。     

穿透性角膜移植术治疗假晶体大泡性角膜病变的临床观察

目的：评价穿透性角膜移植术治疗假晶体大泡性角膜病变的临床疗效，探讨术中对原人工晶体的处理。方法：假晶体大泡性角膜病变１４例（１４只眼）。原人工晶体类型为后房型人工晶体１２例，弹性开放襻前房型人工晶体２例。手术方法为穿透性角膜移植术１２例，穿透性角膜移植联合人工晶体取出术２例。结果：术后临床症状均完全消失，所有植片均透明，矫正视力０．０２以上１２例（０．１以上４例）。随诊３￣２２个月，１３例植片透明     

Penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Management of the intraocular lens

Management of the intraocular lens (IOL) at the time of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy has been based on lens-related factors and coexisting anterior segment abnormalities. The authors reviewed the results of PK for 102 cases of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (43 anterior chamber, 50 iris-supported, and 9 posterior chamber) with respect to: (1) the type of IOL, (2) coexisting abnormalities, and (3) management of the IOL at surgery. Graft failure after 2 years of follow-up was: (1) retained iris-supported IOLs, 9%; (2) retained anterior chamber IOLs, 60%; (3) retained posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC IOL), 0%; (4) removed IOLs, 9%; and (5) exchanged IOLs, 20%. After 5 years of follow-up, 13 of 13 PKs with retained closed-loop anterior chamber IOLs had failed. Visual results were best in eyes with retained iris-supported, rigid anterior chamber or PC IOLs and when the IOL was removed without replacement. The authors recommend that closed-loop anterior chamber lenses and unstable lenses of any type be removed or exchanged and that well-fixated PC IOLs and iris-clip IOLs be retained at the time of PK for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy.     

Soemmering's ring support for posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation during penetrating keratoplasty. Changing trends in bullous keratopathy.

BACKGROUND: Changing trends in cataract extractions have resulted in a new category of bullous keratopathy: corneal decompensation after complicated extracapsular cataract extraction. These cases of bullous keratopathy are associated with rupture of the posterior capsule, vitreous loss, and significant intraocular inflammation at the time of the original complicated extracapsular cataract extraction. METHODS: The authors reviewed 14 consecutive cases of penetrating keratoplasty for bullous keratopathy in which posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation was supported by remnants of the posterior capsule and/or Soemmering's ring without suture fixation. All 14 patients had a history of complicated extracapsular cataract extraction with capsule rupture and vitreous loss. RESULTS: All 14 patients had clear, compact grafts without migration of the intraocular lens with a mean follow-up of 12.1 months. Vision improved in 93% of cases, and there was no significant worsening of glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy after traumatic extracapsular cataract extraction with an anterior chamber intraocular lens and aphakic bullous keratopathy after traumatic extracapsular cataract extraction are two relatively new clinical entities that present new intraocular lens management options. Bullous keratopathy after complicated extracapsular cataract extraction should be recognized as a distinct clinical entity. Intraocular lens implantation into the ciliary sulcus with Soemmering's ring and peripheral capsular support provide the advantages of a posterior chamber intraocular lens without the risk of iris or scleral sutures. The authors predict that bullous keratopathy associated with traumatic extracapsular cataract extraction will become one of the more common indications for penetrating keratoplasty.     

穿透性角膜移植治疗人工晶体植入术后大泡性角膜病变的临床观察

目的探讨穿透性角膜移植术治疗人工晶体植入术后大泡性角膜病变临床疗效。方法对21例（21眼）人工晶体植入术后大泡性角膜病变施行穿透性角膜移植术或穿透角膜移植联合手术，观察术后视力及植片情况。结果随访6～18个月，平均11．6个月，术后临床症状明显缓解或消失，视力较术前均有提高，其中矫正视力0．02以上17例（0．2以上7例）；术后继发性青光眼2例，内皮型排斥反应1例。结论穿透性角膜移植术是治疗人工晶体植入术后大泡性角膜病变的一种理想手术方式，不但缓解症状且能不同程度提高视力。     

Endothelial degeneration and posterior collagenous proliferation in aphakic bullous keratopathy.

In series of 39 corneal grafts, aphakic bullous keratopathy comprised 13 (33%) of the cases. By scanning and transmission electron microscopy, endothelial degeneration and posterior collagenous proliferation were consistent features. In all 13 cases, the patchy loss of endothelial cells occurred diffusely over the entire posterior corneal surface. The remaining endothelial cells had become extremely attenuated to increase their surface area. In nine cases, acellular proliferations of collagenous tissue were interposed between the endothelial cells and Descemet's membrane. These posterior collagenous layers were composed of collagen fibrils and basement membrane material, randomly arrayed in a feltwork of uniform thickness; they appeared ultrastructurally identical to those encountered in a variety of conditions involving endothelial distress.     

Clearing of the host cornea after penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy

BACKGROUND: In this study, we have focussed on the clearing of the host cornea after successful penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy and the clinical factors that may influence this phenomenon. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We recruited the study group out of all keratoplasties performed in our department between 1984 and 1996 using the following criteria: (1) pseudophakic bullous keratopathy that involved the whole host cornea preoperatively, (2) no additional ocular diseases, (3) all operations performed before January 1st 1996, (4) sufficient photodocumentation, (5) complete clinical records, (6) clear graft at the end of the follow-up period. Using these criteria, 48 patients (28 females and 20 males; mean age at the time of surgery 72.7 +/- 8.8 years) were included in the study group. Donor age ranged from 34 to 86 years (mean age 65.8 +/- 12.0 years). The opacity of the host cornea was graded from 0 to 3 (0 = clear cornea; 3 = total opacity) within a circular zone of 1 mm diameter adjacent to the graft in four quadrants (I-IV). Finally, an index for the mean opacity index was calculated [TG = (I + II + III + IV)/4] and correlated with clinical parameters. RESULTS: The index for the mean opacity was 2.8 preoperatively. After a mean follow-up of 9.6 +/- 12.3 months, the index decreased significantly to 1.8 (p = 0.01). Mean visual acuity before PK was 20/400, at the end of the follow-up it was 20/50. The index of opacification was significantly correlated with patients age (p = 0.03; r = 0.2) and inversely with the follow-up period (p = 0.001; r = -0.6) and with the visual acuity at the end of the follow-up period (p = 0.05; r = -0.2). Using the 193-nm excimer laser for donor and host trephination led to a higher clearing of the host circular zone (mean opacification index 1.7) than mechanical trephination (mean 2.1) (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that expansion of donor endothelial cells onto host's Descemet's membrane is possible and successful with respect to clearing of the host cornea in pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Nonmechanical excimer laser trephination of donor and host from the epithelial side seems to promote this phenomenon due to a better apposition of the cut surfaces.