Lid flora in blepharitis.

The microbiologic evaluations of 332 consecutive patients with the primary diagnosis of chronic blepharitis were reviewed and compared to those of 160 control patients. The most commonly isolated organisms from lids with blepharitis were Staphylococcus epidermidis (95.8%), Propronibacterium acnes (92.

Continuous tear capsulotomy and phacoemulsification cataract extraction combined with penetrating keratoplasty.

Continuous tear capsulotomy, or capsulorhexis, permits secure and precise placement of a posterior chamber intraocular lens. This technique can be used open sky during triple procedures combining penetrating keratoplasty with cataract extraction and intraocular lens insertion. Expression of the nucleus through a continuous tear capsulotomy can be difficult.

Porcine collagen corneal shield treatment of persistent epithelial defects following penetrating keratoplasty.

Treatment of persistent epithelial defects following penetrating keratoplasty (PK) can be difficult. The use of a 24-hour porcine collagen corneal shield (Bausch & Lomb) to promote epithelialization of these cases was compared to the use of the hydrophilic bandage soft contact lens (Bausch & Lomb, plano O4). Twenty-three consecutive patients treated for persistent epithelial defect following PK were reviewed.

Acridine orange and Gram stains in infectious keratitis.

Two hundred thirty consecutive cases of presumed infectious keratitis were reviewed. Cultures were positive in 49.5% (114 of 230).

Chronic vitritis with macrophagic inclusions. A sequela of treated endophthalmitis due to a coryneform bacterium.

A 75-year-old woman was treated successfully for endophthalmitis due to a coryneform bacterium contracted from a contaminated corneal graft. We were able to study the involved eye histologically when the patient died unexpectedly 5 1/2 weeks after treatment. The vitreous contained a moderate number of macrophages filled with PAS-positive particles.

Corneal manifestations of scleromyxedema.

Bilateral superficial corneal deposits and scleromyxedema, an uncommon dermatosis caused by the accumulation of acid mucopolysaccharide in the skin often associated with a benign monoclonal gammopathy developed in a 71-year-old man. A biopsy specimen of the cornea showed that the deposits stained strongly positive for IgG and lambda chains. Ultrastructurally, the deposits consisted of amorphous granular material.

Outpatient treatment of microbial corneal ulcers.

Outpatient and inpatient management of culture-proved microbial corneal ulcers was evaluated. Twenty-six consecutive patients were reviewed. Twenty had been managed as outpatients, six as inpatients.

Central corneal endothelial cell density after argon laser trabeculoplasty.

We report our experience using specular microscopy to perform endothelial cell counts in a series of 16 patients with bilateral, uncontrolled, primary open-angle glaucoma undergoing argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT). Trabeculoplasty was performed in 20 eyes of these 16 patients. Untreated fellow eyes in 11 patients were used as controls for this series.

Penetrating keratoplasty following the use of a temporary keratoprosthesis during pars plana vitrectomy.

The Landers-Foulks temporary keratoprosthesis provides an excellent way to perform pars plana vitrectomy and retinal detachment repair in eyes with opaque corneas. For the most part, these eyes have previously been inoperable. The procedure described in this paper permits this device to be used in conjunction with larger, more routine sized penetrating keratoplasties.

New thoughts on ocular neovascularization: a neurally controlled regenerative process?

Although the final common pathway of ocular neovascularization has been produced by a variety of stimuli in various locations in the eye, a specific unifying mechanism has not been generally accepted. Regeneration in lower vertebrates is a phenomenon that closely parallels new vessel growth in the eye, especially in its ontogenic potential and may give clues to its pathogenesis. The importance of a neural factor in regeneration has been demonstrated using several models.

The effect of corneal trephination on neovascularization.

In order to investigate a neural influence on corneal neovascularization, we attempted to induce new vessel growth within a denervated zone produced by trephination. The stimulus for vascularization was cauterization central to the trephined margin. We demonstrated that in corneas denervated and stimulated in this manner neovascularization did not occur.

Ipsilateral rotating autokeratoplasty.

Ipsilateral rotating autokeratoplasty may be indicated when a nonprogressive central scar is present in an otherwise clear and normal cornea. By rotating an eccentric corneal button, the scar can be displaced peripherally and clear cornea brought into the visual axis. Ten cases of ipsilateral rotating autokeratoplasty were done in the Cornea Service at Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, between 1975 and 1980.

Conjunctival hyperemia and corneal infiltrates with chemically disinfected soft contact lenses.

For three cosmetic soft contact lens wearers who chemically disinfected their lenses, conjunctival hyperemia and anterior stromal infiltrates of the cornea developed. When the conjunctival hyperemia and corneal infiltrates resolved, two of the three patients were challenged with their chemically disinfected soft contact lenses, with reappearance of the conjunctival and corneal reactions. Bacterial cultures of the conjunctiva, lids, lens cases, lens solutions, and eye cosmetics were not helpful.