Randomized double-masked controlled trial comparing pain scores with and without the use of supplementary 2% lidocaine gel in LASIK.

Purpose: To compare pain scores with and without supplementary topical 2% lidocaine gel in patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) under topical anesthesia using 0.5% proparacaine eye drops.

Design: Randomized double-masked placebo-controlled trial.

Analysis of the posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy 3 gene, TCF8, in late-onset Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.

Purpose: Because the endothelial (posterior) corneal dystrophies share common pathologic features and result from primary endothelial dysfunction, it is possible that a proportion of them could be clinical manifestations of different mutations of the same gene. The aim of our study was to determine whether mutations of the TCF8 gene, recently implicated in posterior polymorphous dystrophy, may also play a role in the development of the more common Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD).

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes of peripheral blood, and the nine exons of the TCF8 gene were PCR amplified and subjected to bidirectional sequencing and analysis.

SLC4A11 mutations in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.

The endothelial (posterior) corneal dystrophies, which result from primary endothelial dysfunction, include Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD) and congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED). Mutations in SLC4A11 gene have been recently identified in patients with recessive CHED (CHED2). In this study, we show that heterozygous mutations in the SLC4A11 gene also cause late-onset FECD.

Corneal injury by wild taro.

We report a case of crystalline keratopathy caused by Alocasia macrorrhiza. The diagnosis was made based on the observation of needle-like crystals in the corneal stroma following injury to that eye. The condition resolved in 3 months with the disappearance of the crystals confirmed by follow-up confocal microscopy.

Prospective randomized double-masked trial to evaluate perioperative pain profile in different stages of simultaneous bilateral LASIK.

Purpose: To evaluate the perioperative pain profile in simultaneous bilateral LASIK.

Methods: Fifty consecutive Chinese patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral LASIK were randomly allocated to have either the right or left eye operated first. The pain scores for each eye at speculum placement, microkeratome cut, laser ablation, and at 15, 30, and 45 minutes after the procedure were recorded.

Confocal microscopy of posterior polymorphous endothelial dystrophy.

Purpose: To report the in vivo confocal microscopic findings of posterior polymorphous endothelial dystrophy (PPED).

Methods: Four patients with PPED from 2 unrelated families and 2 asymptomatic children of an index patient were included in this observational case series. The eyes of the 6 subjects were examined by confocal light microscopy.

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for choroidal granuloma in sarcoidosis.

Purpose: To report the clinical course of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide on choroidal granuloma secondary to sarcoidosis that was refractory to systemic prednisolone

Design: Interventional case report.

Methods: A 29-year-old Chinese man with sarcoidosis presented with isolated posterior segment involvement in his left eye as retinal periphlebitis, retinal granulomas, and choroidal granuloma. Retinal periphlebitis and retinal granulomas responded well to oral corticosteroid but not the choroidal granuloma.

Intraocular pressure measurement in patients with previous LASIK surgery using pressure phosphene tonometer.

Purpose: To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) assessment in post-LASIK patients using non-contact tonometry, pressure phosphene tonometry and applanation tonometry.

Methods: Sixty-two consecutive LASIK patients were analysed preoperatively and postoperatively with non-contact, pressure phosphene and applanation tonometry. Comparisons among these values were assessed with paired sample Student t-test, Pearson's correlation test and Bland-Altman plotting.

Ptosis after laser in situ keratomileusis.

We present a patient who developed partial ptosis after laser in situ keratomileusis.

Effect of alcohol on the efficacy of excimer laser power.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of various alcohol concentrations on excimer laser power.

Setting: University Eye Clinic, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

Methods: The fluency of the Technolas 217z laser (Bausch & Lomb) was calibrated according to the standard calibration procedure.

In vivo confocal microscopy of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis.

A 56-year-old Chinese man diagnosed with Thygeson's keratitis by clinical biomicroscopy was examined using a tandem scanning confocal microscope. Among normal superficial epithelial cells, clumps of markedly enlarged epithelial cells were identified. Multiple highly reflective filamentary structures were observed in the deeper layers.

In vivo confocal microscopy of epithelial inclusions from aberrant wound healing after astigmatic keratotomy.

Objective: To report confocal microscopic findings in vivo of delayed prominent epithelial inclusions at a gaped incision groove after astigmatic keratotomy (AK).

Methods: Astigmatic keratotomy using paired arcuate incisions was performed on the right eye of a 59-year-old man who had a preoperative refraction of +2.50 DS, -7.

In vivo confocal microscopic findings in patients with steroid-induced glaucoma after LASIK.

Objective: To report the confocal microscopic findings of 2 different cases of steroid-induced glaucoma after LASIK.

Design: Observational case report of 2 cases.

Methods: Two cases of steroid-induced glaucoma after LASIK were selected.

Orthokeratology lens-related corneal ulcers in children: a case series.

Objective: Orthokeratology is a process by which the corneal curvature is flattened by sequentially fitting rigid gas permeable contact lenses of decreasing central curvature. There has been a resurgence of interest with the recent introduction of reverse geometry lenses. Although promising results have been described in reducing the myopic refractive error, the use of these lenses can be associated with corneal problems, as reported in this case series.

In vivo confocal microscopy of corneal insect foreign body.

Purpose: To report a case of insect corneal foreign body with in vivo confocal microscopy performed.

Methods: Clinical presentation, clinical pictures, and treatment are discussed. Confocal microscopy of the injured cornea was performed in areas showing foreign bodies with and without infiltrations seen under the slit-lamp.

Bilateral peripheral corneal infiltrates after simultaneous myopic laser in situ keratomileusis.

We describe a patient with multiple superior corneal infiltrates in both eyes, separated from the limbus by an intervening clear zone, that appeared 1 day after uneventful laser in situ keratomileusis. The overlying epithelium was intact, and the flap and interface were uninvolved. Based on these features, a clinical diagnosis of sterile corneal infiltrates was made and the eyes were treated with topical antibiotics and steroids.