Cyclosporin (CsA)is a potent immunosuppressive agent and is used for prevention of corneal graft rejection.In vitro effects of CsA on the cultured rabbit corneal endothelial cells and the rat corneal button were investigated. Rabbit corneal endothelial cells were cultured in the medium containing C s A (5 microgram/ml, 500ng/ml, 50ng/ml, or 5ng/ml)for 48hr.The incorporation of 3H-thymidine into cells was determined.Fresh corneal buttons were obtained from Lewis rats.Each button was divided into 4 quadrants and incubated in Optisol medium containing CsA, Cremophore (solvent of CsA), pred-nisolone 0.1 microgram/ml, or Optisol alone for 48hr.The above 4 different concen-trations of CsA were used in different corneal buttons.After incubation corneal buttons were stained with PAS and endothelial cells were stained with Alizarin red S.Results showed that thymidine counts were lower in these media containing CsA.Endothelial membrane was also disrupted in the media containing CsA > or=5 0 n g /ml.In conclusion, corneal medium contain-ing CsA may induce damage to the endothelium in vitro.
Animals ; Cyclosporine* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Endothelium ; Membranes ; Rats ; Thymidine ; Transplants

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) Is a cell-surface glycoprotein that may regulate leukocyte-endothelial adhesion, leukocyte migration into the tissues, and leukocyte trafficking with target cells during inflammation and immune responses. Expression of ICAM-1 have been observed in diseased cornea, and it has been reported that expression on corneal cells is increased in the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We investigated expression of ICAM-1 by various cytokines on cultured rabbit keratocytes and effect of dexamethasone on cytokine-induced ICAM 1 expression, using an ELISA technique. Cultured rabbit keratocytes were incubated for 24hrs with INF-gamma 10ng/ml, TNF-alpha 10ng/ml IL-1beta 5ng/ml, TGF beta 5ng/ml, with or without 0.1micromiter Dexamethasone. Rabbit keratocytes treated with cytokine or dexamethasone were incubated with antral-ICAM-1 for 15 hours. Expression of ICAM-1 was measured with ELISA technique. As a result, expression of ICAM-1 was increased in rabbit keratocytes stimulated with INF-gamma, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, not IL-1beta, and dexamethasone inhibited expression of ICAM-1 in cells stimulated with INF-gamma, TNF-alpha. This results are helpful to understand the role of ICAM-1 in the pathophysiology of inflammatory corneal diseases and the action mechanism of glucocorticosteroids. Further study about expression of ICAM-1 and their regulation & modulation may lead to new therapies in treating inflammatory corneal diseases.
Cornea ; Corneal Diseases ; Cytokines* ; Dexamethasone* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glycoproteins ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Leukocytes ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

We analysed a series of cataract surgery cases into two groups. double horizontal suture group and shoelaces running suture group. We modified horizontal suture technique putting two separate sutures before opening the anterior chamber. Shoelaces running suture group showed early with-the-rule astigmatism about 2 diopter, which decayed over time reaching breakout point at 8 weeks, then very little change. Double horizontal suture group also showed early with-the-rule astigmatism, but the amount was less than half a diopter, which decayed over time, reaching break point at 4 yveek, stabilizing thereafter. After 8 weeks there was no statistical difference between two groups. In summary, double horizontal suture results in less astigmatism and therefore better visual acuity immediatedly after the surgery (p<0.005, student t-test) and for the first 2 months compared to shoelaces running suture.
Anterior Chamber ; Astigmatism* ; Cataract Extraction* ; Cataract* ; Humans ; Running ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures* ; Visual Acuity

We analysed a series of cataract surgery cases into two groups. double horizontal suture group and shoelaces running suture group. We modified horizontal suture technique putting two separate sutures before opening the anterior chamber. Shoelaces running suture group showed early with-the-rule astigmatism about 2 diopter, which decayed over time reaching breakout point at 8 weeks, then very little change. Double horizontal suture group also showed early with-the-rule astigmatism, but the amount was less than half a diopter, which decayed over time, reaching break point at 4 yveek, stabilizing thereafter. After 8 weeks there was no statistical difference between two groups. In summary, double horizontal suture results in less astigmatism and therefore better visual acuity immediatedly after the surgery (p<0.005, student t-test) and for the first 2 months compared to shoelaces running suture.
Anterior Chamber ; Astigmatism* ; Cataract Extraction* ; Cataract* ; Humans ; Running ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures* ; Visual Acuity

Pellucid marginal degeneration is a noninflammatory peripheral corneal thining disorder, which progresses slowly, affects inferior cornea bilaterally, occurs usually between twenties and fifties. Protrusion of the cornea with normal corneral thickness occurs above a band of thinning which is located 1 to 2mm from the limbus and measures 1 to 2mm in width and the patient complaints of progressive visual disturbance due to high irregular astigmatism. Topographically, the lowest corneal power is located along a narrow corridor of the central and peracental cornea and corneal power is highest along the inferior peripheral cornea and in the mid-peripheral cornea along the inferior oblique corneal meridian in a band-like fashion and is decreased slowly superior to that meridian. We experienced a case of pellucid marginal degeneration who had a history of progressive visual loss due to high irregular astigmatism. A 67 year-old woman had the characteristic topographic pattern and clinical feature of pellucid marginal degeneration only in her righ eye and we report it as the first case of unilateral pellucid marginal degeneration in Korea.
Aged ; Astigmatism ; Cornea ; Female ; Humans ; Korea

