The pattern and morphology of cellular infiltration of iris melanocytes implanted into the corneal stroma were studied with a rabbit corneal model. Iris melanocytes are transformed into fibroblast-like cells with a loss of pigment granules, which may reflect the in vivo characteristics of iris melanocytes under pathologic conditions. The metaplastic chararter of iris melanocytes appears to be related to the formation of retrocorneal pigmentation and fibrous membrane.
Animals ; Cell Division ; Cornea/*cytology/pathology/surgery ; Iris/*cytology ; Melanocytes/*cytology/physiology/transplantation ; Metaplasia/pathology ; Rabbits

A tectonic keratoplasty was performed with a keratoprosthesis using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene as a supporting skirt, on the left eye of a 23-year-old woman who needed an emergency corneal transplantation due to corneal perforation. The keratoprosthesis implanted, consisted of a supporting skirt which was made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and an optic portion which was made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The optic portion and the supporting skirt were attached by cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive (Histoacryl(R)). Two months post-operatively, the keratoprosthesis was extruded, leaving an opacified, vascularized cornea. A penetrating keratoplasty was performed 1 month later. The excised cornea was composed of granulation tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first case of tectonic keratoprosthesis using expanded PTFE as a supporting skirt in humans.
Adult ; Cornea/pathology/*surgery ; Corneal Opacity/pathology ; Female ; Granuloma/pathology ; Humans ; *Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; *Polytetrafluoroethylene ; *Prostheses and Implants ; Reoperation

We report two cases of band keratopathy who were treated with thick amniotic membrane that contained a basement membrane structure as a graft, after ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid chelation with trephination and blunt superficial lamellar keratectomy in the anterior stroma. In each case, basement membrane was destroyed and calcium plaque invaded into anterior stroma beneath Bowman's membrane. The calcified lesions were removed surgically, resulting in a smooth ocular surface, and the fine structures of band keratopathy were confirmed by pathologic findings. After that, amniotic membrane transplantation was performed to replace the excised epithelium and stroma. Wound healing was completed within 10 days. Stable ocular surface was restored without pain or inflammation. During the mean follow-up period of 13.5 months, no recurrence of band keratopathy was observed. This combined treatment is a safe and effective method for the removal of deep-situated calcium plaque and allowing the recovery of a stable ocular surface.
Amnion/*anatomy & histology/*transplantation ; Calcium/metabolism ; Chelating Agents/*therapeutic use ; Cornea/pathology/surgery ; Corneal Diseases/*drug therapy/pathology/*surgery ; Edetic Acid/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

To report on an epithelial inclusion cyst of the iris that was successfully treated with needle aspiration and Ab externo laser photocoagulation. A 6-year-old boy was treated for a 6.0 mm fluid-filled cyst in the anterior chamber of the right eye. Thirteen months previously, he had undergone primary closure of a 6 mm full-thickness corneal laceration. The subsequent cyst was diagnosed as an epithelial inclusion cyst of the iris. His vision decreased to finger-count at 30 cm as the cyst grew over the pupil. We performed needle aspiration of the cyst and Ab externo laser photocoagulation of the cyst wall. The treated lesion was completely removed. The patient's visual acuity recovered to 20/40 without complications. There was no recurrence as determined by slit lamp examination up to 6 months after treatment. Needle aspiration and Ab externo laser photocoagulation can be used to effectively treat epithelial inclusion cysts of the iris.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Child ; Cornea/injuries ; Cysts/etiology/*pathology/surgery ; Epithelial Cells/*pathology ; Eye Injuries, Penetrating/complications/surgery ; Humans ; Iris Diseases/etiology/*pathology/surgery ; Lacerations/complications/surgery ; Laser Coagulation ; Male ; Play and Playthings/injuries

