Influence of primary diagnosis and complications on visual outcome in patients receiving a Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis.

Purpose: To analyse how primary diagnosis and complications affect the evolution of post-operative visual acuity (VA).

Methods: We performed retrospective chart analysis on 59 eyes in 57 patients with various diagnoses, most of which were non-standard indications for Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis (Kpro) implantation. The follow-up period was at least 3 months.

Anatomical survival and visual prognosis of Boston type I keratoprosthesis in challenging cases.

Purpose: To describe the outcome of patients with Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis, with regard to anatomical and visual success.

Methods: Retrospective case series of patients who underwent Boston type I keratoprosthesis surgery at the Centro de Oftalmología Barraquer in Barcelona and at the University Eye Clinic in Salzburg between May 2006 and December 2011. Sixty-seven eyes were included.

Bilateral reading performance of 4 multifocal intraocular lens models and a monofocal intraocular lens under bright lighting conditions.

Purpose: To compare changes in reading performance parameters after implantation of 4 multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) models and a monofocal IOL.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.

Design: Prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.

Correction of myopic astigmatism with a foldable iris-claw toric phakic intraocular lens: short-term follow-up.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy, predictability, stability, and complications after implantation of a foldable iris-fixated toric phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) to correct myopic astigmatism.

Setting: University Eye Clinic, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.

Design: Retrospective nonrandomized observational case series.

Long-term follow-up of a supradescemetic keratoprosthesis in rabbits: an immunofluorescence study.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term clinical and immunohistological outcome of two different non-penetrating keratoprosthesis (KPro) implanted in non-injured rabbit corneas.

Materials And Methods: Three rabbits underwent implantation of a pHEMA-MMA(34) synthetic cornea in the supradescemetic space, and PMMA synthetic corneas in the supradescemetic space and within the central stroma. Animals were followed for at least 24 months before euthanasia.

[Orogenital and conjunctival involvement in hereditary and autoimmune blistering diseases].

Chronic involvement of orogenital and conjunctival mucosa in the course of either genetically based (epidermolysis bullosa hereditaria) or auto-immunologically mediated (as for example pemphigus vulgaris, mucous membrane pemphigoid or epidermolysis bullosa acquisita) blistering diseases can cause significant morbidity. To provide accurate care, recognition of clinical, pathogenic and diagnostic features as well as awareness of recent advances in the development of new therapeutic modalities are mandatory and thus will be discussed in this review.

Ocular involvement in anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid.

Purpose: To report an anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid (AECP) patient with severe ocular involvement and to provide a practical approach to distinguishing AECP patients from those with other subepidermal blistering diseases.

Methods: Techniques included direct and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, Western blot and immunoprecipitation studies, as well as interdisciplinary examinations of mucous membranes and skin.

Results: This study describes a patient with clinical features of cicatricial pemphigoid, circulating anti-basement membrane zone IgG antibodies, and subepidermal blisters.

Corneal stroma regeneration in felines after supradescemetic keratoprosthesis implantation.

Purpose: To show corneal regeneration in 3 cats that underwent lamellar keratectomy (90%) depth during supradescemetic keratoprosthetic implantation.

Methods: Three 2-year-old cats that underwent spontaneous keratoprosthesis extrusion between 15 and 150 days after implanting a supradescemetic prosthesis into their right eyes were studied. Corneal structures and stroma thickness were evaluated by slit-lamp photographs, pachymetry, and confocal microscopy.

Trabecular meshwork alteration and intraocular pressure change following pulsed near-infrared laser trabeculoplasty in cats.

Background And Objective: To comparatively assess the safety and variation in intraocular pressure (IOP) of two pulsed near-infrared lasers (titanium:sapphire and alexandrite) for laser trabeculoplasty versus conventional blue-green argon laser trabeculoplasty in an animal model.

Materials And Methods: The left eyes of 15 healthy cats received a 180 degree laser trabeculoplasty treatment: 5 with a titanium:sapphire laser, 5 with an alexandrite laser, and 5 with an argon laser. Preoperatively and postoperatively, all animals underwent tonometry, gonioscopy, and slit-lamp examination.

Ex vivo evaluation of Tono-Pen and pneumotonometry in cat eyes.

Purpose: To evaluate the validity and intraobserver reliability of intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements with both pneumotonometry and the Tono-Pen in a closed ex vivo system in cat eyes.

Methods: IOP was increased step by step in 5 enucleated cat eyes, while taking IOP measurements with the Tono-Pen and pneumotonometry. The outcomes were compared to readings of a digital manometer simultaneously measuring the actual pressure in the anterior chamber.

[Clinical management of severe ocular surface disease].

Severe ocular surface diseases, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid or severe ocular burns may result in a significant loss of corneal stem cells, eventually leading to vision impairment or even corneal blindness. In case of unilateral involvement, limbal autografting, by means of transplanting limbal stem cells from the healthy fellow eye, has proved to be an effective procedure for restoring the integrity of the ocular surface. Limbal allografts may be performed in patients with bilateral disease, however, systemic immunosuppression is mandatory in these cases, with a long-term outcome that is frequently reduced compared to limbal autografts due to acute or chronic graft rejection.

Biocompatibility of a nonpenetrating synthetic cornea in vascularized rabbit corneas.

