Reply to Geoffrion, D.; Harissi-Dagher, M. Comment on "Wróblewska-Czajka et al. Outcomes of Boston Keratoprosthesis Type I Implantation in Poland: A Retrospective Study on 118 Patients. 2024, , 975".

Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful commentary on our paper, "Outcomes of Boston Keratoprosthesis Type I Implantation in Poland: A Retrospective Study on 118 Patients" [...

Risk Factors for Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension and Post-Transplant Complications in Keratoconus: A Multivariable Analysis.

: The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors for glaucoma in patients with keratoconus following keratoplasty and to identify potential factors that could affect post-transplant complications. : A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 192 keratoconus patients who underwent keratoplasty. Data on treatment history, perioperative information, tissue bank data, postoperative regimens, complications, and infections were collected and analyzed.

Postoperative Astigmatism after Keratoplasty: A Systematic Review Meta-Analysis Based on PRISMA.

: The number of corneal transplants is rising, with the aim to treat a spectrum of diseases ranging from dystrophies to corneal opacities caused by trauma or chemical burns. Refractive outcomes after this procedure are often impossible to predict and associated with high levels of astigmatism. However, there are many techniques that affect the reduction of astigmatism and improve the quality of life of patients.

Exploring the Potential of an Eye Tissue Donor Reporting App in Enhancing the Procurement of Corneal Donors: Mixed Methods Observational Study.

Background: The availability of donated eye tissue saves and enhances vision in transplant recipients; however, the current demand for tissue surpasses the available supply. Corneal donor shortages lead to increased wait times, delayed surgeries, prolonged visual impairment, and increased inconvenience to patients requiring eye tissue transplantation. A web-based application was previously developed to facilitate easy and intuitive submission of potential donor information.

Outcomes of Boston Keratoprosthesis Type I Implantation in Poland: A Retrospective Study on 118 Patients.

Boston Keratoprosthesis Type I (BI-KPro I) is a synthetic cornea that can be used to restore vision in patients with corneal blindness. This retrospective study evaluated the outcomes of BI-KPro implantation in 118 patients. Material: The mean age of the patients was 56.

Analysis of Cytokine and Chemokine Level in Tear Film in Keratoconus Patients before and after Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL) Treatment.

Keratoconus (KC) is a degenerative corneal disorder whose aetiology remains unknown. The aim of our study was to analyse the expressions of cytokines and chemokines in KC patients before and after specified time intervals after corneal cross-linking (CXL) treatment to better understand the molecular mechanisms occurring before and after CXL in KC patients process of corneal regeneration.; Tear samples were gathered from 52 participants immediately after the CXL procedure and during the 12-month follow-up period.

Level of Secretion and the Role of the Nerve Growth Factor in Patients with Keratoconus before and after Collagen Fibre Cross-Linking Surgery.

The aim of this study was to analyse the concentration of the nerve growth factor (NGF-β) in patients with keratoconus (KC) who are undergoing collagen fibre cross-linking (CXL) surgery in order to better understand the pathogenesis of this disease and observe the molecular changes occurring after the procedure. Among many cytokines, β-NGF seems to play an important role in the healing processes of corneal damage. Therefore, its role in the regenerative process after CXL treatment may affect the course of treatment and its final results.

Visual Acuity Examination Methodology in Keratoconus.

Visual acuity is one of the most important parameters for evaluating the vision of patients with keratoconus. This study reviewed 295 articles related to keratoconus published between 2017 and 2022 in which visual acuity was one of the parameters measured. The methodology of visual acuity testing in studies on keratoconus was thoroughly analyzed.

A Web Application for Reporting Eye Donors: Idea, Development and Doctor's Opinion.

Background: Obtaining corneas in a country of 38 million, Poland, is extremely inefficient. In Poland, about 1000 corneas are transplanted annually, of which over 500 come from multi-organ donations. To our knowledge, such a low percentage of donations is in the absence of reporting of potential corneal donors.

Incidence of Complications Related to Corneal Graft in a Group of 758 Patients.

Purpose: this study aimed to assess the frequency of complications related to corneal grafts, including epithelialization disorders, wound dehiscence, infectious keratitis, recurrence of herpetic keratitis, graft rejection, late graft failure, and infectious and noninfectious corneal melting, while also considering risk factors, particularly indications. Methods: this retrospective analysis of corneal graft failure included a chart review of the hospital records of patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PK) between January 2016 and December 2020 at the Department of Ophthalmology of the District Railway Hospital, Katowice, Poland. Results: Between 2016 and 2020, a total of 758 PK procedures were carried out at the ophthalmology department.

Indications and techniques of corneal transplants performed in one center in Southern Poland, in the years 2001-2020.

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate changes over a period of time in techniques and indications for corneal transplantation in a single center in Poland.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of corneal transplants performed at the Ophthalmology Department of the District Railway Hospital in Katowice in 2001-2020. Data on indications and surgical technique were collected.

Retrospective Analysis of Sterile Corneal Infiltrates in Patients with Keratoconus after Cross-Linking Procedure.

Background: This paper's objective is to analyze patients with keratoconus who developed sterile infiltrate after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL), and to evaluate possible risk factors for their occurrence.

Methods: 543 medical histories of patients after cross-linking (Epi-off, Epi-on) procedure performed according to the Dresden protocol were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Sterile corneal infiltrates occurred in four men (0.

An Analysis of the Progression of Conjunctivalisation after Transplantation of Cultivated Corneal Epithelium.

Purpose: To analyse the recurrence of superficial neovascularisation after previous corneal surface reconstruction with cultivated corneal epithelial cells.

