Effectiveness of curvilinear approach in dissection of Descemet's membrane: first 500 cases - factors influencing graft preparation.

Purpose: To confirm the reproducibility of manual graft preparation using curvilinear forceps and evaluate the incidence and type of structural abnormalities of Descemet's membrane (DM) preventing successful grafts preparation.

Methods: Five hundred corneo-scleral buttons were prepared. Factors such as endothelial cell number before preparation, donor age, post-mortem time, time in culture, pigmentation of the trabecular meshwork and preparation characteristics of the fellow eye were analysed.

Factors influencing the contamination rates of the conjunctival swabs and organ culture media of human donor eyes.

This study assessed the influence of donor, environmental, and logistical factors on the contamination rates of the conjunctival swabs and organ culture media of human donor eyes.In total, 1008 conjunctival swabs and 418 organ culture media samples from 504 consecutive human donor eyes were analyzed. Cross-tabulation, chi-squared tests, and Fisher's exact tests were used to assess the influence of the different factors on the contamination rates of the conjunctival swabs and organ culture media.

A new knotless technique for combined transscleral fixation of artificial iris, posterior chamber intraocular lens, and penetrating keratoplasty.

Purpose: To present a new surgical technique for treating corneal opacity and aniridia with aphakia and the results in a small consecutive case series.

Methods: A three-piece acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) was attached to a customized silicone iris prosthesis and fixed with three 10-0 polypropylene sutures in a knotless technique using Z-sutures after trephination of the recipient cornea. The medical records of all consecutive patients who had received a keratoplasty and an implantation of an artificial iris and IOL were reviewed.

Novel Technique for Improving Graft Unfolding in Vitrectomized Eyes Using a Temporary Diaphragm in Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Purpose: To describe a new surgical technique for performing Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) using a temporary hydrophilic methacrylate sheet in the anterior chamber in cases of previous vitrectomy with complete removal of the vitreous body.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed for baseline and follow-up best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, endothelial cell count, and indication for DMEK using a temporary hydrophilic methacrylate sheet. Operative notes were analyzed in all cases to identify any specific intraoperative event.

Allelic Expression Imbalance in the Human Retinal Transcriptome and Potential Impact on Inherited Retinal Diseases.

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are often associated with variable clinical expressivity (VE) and incomplete penetrance (IP). Underlying mechanisms may include environmental, epigenetic, and genetic factors. -acting expression quantitative trait loci (-eQTLs) can be implicated in the regulation of genes by favoring or hampering the expression of one allele over the other.

Effect of Organ Scandal on Corneal Donation Rate and Organ Donors at a German University Hospital.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of an organ transplantation scandal on the rate of corneal donations and organ donors at the University Hospital Tübingen. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data from all hospital deaths from January 2012 to December 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Each deceased patient was considered as a potential corneal donor.

Factors influencing the contamination rate of human organ-cultured corneas.

Purpose: To assess the influence of donor, environment and storage factors on the contamination rate of organ-cultured corneas, to consider the microbiological species causing corneal contamination and to investigate the corresponding sensitivities.

Methods: Data from 1340 consecutive donor corneas were analysed retrospectively. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the influence of different factors on the contamination rate of organ-cultured corneas for transplantation.

Evaluation of Factors Limiting Corneal Donation.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate factors limiting corneal donation at the University Hospital Tübingen. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively studied all hospital deaths from January 2012 to December 2015, considering each deceased patient as a potential corneal donor. During this period an ophthalmic resident managed corneal donor procurement on a full-time basis.

Air Bubble-Induced High Intraocular Pressure After Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence and risk factors of pupillary block caused by an air bubble in the anterior chamber in the early postoperative period after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted in 306 eyes that underwent DMEK from September 2009 through October 2014 at the Tübingen Eye Hospital. Intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation was defined as a spike above 30 mm Hg.

Hypothermia Promotes Survival of Ischemic Retinal Ganglion Cells.

Purpose: Ischemic stroke in retinal arteries leads to death of neural tissue and ultimately to blindness. The retina is known to die within 4 hours after onset of ischemia. It is debated whether hypothermia might increase the time window for medical treatment and thereby the chance of recovering sight.

Customized humanoptics silicone iris prosthesis in eyes with posttraumatic iris loss: outcomes and complications.

Purpose: Posttraumatic partial or total iris defects often cause significant debilitating glare, photophobia, decreased vision and cosmetic problems. Currently, the best cosmetic results can be obtained with a customized silicone iris prosthesis. However, little is known about the functional results and the rate of complication if this type of iris prosthesis is implanted into severely traumatized eyes.

