Impact of cornea recovery training and certification on ophthalmology residents.

Background: In Asian countries, such as Taiwan, social taboos regarding organ and tissue donation decreases the prevalence of organ and tissue transplants. This also applies to cornea recovery, which is a skill that requires precision and practice to perform well. In Taiwan, to ensure the maintenance of high-quality corneas, a comprehensive training program and certified examination has been implemented.

Overweight and Obesity as Risk Factors for Recurrent Herpetic Stromal Keratitis during Long-Term Antiviral Prophylaxis.

Although past research has shown an association between obesity and herpes simplex virus infection, the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK) recurrence has never been investigated. In this study, we included HSK patients who received oral valacyclovir as prophylactic treatment between January 2016 and January 2021. Recurrence, possible risk factors, and the time to recurrence were recorded during follow-ups.

Long-Term Outcome of Treatment with 2% Topical Ganciclovir Solution in Cytomegalovirus Anterior Uveitis and Corneal Endotheliitis.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and long-term outcomes of treatment with topical 2% ganciclovir solution in immunocompetent patients with aqueous humor polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-proven cytomegalovirus (CMV) anterior uveitis and corneal endotheliitis.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the findings for immunocompetent patients diagnosed with CMV uveitis or endotheliitis based on clinical manifestations and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examination results and treated with topical 2% ganciclovir solution at National Cheng Kung University Hospital. Clinical outcome measurements included evaluations of the response rate, relapses, resolution of anterior chamber inflammation, visual acuity, and intraocular pressure.

Sociodemographic Factors and Comorbidities Including Hyperparathyroidism Are Associated With an Increased Risk of Band Keratopathy: A Population-Based Study in Taiwan.

Purpose: To investigate the association of comorbidities including hyperparathyroidism and sociodemographic factors with band keratopathy.

Methods: This retrospective, population-based, matched case-control study recruited 2,545 patients suffering from band keratopathy. They were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code 371.

A Population-Based Study of Social Demographic Factors, Associated Diseases and Recurrent Corneal Erosion in Taiwan.

Purpose: To investigate the association of recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) with sociodemographic factors and associated ocular conditions or systemic diseases.

Methods: This nationwide, population-based, retrospective, matched case-controlled study included 98,895 RCE patients, identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code 371.42, were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Case Report: Allogenic Simple Limbal Epithelial Transplantation From a Human Leukocyte Antigen-Matched Living Related Donor to Treat Bilateral Corneal Chemical Burns Post Laser-Assisted Keratomileusis.

A 35-year-old woman who had undergone laser-assisted keratomileusis in both eyes experienced bilateral total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) due to chemical burns. Due to bilateral severe LSCD, allogenic simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) from a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched living related donor was the first choice of treatment for her left eye. We report the first case of HLA or ABO matching living related allogenic SLET for permanent restoration of the cornea for bilateral LSCD treatment.

The Sociodemographic and Risk Factors for Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy: A Nationwide, Matched Case-Control Study in Taiwan.

This nationwide, population-based, retrospective, matched case-control study included 4334 newly diagnosed Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (FED) patients who were identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), code 371.57, and selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The age-, sex-, and index-date-matched control group included 4334 non-FED controls selected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000.

Associations between Sjögren Syndrome, Sociodemographic Factors, Comorbid Conditions, and Scleritis in a Taiwanese Population-Based Study.

This nationwide, population-based, retrospective, matched case-control study included 111,960 newly diagnosed patients with scleritis who were identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 379.0, selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Demographic characteristics, Sjögren syndrome, and comorbid conditions within 1 year before the scleritis diagnosis were examined using univariate logistic regression analyses, and a paired -test was used for continuous variables.

Recombinant thrombomodulin domain 1 rescues pathological angiogenesis by inhibition of HIF-1α-VEGF pathway.

Pathological angiogenesis (PA) contributes to various ocular diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinopathy of prematurity, which are major causes of blindness over the world. Current treatments focus on anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy, but persistent avascular retina, recurrent intravitreal neovascularization, and general adverse effects are reported. We have previously found that recombinant thrombomodulin domain 1 (rTMD1) can suppress vascular inflammation.

Conjunctival Expression of Toll-Like Receptor 3 Plays a Pathogenic Role in the Formation of Ultraviolet Light-Induced Pterygium.

