Belgian Endothelial Surgical Transplant of the Cornea (BEST cornea) protocol: clinical and patient-reported outcomes of Ultra-Thin Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) versus Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) - a multicentric, randomised, parallel group pragmatic trial in corneal endothelial decompensation.

Objectives: Corneal blindness is the third most frequent cause of blindness globally. Damage to the corneal endothelium is a leading indication for corneal transplantation, which is typically performed by lamellar endothelial keratoplasty. There are two conventional surgical techniques: Ultra-Thin Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) and Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK).

[Holoclar®, an autologous stem cells graft for sight recovery after ocular burns].

Ocular chemical or physical burns currently represent 12 % of domestic accidents in Europe. They can lead to numerous ophthalmologic sequelae ranging from simple superficial keratitis to conjunctival ischemia and the destruction of limbal corneal stem cells. This results in damages to the cornea which can progress to neovascularization and corneal invasion by conjunctival tissue.

[Peripheral ulcerative keratitis].

Peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) is a disorder of the juxtalimbal cornea characterised by a crescent-shape destructive inflammation of corneal stroma. PUK can be associated with various ocular and systemic infectious and non infectious diseases. Different systemic autoimmune vasculitis that can prove potentially fatal may present as PUK.

[Ophthalmologic signs in a KBG syndrome, a rare genetic disease].

KBG syndrome, named after the initials of the first 3 families reported, is a rare genetic syndrome caused by a deletion or a mutation of ANKRD11 (ankyrin repeat domain-containing protein 11) gene. Its prevalence is probably underestimated because of a variable expressivity; moreover, most of its clinical characteristics are not specific. There is no consensus about its diagnostic criteria.

[Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis: a tooth to regain sight].

As the leading cause of blindness in the world, corneal diseases are second only to cataracts. However, the epidemiology of corneal disease is complex and includes a wide variety of infectious and inflammatory eye diseases (trachoma), immune sequelae (cicatricial pemphigoid on Lyell's disease) of after trauma (chemical burn). The general treatment for severe corneal disease is the corneal transplantation with penetrating keratoplasty.

The culture, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of Rohingya refugees: a systematic review.

Aims: Despite the magnitude and protracted nature of the Rohingya refugee situation, there is limited information on the culture, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of this group. This paper, drawing on a report commissioned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the literature on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of Rohingya refugees, including an examination of associated cultural factors. The ultimate objective is to assist humanitarian actors and agencies in providing culturally relevant Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for Rohingya refugees displaced to Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries.

[Updates in corneal transplantation].

Corneal transplantation or keratoplasty has rapidly developed over the last 10 years. Penetrating keratoplasty, a well-known operation consisting of full thickness replacement of the cornea, has remained the dominant procedure for a long time. It allows appropriate therapy of most causes of corneal blindness.

[How I treat...a red eye].

Before any initiation of treatment for a red eye, an accurate differential diagnosis must absolutely be done, as considered in a previous article. Red eye can result from benign diseases, but also from serious pathologies which shouldn't be neglected, as they require a rapid ophtalmologist management. This is the case for keratitis, uveitis, acute glaucoma attack, or endophtalmitis.

[How I explore ... differential diagnosis of a red eye].

As a common reason for consultation, red eye can be a symptom of benign diseases, such as conjunctivitis, subconjunctival hemorrhage, dry eye syndrome,...

[Clinical case of the month. Acute post-traumatic panophthalmitis].

Panophtalmitis is an intra-ocular and intra-orbital rare infection, but its consequences are often horrendous, with loss of both function and anatomy of the eye. The surgical approach and the antibiotherapy should be given as soon as possible, both by intra-vitreal and intra-venous injections. We report the case of a 49-year-old man who developed a Bacillus cereus panophtalmitis.

[Overview of a decade of advances in ophtalmology].

This review summarizes the most important advances that occurred in ophthalmology during the last decade, with a focus on corneal pathology, cataract surgery, glaucoma and retinal diseases.

Spontaneous recovery in phacolytic glaucoma.

We report a case of phacolytic glaucoma in which spontaneous absorption of the hypermature lens allowed a patient who refused surgery to recover a normal pressure and satisfactory visual acuity.