Factors that influence the suitability of human organ-cultured corneas.

Purpose: The purpose was to assess the influence of donor and storage factors on the suitability of organ-cultured corneas for transplantation.

Methods: Data from 1340 donor corneas stored between 2009 and 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the influence of different factors on the suitability of grafts for transplantation.

Impact of the radius of the injector system on the cell viability in descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty: an ex vivo experimental study.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of the radius of the injector system on the viability of the endothelial cells in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods: Descemet membranes (DMs) of 30 corneoscleral rims were used in a paired design and divided into three groups (A, B, C). The right corneas were used as control (without shooting through the injector after DM preparation) and the left cornea for simulation of the implantation step (shooting through a glass injector of different radii).

Cytotoxic Effect of Voriconazole on Human Corneal Epithelial Cells.

Background: To assess the cytotoxic properties of voriconazole and sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBECD) on cultured primary human corneal epithelial cells.

Methods: Human corneal epithelial cells were cultured and exposed to various concentrations of SBECD (0.016-32 mg/ml) and voriconazole (0.

Iron accumulation in Bruch's membrane and melanosomes of donor eyes with age-related macular degeneration.

Iron (Fe) accumulation in cytoplasmic storages of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with age has been reported to be a contributing factor to the onset and progression of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This work investigated whether iron can also be stored in specialized metal-binding melanosomes of the RPE and choroid and in age pigments of the RPE (lipofuscin and melanolipofuscin). As accumulation of debris in Bruch's membrane is an additional hallmark of AMD, the elemental composition of Bruch's membrane was also investigated.

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty in vitrectomized eyes: clinical results.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in vitrectomized eyes.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed for demographics, baseline and follow-up best spectacle-corrected visual acuities (BCVAs), endothelial cell densities, and indication for DMEK. Operative notes were analyzed to identify any specific intraoperative event.

Switching intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes after switching between bevacizumab and ranibizumab therapy due to poor treatment effect in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: This is a retrospective review of patients with neovascular AMD with first treatment using intravitreal bevacizumab (group 1) or ranibizumab (group 2) who switched to the other drug due to poor treatment effect. Primary outcome measures were change in mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and mean central retinal thickness (CRT) at 1 year and last visit.

Choriocapillaris breakdown precedes retinal degeneration in age-related macular degeneration.

This work presents a combined light and electron microscopical approach to investigate the initial breakdown of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choriocapillaris (CC) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Perimacular sections of 12 dry and wet AMD eyes (82 ± 15 years) and 7 age-matched controls (75 ± 10 years) without retinal pathology were investigated. Disease progression was classified into 5 stages of retinal degeneration to investigate the concurrent CC breakdown.

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty in cases with existing scleral-sutured and iris-sutured intraocular lenses.

Background: To report two cases of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) in patients with existing scleral-fixated and iris-fixated intraocular lenses (sf-IOL and if-IOL, respectively).

Case Presentation: DMEK procedures were performed on a 49-year-old woman with a pre-existing sf-IOL (case 1) and a 69-year-old woman with a pre-existing if-IOL (case 2) in order to treat secondary corneal edema due to pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Visual acuity, refractive error, intraocular pressure, slit lamp examination, pachymetry measurements and endothelial cell density (ECD) were considered and repeated during follow-ups.

Comparison of swollen and dextran deswollen organ-cultured corneas for Descemet membrane dissection preparation: histological and ultrastructural findings.

Purpose: To compare the use of swollen tissue versus tissue deswollen by addition of dextran to the medium in the dissection of organ-cultured Descemet membrane (DM) with regard to preparation-related characteristics and ultrastructural findings to optimize transplantation in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods: DMs of 20 corneoscleral rims were separated using organ-cultured groups, one immersed in culture medium without dextran (group A) and the other in medium with added dextran for 24 hours (group B). The preparation details were noted.

Cytotoxic properties of sunitinib and sorafenib on human corneal epithelial cells.

Purpose: To generate toxicology profiles of individual drugs on human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) and compare their in vitro cytotoxicity.

Methods: Monolayer cultures of HCEC were harvested from two human donor eyes. Sunitinib (0.

[Refractive changes after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty].

Penetrating keratoplasty has different refractive disadvantages in contrast to posterior lamellar keratoplasty. For example, a decentered corneal trephination and a tilted trephination or unevenly tightened corneal sutures can cause an uncontrolled high astigmatism as well as a refractive change. Also the postoperative refraction may change over time as a result of wound healing, suture loosening or suture removal.