Purpose: This study was designed to assess feasibility and biocompatibility of a lamellar, nonperforating supraDescemetic Synthetic Cornea (sDSC) implanted in rabbit eyes after a corneal injury.

Methods: Corneal vascularization and scarring was induced in the right eye of 15 rabbits by application of 1-heptanol and complete surgical removal of the limbus. An sDSC (7-mm diameter, 450-microm-thick optical zone, 100-microm-thick outer flange) was implanted after 45 +/- 5 days.

Biological response to a supraDescemetic synthetic cornea in rabbits.

Objective: To evaluate the biocompatibility of a novel nonpenetrating keratoprosthesis (supraDescemetic synthetic cornea) in a rabbit model.

Methods: Seven rabbits received a supraDescemetic synthetic cornea (7-mm diameter, 350-microm-thick optical zone, 100-microm-thick peripheral flange) in their healthy right eyes. A surgical technique was developed that allowed implantation of the device on top of the bare Descemet membrane.

Anterior chamber angle biometry with ultrasound biomicroscopy after diode laser thermal keratoplasty.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of diode laser thermal keratoplasty (DTK) on the geometry of the anterior chamber angle with ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.

Methods: In 9 eyes, a Rodenstock DTK (ProLaser Medical Systems) was used to correct hyperopia (n = 6) or hyperopic astigmatism (n = 3).

Correction of astigmatism with short arc-length intrastromal corneal ring segments: preliminary results.

Objective: To evaluate the refractive effect of 130 degrees short arc length intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) designed to correct myopia concurrent with astigmatism.

Design: Prospective, nonrandomized, comparative (self-controlled) trial.

Participants: Ten eyes of 6 patients from one surgical center with manifest refraction spherical equivalent between -1.

Evaluation of bone reduction in osteo-odontokeratoprosthesis (OOKP) by three-dimensional computed tomography.

Purpose: To study the stability and preservation of the osteodental lamina in osteo-odontokeratoprosthesis (OOKP) according to Strampelli with spiral computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Computed tomography of the orbit was performed in nine patients after successful OOKP surgery. Indications for surgery included ocular pemphigoid (three patients), Lyell's syndrome (two patients), graft versus host disease (one patient), and severe chemical burns (three patients).

[Amniotic membrane transplantation with limbal stem cell transplantation as a combined procedure for corneal surface reconstruction after severe thermal or chemical burns].

Background: Severe thermal and chemical burns may result in limbal deficiency leading to persistent epithelial defects, complete conjunctival epithelial ingrowth and vascularisation of the cornea. If sufficiently severe, these burns may lead to very significant visual impairment. Amniotic membrane transplantation with limbal transplantation has recently been proposed as a new method for corneal surface reconstruction.

Histopathology of human corneas after amniotic membrane and limbal stem cell transplantation for severe chemical burn.

Purpose: To describe the histopathologic changes in the cornea following amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) combined with limbal transplantation.

Methods: Four eyes with complete limbal stem cell deficiency after severe chemical burn underwent AMT with either a living-related conjunctival limbal allograft (lr-CLAL) (three eyes) or a conjunctival limbal autograft (CLAU) (one eye) for ocular surface reconstruction. Penetrating keratoplasty was performed several months after the initial procedure for further visual rehabilitation.

Histopathologic findings in explanted osteo-odontokeratoprosthesis.

Purpose: To report the histologic findings in three explanted osteo-odontokeratoprosthesis (OOKP) laminae.

Methods: The osteodental lamina of patient 1 with linear IgA bullous dermatosis had to be explanted 15 months after OOKP surgery because of permanent leakage after the resorption of the inferior half of the bone/dentin complex. Patient 2 underwent surgery because of corneal blindness caused by ocular pemphigoid.

Evaluation of donor tissue with a new videokeratoscope: the Keratron Scout.

Purpose: To evaluate the percentage of corneas with an epithelial surface quality sufficient for a reliable screening of donor eyes with keratoconus and after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) or laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) treatment for refractive errors. The usefulness of the computer-assisted, video-keratography system Keratron Scout in making this determination was evaluated.

Methods: Forty eyes from 20 donors were screened within 30 minutes after enucleation and within 24 hours postmortem.

Eurosol versus fetal bovine serum-containing corneal storage medium.

Purpose: To evaluate the usability of Eurosol, a new medium-term corneal storage medium without components of bovine origin.

Methods: Ten pairs of human donor corneas were placed in tissue culture at 31 degrees C for 7, 14, 21, 28, or 35 days. One cornea of each pair was cultivated in conventional storage medium on Earls' minimum essential medium base containing 2% fetal bovine serum; the other one was stored in Eurosol.

One year results of European Multicenter Study of intrastromal corneal ring segments. Part 2: complications, visual symptoms, and patient satisfaction.

Purpose: To assess intraoperative and postoperative complications, visual symptoms, and patient satisfaction after implantation of intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS, KeraVision, Inc.) for the correction of myopia and to demonstrate the reversibility and adjustability of refractive corrections with this method.

Setting: Twelve European investigational sites.

One year results of European Multicenter Study of intrastromal corneal ring segments. Part 1: refractive outcomes.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy, predictability, stability, and safety of correcting myopia with intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS, KeraVision, Inc.).

Setting: Twelve European investigational sites.