New surgical strategy for corneal tattooing using a femtosecond laser.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe a new method of femtosecond (FS) laser-assisted corneal tattooing and to report the results of this method in a case series.

Methods: The study involved 6 eyes of 6 patients with total or partial corneal opacity. An FS laser was used for lamellar dissection and to make a side cut with a hinge, creating a corneal flap.

Different epithelial cleavage planes produced by various epikeratomes in epithelial laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose: To determine the anatomic cleavage planes produced by various epikeratomes in epithelial laser in situ keratomileusis (epi-LASIK).

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, IIsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea.

Methods: Sixteen eyes (8 patients) were included in this study.

Keratitis by Acanthamoeba triangularis: report of cases and characterization of isolates.

Three Acanthamoeba isolates (KA/E9, KA/E17, and KA/E23) from patients with keratitis were identified as Acanthamoeba triangularis by analysis of their molecular characteristics, a species not previously recognized to be a corneal pathogen. Epidemiologic significance of A. triangularis as a keratopathogen in Korea has been discussed.

Acanthamoeba keratitis related to cosmetic contact lenses.

We report a rare case of Acanthamoeba keratitis related to cosmetic contact lenses in both eyes. A 17-year-old girl with a history of wearing cosmetic contact lenses presented with keratitis. She purchased cosmetic contact lenses via the Internet, and followed a contact lens care system irregularly, occasionally using tap water.

Acanthamoeba keratitis related to orthokeratology.

Purpose: To report four cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis related to the overnight wearing of orthokeratology lenses.

Methods: Four patients had histories of overnight wearing of orthokeratology lenses when they presented with corneal ulcers. They had used a contact lens care system irregularly with tap water.

Laboratory investigation of Acanthamoeba lugdunensis from patients with keratitis.

Purpose: Species of four Acanthamoeba isolates (KA/E2, KA/E12, KA/E15, and KA/E16) from the cornea of patients with keratitis were identified and their molecular characteristics compared with those of other strains.

Methods: Morphologic features of amebic cysts were evaluated with a microscope with differential interference contrast (DIC) optics. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), riboprinting of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (18S rDNA), and DNA sequences of 18S rDNA were analyzed.

Twenty percent alcohol toxicity on rabbit corneal epithelial cells: electron microscopic study.

Purpose: To evaluate 20% ethanol toxicity on the rabbit corneal epithelium, ethanol-treated rabbit corneas were examined with electron microscopy.

Methods: Rabbit corneas (24 eyes) were treated with 20% ethanol for 30 seconds, 1 minute, and 2 minutes by using LASEK (laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy) instruments and then washed with sterile water. Zero time, 1, 3, 5 days after ethanol treatment, corneas were excised and examined with scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM).

Mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and 18S small-subunit ribosomal DNA PCR-RFLP analyses of Acanthamoeba isolated from contact lens storage cases of residents in southwestern Korea.

We applied ribosomal DNA PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) RFLP analyses to 43 Acanthamoeba environmental isolates (KA/LH1 to KA/LH43) from contact lens storage cases in southwestern Korea. These isolates were compared to American Type Culture Collection strains and clinical isolates (KA/E1 to KA/E12) from patients with keratitis. Seven riboprint patterns were seen.