Materials And Methods: Forty-eight eyes underwent autologous transplantation of cultivated corneal epithelium to treat partial or total limbal stem cell deficiency caused by chemical or thermal injury. The carrier for the epithelial sheets was a denuded amniotic membrane.

Knowledge and Attitudes toward Cornea Donation among Different Social Groups in Poland.

Background: Limited access to corneal tissue for transplantation remains a challenge in many parts of the world. To date, little attention has been paid to the problem of the cornea donor shortage in Poland, where the number of waiting patients exceeds the number of transplants performed three-fold. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and willingness towards participating in corneal donation among different social groups in Poland.

Detailed corneal and genetic characteristics of a pediatric patient with macular corneal dystrophy - case report.

Background: Corneal dystrophies are a group of rare, inherited disorders that are usually bilateral, symmetric, slowly progressive, and not related to environmental or systemic factors. The majority of publications present the advanced form of the disease with a typical clinical demonstration. The initial signs and symptoms of different epithelial and stromal corneal dystrophies are not specific; therefore, it is very important to establish the early characteristic corneal features of these disorders that could guide the diagnostic process.

A Retrospective Study of Herpetic Keratitis in Patients with Keratoconus after Crosslinking Surgery.

Background: The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent cross-linking for keratoconus, in the Department of Ophthalmology of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, between 2011 and 2020, regarding the occurrence of herpetic keratitis after the procedure.

Methods: We analyzed the medical history of 543 patients who underwent cross-linking surgery.

Results: In the analyzed group, there were nine cases of herpetic keratitis (six men and three women), aged from 16 to 40 years (mean 26.

Seven-Year Analysis of Microbial Keratitis Tendency at an Ophthalmology Department in Poland: A Single-Center Study.

This study aimed to analyze the frequency, drug susceptibility, and drug resistance of pathogens causing microbial keratitis (a corneal inflammation) in the Clinical Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice. Despite intensive treatment, severe inflammation causes irreversible blindness in ∼7% of cases and eye loss (evisceration or enucleation of the eyeball) in ∼1% of cases at our hospital. The choice of a targeted drug depends on the culture result and drug resistance of the microorganism.

Comparison of the Techniques of Secondary Intraocular Lens Implantation after Penetrating Keratoplasty.

Aim: To conduct a retrospective analysis of secondary IOL implantation in patients who underwent PK with no simultaneous IOL implantation.

Materials And Methods: The retrospective study of the secondary implantation of IOLs was conducted in 46 eyes that underwent a primary operation with PK and cataract/lens extraction with no IOL implantation due to capsule rupture or combining corneal or intraocular complications. The minimum period from PK was 12 months.

Total Penetrating Keratoplasty: Indications, Therapeutic Approach, and Long-Term Follow-Up.

Purpose: Evaluation of the indications, anatomical and functional results, and complications of total penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) in disorders involving whole cornea.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed outcomes of the surgical treatment of 47 eyes of 46 patients that underwent TPK. Indications were infectious keratitis, autoimmune disease, injury of the eyeball (mainly chemical burns), and other combined disorders.

Cytoarchitecture of epithelial inflammatory infiltration indicates the aetiology of infectious keratitis.

Purpose: To analyse cytological features of corneal epithelium in infectious keratitis.

Methods: One hundred and eighteen patients (53 males and 65 females) diagnosed with acute stage of infectious keratitis (45 viral, 40 bacterial, 23 fungal, 10 Acanthamoeba keratitis) were included in study. We performed retrospective analysis of bright and blue-light slit-lamp photographs and in vivo corneal confocal microscopy scans of the corneal epithelium from five corneal regions (superior, inferior, temporal, nasal and central).

Cultivated Oral Mucosa Epithelium in Ocular Surface Reconstruction in Aniridia Patients.

Purpose: Efficacy of cultivated oral mucosa epithelial transplantation (COMET) procedure in corneal epithelium restoration of aniridia patients.

Methods: Study subjects were aniridia patients (13 patients; 17 eyes) with irregular, vascular conjunctival pannus involving visual axis who underwent autologous transplantation of cultivated epithelium. For the procedure oral mucosa epithelial cells were obtained from buccal mucosa with further enzymatic treatment.

Phenotype and genotype analysis in patients with macular corneal dystrophy.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse corneal morphological organisation and identify mutations in the carbohydrate sulfotransferase 6 gene (CHST6) in patients with macular corneal dystrophy originating in a Polish population.

Methods: Macular corneal dystrophy was diagnosed in 24 patients based on the slit-lamp exam, confocal microscopy, 1310 nm time domain and 840 nm spectral domain optical coherence tomography. 10 corneal buttons obtained from penetrating keratoplasty were processed for light microscopy.

Clinical, confocal, and morphological investigations on the cornea in human mucopolysaccharidosis IH-S.

Purpose: The aim was to describe the confocal and histological findings of 2 corneas from a patient with an advanced case of type I mucopolysaccharidoses Hurler-Scheie disease (MPS IH-S).

Methods: Both corneas from an MPS IH-S-affected patient were examined in vivo using confocal microscopy and then removed and processed for evaluation using light microscopy and transmission and scanning electron microscopy.

Results: Confocal microscopy evaluation showed basal epithelial cells with either diffuse or granular hyperreflectivity.

Donor disc attachment assessment with intraoperative spectral optical coherence tomography during descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty.

Optical coherence tomography has already been proven to be useful for pre- and post-surgical anterior eye segment assessment, especially in lamellar keratoplasty procedures. There is no evidence for intraoperative usefulness of optical coherence tomography (OCT). We present a case report of the intraoperative donor disc attachment assessment with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in case of Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) surgery combined with corneal incisions.