Amniotic membrane transplantation and fibrin glue in the management of corneal ulcers and perforations: a review of 33 cases.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of amniotic membrane in corneal ulcers refractive to conventional treatment and amniotic membrane with fibrin glue in corneal perforations.

Methods: Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) was performed in 33 eyes from 32 patients for corneal ulcers refractive to conventional treatment. Fourteen ulcers were perforated and received fibrin glue and amniotic membrane.

[Retinal vascular occlusions: diagnosis and management].

Purpose: The diagnosis of retinal venous and arterial occlusions is usually easily evoked on visual symptoms and ophthalmoscopic features. However, their management (etiologic explorations and treatment) has not been formally established and remains controversial.

Current Knowledge And Key Points: Some retinal vascular occlusions may result of loco-regional ocular causes.

[Merkel cell carcinoma].

Merkel cell carcinoma is a neuroendocrine tumor of the skin, originating from neuroendocrine cells. A case report of Merkel cell carcinoma, discovered in a 77-Year-old woman, was diagnosed and confirmed on a biopsy. Diagnostic and therapeutic orientations of this unusual but malignant tumor are described.

[Corneal ulcers associated with rheumatoid arthritis].

Keratoconjonctivitis sicca, scleritis and keratitis remain the major ocular manifestation, associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Corneal ulcers are a rare complication but can lead to perforation. Unstable epithelial barrier and immune disorders play a key role in the pathophysiology of such corneal melting.

Corneal preparation of eye bank eyes for experimental surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of dextran in balanced salt solution (BSS) as a preparation of eye bank corneas for experimental surgeries.

Methods: We used 12 eye bank eyes that were unsuitable for transplant. The corneas were removed from the globe and affixed to a Hanna artificial anterior chamber.

Use of human fibrin glue and amniotic membrane transplant in corneal perforation.

Purpose: To repair corneal perforation using human fibrin glue (HFG) and amniotic membrane transplant (AMT).

Methods: Three patients in whom central corneal perforations, approximately 2 mm in diameter, occurred after ocular or systemic disease were successfully cured using HFG and AMT. The technique consists first of using a high-viscosity sodium hyaluronate viscoelastic material to restore anterior chamber depth followed by a debridement of the ulcer.

[Report of a case of Acanthamoeba keratitis].

Clinical Report: A clinical report of a contact lenses wearer with Acanthamoeba keratitis pointed out the diagnosis problem. The medical treatment is needed previously to any surgery. Finally the patient underwent enucleation.

Koraxitrachitic syndrome: a syndromic form of self-healing collodion baby with residual dappled atrophy of the derma.

We report on a child with a generalized skin disorder associated with other minor anomalies. At birth, the child presented as a collodion baby, with patchy erythema, generalized irregular dermal atrophy, alopecia, absent eyelashes and eyebrows, and conjunctival pannus. He also had hypertelorism, prominent nasal root, large mouth, micrognathia, brachydactyly, syndactyly involving all interdigital spaces, and camptodactyly of fingers III-V.

[Keratoprosthesis by posterior fixation and mechanical biocompatibility: determination of intraocular pressure provoking aqueous humor leak and/or extrusion].

The effect of a sudden increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) on Eye Bank eyes implanted with a posterior fixation keratoprosthesis PCL5 type (Lacombe) is evaluated. The IOP was artificially increased at a rate close to that observed in direct eye trauma. The critical pressure values causing aqueous humor leak and/or keratoprosthesis extrusion were compared to those found to blow up unoperated eyes.

[A case of Exophiala dermatitidis ulceration].

The authors present one case of corneal Exophiala dermatitidis ulceration. This case is analyzed in the field of corneal mycosis infection. Classification, rate, clinical history, biomicroscopy aspects will be discussed.

[Types of corneal transplantation: experience and review].

The authors review the 12 cases of matched corneal transplantation, performed at the CHU of Liège between 1991 and 1997. They expose their results together with a summary of the different hypotheses published so far in the field of corneal graft matching.

[Use of the cryopreserved human amniotic membrane for reconstruction of the ocular surface].

The aim of this human research protocol is to determine the efficacy of using preserved human amniotic membrane for reconstruction surgery for ocular surface. Case report and literature will be presented. The characteristics of a new surgical approach using human amniotic membrane will be described.