Glaucoma in penetrating keratoplasty: risk factors, management and outcome.

Introduction: Glaucoma is a leading cause for graft failure. This retrospective study analyzes the risk factors, graft status, and treatment modalities in patients with post-penetrating keratoplasty glaucoma.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of case records of 1,848 penetrating keratoplasties carried out between 2000 and 2005 was performed.

Efficacy of postoperative immunosuppression after keratoplasty in herpetic keratitis.

Purpose: Recurrence of herpetic keratitis and immune reactions is the major cause of graft failures after penetrating keratoplasty as a consequence of herpes simplex keratitis. No treatment regimen is yet considered a standard of care. This retrospective study analyzes the effectiveness of combined systemic acyclovir and immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine A (CSA) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) after high-risk keratoplasty in herpetic keratitis.

Microperimetry as a routine diagnostic test in the follow-up of retinal vein occlusion?

Background: In the follow-up of retinal vein occlusions, a patient's subjective change in vision frequently cannot be confirmed by objective measurements. Furthermore, contradictory results of OCT and distance visual acuity give the impression that current routine diagnostic tests might not be satisfying for patients with retinal vein occlusions. This prospective case series analyses the value of microperimetry as a routine diagnostic test in the follow-up of patients with retinal vein occlusions during therapy.

Ocular involvement in chronic graft-versus-host disease: therapeutic approaches to complicated courses.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) is a major concomitant phenomenon in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations, affecting multiple organ systems including the eye. Ocular structures, such as lacrimal gland, conjunctiva, and eyelids with meibomian glands, are frequently involved with clinical features ranging from dry eyes and common inflammatory conjunctival disease to severe complications like corneal ulcerations or even perforations. We present 2 patients with complicated courses of ocular cGvHD.

Retrobulbar haemodynamics and contrast sensitivity improvements after CO2 breathing.

Purpose: Effects of gas mixtures have been widely studied. Carbon dioxide (CO(2)) is known to act as a vasodilator, whereas oxygen (O(2)) acts as a vasoconstrictor. Therefore, the interpretation of results is difficult.

Fluorescein filling defects of the optic nerve head in normal tension glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension and healthy controls.

Background: To evaluate fluorescein filling defects of the optic nerve head in normal tension glaucoma (NTG), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), ocular hypertension (OHT) and controls.

Methods: Forty patients with NTG (mean age 55 +/- 10 years), 40 patients with POAG (mean age 55 +/- 11 years), 40 patients with OHT (mean age 53 +/- 13 years), and 40 age-matched controls (mean age 54 +/- 11 years) were included in a prospective study. Video fluorescein angiograms were performed by means of a scanning laser ophthalmoscope.