Oral antivirals for preventing recurrent herpes simplex keratitis in people with corneal grafts.

Background: Ocular herpes is a viral infection of the eye caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), a double-stranded DNA virus. Corneal scarring caused by herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) is the leading infectious cause of penetrating corneal graft in high-income countries. Acyclovir is an antiviral drug known to have a protective effect against recurrences in herpetic eye disease.

Creeping posterior synechiae following hyperopic iris-fixated phakic implants.

The purpose of this study was to report on the occurrence and management of posterior synechiae (PS) in three hyperopic eyes after iris-fixated anterior chamber phakic IOL implantation. This is a case report of a 55-year-old man and a 55-year-old lady who had undergone iris-fixated anterior chamber phakic IOL implantation to correct hyperopic astigmatism (one eye) and hyperopia (both eyes), respectively. The three eyes developed creeping PS and pigment dispersion within 4-6 weeks of surgery.

Intra-lesional 5 fluorouracil for the management of recurrent pterygium.

Aim: Recurrence is the most common complication arising from pterygium surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of 5 fluorouracil (5FU) in halting the recurrence of pterygium after surgical excision.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients treated for pterygium recurrence was carried out.

Sequential selective same-day suture removal in the management of post-keratoplasty astigmatism.

Aims: In a previous study, we proposed that corneal topography performed 30-40 min after the initial suture removal can identify the next set of sutures requiring removal, for the treatment of post-keratoplasty astigmatism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of removing subsequent sets of sutures at the same sitting.

Methods: 10/0 nylon interrupted sutures were placed, to secure the graft-host junction, at the time of keratoplasty.

Management of postkeratoplasty astigmatism by paired arcuate incisions with compression sutures.

Purpose: To analyse the efficacy of paired arcuate incisions and compression sutures technique in the management of post penetrating keratoplasty (PK) astigmatism.

Methods: A paired arcuate incision with compression sutures procedure was used to treat 26 eyes with post-PK astigmatism ranging from 6.00 to 16.

Wavefront-optimized excimer laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia and myopic astigmatism: refractive outcomes and corneal densitometry.

Purpose: To determine the refractive outcomes of wavefront-optimized laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) treatments, in particular to measure corneal densitometry after LASIK using the densitometry function of the Pentacam Scheimpflug system.

Setting: Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom.

Design: Cohort study.

Management of post-keratoplasty astigmatism.

Unlabelled: Post-keratoplasty astigmatism remains a challenge for corneorefractive surgeons. While maintaining a healthy graft is the most crucial issue in keratoplasty procedures, astigmatism is a limiting factor in the visual rehabilitation of otherwise successful corneal grafts. The management of post-keratoplasty astigmatism takes place at 2 stages: when sutures are still present at the graft-host junction and when all sutures have been removed.

Profile of sight-threatening infectious keratitis: a prospective study.

Purpose: To prospectively study patients presenting with sight-threatening corneal ulcers with a view to identify the predisposing factors, causative organisms, clinical signs and treatment outcomes.

Methods: Prospectively, over 3-year period, all cases with serious infective keratitis presenting to Queens Medical Hospital in Nottingham, UK, were recruited. Detailed information on the aetiology, culture results, signs & symptoms, the treatment given and the patient's response was collected and statistically analysed.

The effect of gravitational force on limbal stem cell growth.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of gravity on corneal epithelial cell migration in vitro.

Methods: Fourteen donor peripheral corneoscleral rims were used. Twenty explants were chosen of which 10 were placed vertically and 10 were placed horizontally during culture.

In vivo confocal microscopic features of normal limbus.

Aim: To describe in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) features of the limbus in normal eyes as related to the palisades of Vogt's.

Methods: 46 eyes of 29 consecutive volunteers were recruited in this observational study. A detailed examination by IVCM was performed in addition to a routine slit-lamp biomicroscopy.

In vivo confocal microscopic findings in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency.

Aim: To describe in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) findings in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).

Methods: 23 eyes of 17 consecutive patients suffering from LSCD were included in this study. A detailed examination by IVCM was performed in addition to a routine slit-lamp biomicroscopy.

Variable expression of human Beta defensins 3 and 9 at the human ocular surface in infectious keratitis.

Purpose: The authors have previously reported the presence of the antimicrobial peptides human beta defensin (hBD) 3 and hBD9 on the ocular surface (OS). These play an important role in infection and inflammation. In the present study, the authors studied the gene expression levels of hBD3 and hBD9 in healthy subjects and during and after healing of infectious keratitis.

Outcomes of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty following successful and failed 'big bubble'.