Human amniotic membrane isolated from the placenta contained basement membrane components such as type IV collagen, laminin, and 6 and 4 integrins, all of which remained detectable while preserved in glycerin for one week. One month after the n-heptanol removal of the total corneal epithelium and the limbal lamellar keratectomy, all rabbit eyes carried features of limbal deficiency, including conjunctival epithelial ingrowth, vascularization and chronic inflammation. Ten control eyes then received a total keratectomy, and 13 experimental eyes received an additional amniotic membrane transplantation. Three-month follow-ups revealed that all control corneas were revascularized to the center with granuloma and retained a conjunctival phenotype. In contrast, in the experimental groups, 5 corneas became clear with either minimal or no vascularization; the rest had either mild peripheral (5) or total (3) vascularization and more cloudy stroma. Using monoclonal antibodies for epithelial markers and matrix components, we concluded that the success correlated with the return of a cornea-like epithelial phenotype and the preservation of the amniotic membrane, whereas the failure maintained a conjunctival epithelial phenotype and the amniotic membrane was either partially degraded or covered by host fibrovascular stroma. Measures taken to facilitate the former might prove this procedure clinically useful for ocular surface reconstruction.
Amnion/chemistry/*transplantation ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Basement Membrane/chemistry/pathology ; Cornea/pathology/*surgery ; Corneal Neovascularization/pathology/*prevention & control/surgery ; Epithelium/pathology/surgery ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins/analysis ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Male ; Rabbits

PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy of central true net corneal power (cTNP) and mean true net corneal power (mTNP) of the Pentacam system to give a keratometry (K) reading for calculating IOL (intraocular lens) power in eyes following refractive surgery. METHODS: Refraction, an automated K-reading (Km), cTNP and mTNP were measured for 15 eyes that required cataract surgery and had previously undergone refractive surgery. The difference between postoperative manifest refraction values and target refraction values calculated with the SRK/T formula using cTNP were compared with the one using mTNP. RESULTS: The mean deviation from the desired post-cataract refractive outcome was 0.60 diopter (D) +/-0.47 (standard deviation) using cTNP; 0.75+/-0.54 using mTNP (p=0.386). The actual refraction was within +/-0.50D of the intended refraction for 60% (cTNP) and 33.3% (mTNP) of eyes, and within +/-1.00D for 93% (cTNP) and 66.7% (mTNP) of eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Although not statistically significant, the cTNP showed better accuracy than mTNP to give a keratometry (K) reading for post-refractive surgery eyes requiring cataract surgery.
Adult ; Cornea/*pathology/physiopathology/surgery ; Corneal Topography/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; *Lenses, Intraocular ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myopia/*surgery ; Prosthesis Design ; *Refraction, Ocular ; *Refractive Surgical Procedures

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of flap-on or flap-off Epipolis laser in situ keratomileusis (epi-LASIK) on the release of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in tear fluid and corneal haze formation.

METHODSThirty patients (60 eyes) with myopia underwent epi-LASIK surgery with epithelial flap repositioning (flap-on) in the right eyes and epithelial flap removal (flap-off) in the left eyes. The level of TGF-β1 in tears was measured preoperatively and on days 1, 3, and 7 postoperatively. Corneal haze was graded at 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery.

RESULTSThe mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -4.98∓2.28 D (-2.50 to -7.25 D) in flap-on group and -5.20∓4.02 D (-1.75 to -7.00 D) in flap-off group, showing no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.80). TGF-β1 levels in the tear fluid were similar in the two groups preoperatively (P=0.11) and at 1, 3, and 7 days postoperatively (P=0.55, 0.45, 0.19, respectively). TGF-β1 levels in tears gradually decreased after the first postoperative day in both groups, but were still higher than the preoperative value till the 7th postoperative day. Corneal haze scores in the two groups were similar at 1 month (P=0.98), 3 months (P=0.52), and 6 months (P=0.72) after the operation.

CONCLUSIONFlap-on and flap-off epi-LASIK surgeries do not differ significantly in postoperative TGF-β1 levels in the tear fluid or in the postoperative haze scores. TGF-β1 may play a role in corneal wound healing.