Purpose: Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), as a damage-associated molecular pattern sensor, can detect self-RNA released from necrotic cells induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation exposure. Pterygium formation is believed to be a tumorigenesis-like process induced by UVB exposure. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern of TLR3 in pterygium specimens and cultured pterygial epithelial cells (PECs).

Association Between Atopic Keratoconjunctivitis and the Risk of Recurrent Corneal Erosion.

To investigate the risk of recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) in patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC). This national, retrospective, matched cohort study enrolled 184,166 newly-diagnosed AKC patients, selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database and identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code 372.05.

Association between atopic keratoconjunctivitis and the risk of corneal ulcer.

Aims: To investigate the risk of corneal ulcer in patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC).

Methods: The nationwide, population-based, retrospective, matched cohort study included 171 019 newly diagnosed patients with AKC who were identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), code 372.05, and selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Risk of Mitral Valve Prolapse in Patients with Keratoconus in Taiwan: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

This retrospective, nationwide, matched-cohort study included 4488 new-onset keratoconus (KCN) patients, ≥12 years old, recruited between 2004 and 2011 from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The control group included 26,928 non-KCN patients selected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. Information for each patient was collected and tracked from the index date until December 2013.

Association between atopic keratoconjunctivitis and the risk of keratoconus.

Purpose: To investigate the risk of keratoconus (KCN) in patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC).

Methods: This nationwide, retrospective, matched cohort study included 186 202 newly diagnosed AKC patients who were identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), code 372.05, and selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Risk of recurrent corneal erosion in patients with diabetes mellitus in Taiwan: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the risk of recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Design, Setting And Participants: This retrospective, nationwide, matched cohort study included 239 854 patients with DM recruited between 2003 and 2005 from the Longitudinal Cohort of Diabetes Patients database. The control group included the same number of age-matched and sex-matched patients without DM selected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database, 2000.

Risk of Corneal Ulcer in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Large-Scale Cohort Study.

This nationwide, retrospective, matched cohort study was designed to investigate the risk of corneal ulcer in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). It included 238,701 patients with DM, recruited between 2003 and 2005 from the Longitudinal Cohort of Diabetes Patients database. The control group included the same number of age- and sex-matched non-DM patients selected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database, 2000.

Microsporidial stromal keratitis: characterisation of clinical features, ultrastructural study by electron microscopy and efficacy of different surgical modalities.

Aims: To report the clinical manifestations, ultrastructure and evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic lamellar keratectomy (TLK) and penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for microsporidial stromal keratitis (MSK).

Methods: Fourteen MSK cases between 2009 and 2018 were recruited. Each patient's clinical presentation, light microscopy, histopathology, PCR and electron microscopy (EM) of corneal samples were reviewed.

Bilateral Congenital Corneal Opacities as an Early-Onset Ocular Feature of Kabuki Syndrome.

Purpose: Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by multiple systemic anomalies and unique facial characteristics. Here, we present the first case, to the best of our knowledge, of bilateral congenital corneal opacities as an early-onset ocular manifestation of KS associated with a KMT2D gene mutation.

Methods: The proband is a girl.

Postoperative Mycobacteroides abscessus subsp. abscessus endophthalmitis: Clinical analysis of 12 clustered adults and a proposed therapeutic algorithm.

Purpose: Postoperative endophthalmitis caused by nontuberculous mycobacterium is a rare but devastating complication after intraocular surgery. However, optimal treatment strategies remain undetermined in view of its rarity.

Methods: We investigated the cases of culture-proven postoperative Mycobacteroides abscessus subsp.

Author Correction: Major ocular trauma in Taiwan: 2002-2004 versus 2012-2014.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.

Risk of retinal artery occlusion in patients with diabetes mellitus: A retrospective large-scale cohort study.

There is a globally increasing prevalence and incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM). Prolonged hyperglycaemia could lead to both macrovascular damage, such as carotid artery atherosclerosis, and microvascular damage, such as retinal arteriolar narrowing, and might contribute to retinal artery occlusion (RAO). Accordingly, it is important to determine whether DM is a contrubuting factor of RAO.

Effect of ethanol pretreatment in keratitis: a long-term follow-up study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of ethanol pretreatment in keratitis (AK).

Patients And Methods: This single-center, retrospective, interventional study included 22 patients (24 eyes) who developed AK and underwent ethanol pretreatment between 2009 and 2015. Samples for smears, polymerase chain reaction, and culture for evidence of were collected.