Aim: The most popular technique for deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) is the 'big bubble' (BB) technique wherein air is injected in the cornea to create a bubble that separates Descemet's membrane (DM) from the stroma. An attempt to create a BB often results in the cornea being filled with numerous small bubbles without the formation of a BB. Manual dissection is then required to complete the procedure.

Corneal densitometry as an indicator of corneal health.

Purpose: To establish prospectively the normal values of corneal density of healthy subjects using the Pentacam Scheimpflug system (Oculus, Inc., Wetzlar, Germany) and to investigate alteration in corneal density during active and healed stages of bacterial keratitis.

Design: Prospective, comparative case series.

The effect of standard and transepithelial ultraviolet collagen cross-linking on human corneal nerves: an ex vivo study.

Purpose: To evaluate the early effect of standard and transepithelial collagen cross-linking on human corneal nerves in donor eyes by ex vivo confocal microscopy and acetylcholinesterase staining.

Design: Experimental laboratory investigation.

Methods: Eight human eye bank corneal buttons (mean age, 73.

Organization of the regenerated nerves in human corneal grafts.

Purpose: To examine by histopathology the degree of nerve regeneration in human corneal grafts and to determine the anatomic organization and morphology of the regenerated nerves.

Design: Experimental laboratory investigation.

Methods: Twelve corneal grafts from 12 patients (7 men and 5 women) aged 34-93 (mean, 66.

Correlation of central and peripheral corneal thickness in healthy corneas.

Purpose: To study the thickness profile of the normal cornea in order to establish any correlation between central and peripheral points.

Methods: Sixty-seven eyes of 40 patients were subjected to central corneal thickness measurement (CCT) with an ultrasound pachymeter (UP) and corneal thickness mapping with the Oculus Pentacam. The corneal apex thickness (CAT), pupil centre thickness (recorded as CCT and corresponded to CCT of UP) and thickness at the thinnest location (CTL) were obtained and compared with each other.

Efficacy, predictability, and safety of wavefront-guided refractive laser treatment: metaanalysis.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy, predictability, safety, and induced higher-order aberrations (HOAs) between wavefront-guided and non-wavefront-guided ablations.

Setting: Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.

Design: Metaanalysis.

The morphologic characteristics of corneal nerves in advanced keratoconus as evaluated by acetylcholinesterase technique.

Purpose: To study the morphologic characteristics of corneal nerves in patients with advanced keratoconus using the acetylcholinesterase technique in corneal whole mounts.

Design: Prospective, observational case series.

Methods: Fourteen corneal buttons from 14 keratoconic patients (9 males and 5 females; mean age, 34.

Ex vivo confocal microscopy of human corneal nerves.

Aims: To evaluate the distribution, morphometry and the postmortem changes of the central and peripheral human corneal nerves by exvivo laser-scanning confocal microscopy (EVCM).

Methods: 24 eyes from 14 cadavers were retrieved at different time intervals after death and examined by EVCM. Five regions were examined in each eye: central, superior, inferior, temporal and nasal.

Architecture and distribution of human corneal nerves.

Aims: To comprehensively study the gross anatomy of human corneal innervation.

Methods: Twenty-one specimens, including 12 normal human corneas from seven deceased patients, two eye-bank corneo-scleral buttons, two eye-bank corneo-scleral rims and five post-surgical specimens from three patients with keratoconus were studied. Corneal whole mounts were stained for cholinesterase enzyme using the Karnovsky & Roots direct colouring thiocholine modification of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) technique.

Correlation between the pattern of myopic fundal changes and the axis of astigmatism of the eye.

Aims: Myopic fundal changes have been studied in great detail, clinically and pathologically. To our knowledge correlation between these changes and the axis of astigmatism has not been studied before. This study was conducted to assess the correlation, if any, between the pattern of myopic fundal changes and the axis of astigmatism.

Rapid suture management of post-keratoplasty astigmatism.

Aim: Post-keratoplasty astigmatism is managed by topography-guided suture removal. This can take several weeks until satisfactory reduction in astigmatism is achieved. This study aimed to assess whether topography performed 30-40 min after the removal of the first pair of sutures would predict the next set of sutures requiring removal.

Re-treatment after laser in situ keratomileusis for correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism.

Aim: To evaluate the results of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) re-treatment for under correction or regression after primary LASIK procedures for myopia and myopic astigmatism.

Methods: A prospective evaluation of 360 consecutive LASIK-treated eyes, for myopia and/or myopic astigmatism, 32 eyes of 34 patients were retreated and followed at 3, 6 and 12 months post-retreatment. Re-treatment was performed by lifting the original flap after cutting the epithelium around the flap edge with a fine needle.