Adult ; Cornea ; surgery ; Epithelium, Corneal ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; methods ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Surgical Flaps ; Tears ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of estimating effective lens position (ELP) and calculating intraocular lens power using corneal height (CH), as measured using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), in patients who have undergone corneal refractive surgery. METHODS: This study included 23 patients (30 eyes) who have undergone myopic corneal refractive surgery and subsequent successful cataract surgery. The CH was measured with AS-OCT, and the measured ELP (ELP(m)) was calculated. Intraocular lens power, which could achieve actual emmetropia (P(real)), was determined with medical records. Estimated ELP (ELP(est)) was back-calculated using P(real), axial length, and keratometric value through the SRK/T formula. After searching the best-fit regression formula between ELP(m) and ELP(est), converted ELP and intraocular lens power (ELP(conv), P(conv)) were obtained and then compared to ELP(est) and P(real), respectively. The proportion of eyes within a defined error was investigated. RESULTS: Mean CH, ELP(est), and ELP(m) were 3.71 +/- 0.23, 7.74 +/- 1.09, 5.78 +/- 0.26 mm, respectively. The ELP(m) and ELP(est) were linearly correlated (ELP(est) = 1.841 x ELP(m) - 2.018, p = 0.023, R = 0.410) and ELP(conv) and P(conv) agreed well with ELP(est) and P(real), respectively. Eyes within +/-0.5, +/-1.0, +/-1.5, and +/-2.0 diopters of the calculated P(conv), were 23.3%, 66.6%, 83.3%, and 100.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intraocular lens power calculation using CH measured with AS-OCT shows comparable accuracy to several conventional methods in eyes following corneal refractive surgery.
Axial Length, Eye/pathology ; Cornea/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; *Lenses, Intraocular ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Refractive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of estimating effective lens position (ELP) and calculating intraocular lens power using corneal height (CH), as measured using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), in patients who have undergone corneal refractive surgery. METHODS: This study included 23 patients (30 eyes) who have undergone myopic corneal refractive surgery and subsequent successful cataract surgery. The CH was measured with AS-OCT, and the measured ELP (ELP(m)) was calculated. Intraocular lens power, which could achieve actual emmetropia (P(real)), was determined with medical records. Estimated ELP (ELP(est)) was back-calculated using P(real), axial length, and keratometric value through the SRK/T formula. After searching the best-fit regression formula between ELP(m) and ELP(est), converted ELP and intraocular lens power (ELP(conv), P(conv)) were obtained and then compared to ELP(est) and P(real), respectively. The proportion of eyes within a defined error was investigated. RESULTS: Mean CH, ELP(est), and ELP(m) were 3.71 +/- 0.23, 7.74 +/- 1.09, 5.78 +/- 0.26 mm, respectively. The ELP(m) and ELP(est) were linearly correlated (ELP(est) = 1.841 x ELP(m) - 2.018, p = 0.023, R = 0.410) and ELP(conv) and P(conv) agreed well with ELP(est) and P(real), respectively. Eyes within +/-0.5, +/-1.0, +/-1.5, and +/-2.0 diopters of the calculated P(conv), were 23.3%, 66.6%, 83.3%, and 100.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intraocular lens power calculation using CH measured with AS-OCT shows comparable accuracy to several conventional methods in eyes following corneal refractive surgery.
Axial Length, Eye/pathology ; Cornea/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; *Lenses, Intraocular ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Refractive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

A 38-year-old woman developed diffusely distributed opacities with crystalline materials in the laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) interface of her eye after she was scratched by a sprig during mountain climbing. No sign of flap displacement was noted. Despite two days of topical and systemic antibiotics therapy, the corneal infiltration with interface opacities persisted. The following day, the distribution of the crystalline materials had rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Flap lifting and foreign body removal using sufficient irrigation were performed. One month after surgery, the patient's postoperative uncorrected visual acuity was 0.8 with cleared interface. No signs of epithelial ingrowth or flap striae were noted. Mild traumatic corneal scratching without flap displacement may threaten the integrity of the LASIK interface. If foreign bodies are suspected to be the cause of inflammation, early flap lifting with irrigation is imperative for successful treatment.
Adult ; Cornea/*injuries/pathology/surgery ; Eye Injuries/*complications/diagnosis/surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ/*methods ; Myopia/surgery ; *Surgical Flaps ; Surgical Wound Dehiscence/diagnosis/*etiology/surgery ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/*complications/diagnosis/surgery