Pellucid marginal degeneration is a noninflammatory peripheral corneal thining disorder, which progresses slowly, affects inferior cornea bilaterally, occurs usually between twenties and fifties. Protrusion of the cornea with normal corneral thickness occurs above a band of thinning which is located 1 to 2mm from the limbus and measures 1 to 2mm in width and the patient complaints of progressive visual disturbance due to high irregular astigmatism. Topographically, the lowest corneal power is located along a narrow corridor of the central and peracental cornea and corneal power is highest along the inferior peripheral cornea and in the mid-peripheral cornea along the inferior oblique corneal meridian in a band-like fashion and is decreased slowly superior to that meridian. We experienced a case of pellucid marginal degeneration who had a history of progressive visual loss due to high irregular astigmatism. A 67 year-old woman had the characteristic topographic pattern and clinical feature of pellucid marginal degeneration only in her righ eye and we report it as the first case of unilateral pellucid marginal degeneration in Korea.
Aged ; Astigmatism ; Cornea ; Female ; Humans ; Korea

Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy(PRK) for myopia has been performed recently by refractive surgeons, in spite of myopic regression and corneal opacity following excimer PRK. We analyzed refractive change, corneal opacity, and uncorrected visual acuity of 313 eyes (233 patients) for one year and 115 eyes(83 patients) for two years after excimer PRK. The patients were divided tnto 3 groups accordign to theit refractive errors [group 1 (n=123 eyes): from -2.25D to -6D, group 2 (n=145 eyes) : from -6.25D to -10D, and group 3 (n=45 eyes): less than -19.25D]. Mean refractive errors one year after excimer PRK were -0.31+/-0.57D, -0.54+/-0.90D, and -1.71+/-2.01D in group 1, 2, and 3, respectively. These errors were increased to -0.45+/-0.68D, -0.90+/-1.20D, and -3.37+/-3.20D two years after excimer PRK in group 1, group 2, and group 3, respectively. These changes were staistically significant in group 2 (p=0.000) and group 3 (p=0.015), not in group 1 (p=0.426). Corneal opacity was more severe in group 3 than in group 1 and 2 and decreased depending on time passing by. Diopteric error within +/-1.0D from the attempted correction one year after excimer PRK was found in 89% of group 1, 74% of group 2, and 40% of group 3. These percentages were after excimer PRK. Uncorrected visual acuity equal to or better than 0.5 were 95% in group 1, 87% in group 2, and only 44% in group 3 two years after excimer PRK. With these results we thought that excimer PRK was effective and safe for myopia more than -6D, while unpredictable for myopia less than6D.
Corneal Opacity ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Myopia ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Refractive Errors ; Visual Acuity

Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy(PRK) for myopia has been performed recently by refractive surgeons, in spite of myopic regression and corneal opacity following excimer PRK. We analyzed refractive change, corneal opacity, and uncorrected visual acuity of 313 eyes (233 patients) for one year and 115 eyes(83 patients) for two years after excimer PRK. The patients were divided tnto 3 groups accordign to theit refractive errors [group 1 (n=123 eyes): from -2.25D to -6D, group 2 (n=145 eyes) : from -6.25D to -10D, and group 3 (n=45 eyes): less than -19.25D]. Mean refractive errors one year after excimer PRK were -0.31+/-0.57D, -0.54+/-0.90D, and -1.71+/-2.01D in group 1, 2, and 3, respectively. These errors were increased to -0.45+/-0.68D, -0.90+/-1.20D, and -3.37+/-3.20D two years after excimer PRK in group 1, group 2, and group 3, respectively. These changes were staistically significant in group 2 (p=0.000) and group 3 (p=0.015), not in group 1 (p=0.426). Corneal opacity was more severe in group 3 than in group 1 and 2 and decreased depending on time passing by. Diopteric error within +/-1.0D from the attempted correction one year after excimer PRK was found in 89% of group 1, 74% of group 2, and 40% of group 3. These percentages were after excimer PRK. Uncorrected visual acuity equal to or better than 0.5 were 95% in group 1, 87% in group 2, and only 44% in group 3 two years after excimer PRK. With these results we thought that excimer PRK was effective and safe for myopia more than -6D, while unpredictable for myopia less than6D.
Corneal Opacity ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Myopia ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Refractive Errors ; Visual Acuity

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the induced astigmatism after spherical LASIK operations. A total of 36 eyes of 33 patients were treated with a Automated keratome and VISX 20/20 excimer laser. The postoperative 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months astigmatic refractive outcomes were compared with the initial refraction by vector analysis (Alpins and Holladay method). Subjective astigmatic refraction reduced from a mean of 0.48D+/-SD 0.49D(range, 0 to 1.75D) to 0.34D+/-SD 0.54D(range, 0 to 2.0D) at postoperative 6 months.Surgically induced astigmatism(SIA) had a mean of 0.53+/-0.69D(range: 0~2.49D) at 1 month, 0.49+/-0.61D(range: 0~2.79D) at 3 months, 0.62+/-0.72D(range: 0~3.14D) at 6 months follow-up. Mean SIA increased with increasing preoperative astigmatism by 0.45D SIA for every 0.5D of preoperative cylinder(Correlation coefficient: 0.618). The authors show that spherical LASIK corrections can induce significant astigmatic change, particularly if a large amount of preoperative astigmatism is present.
Astigmatism* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Lasers, Excimer

The authors studied the results of 134 eyes(108 patients)with myopia ranging from -6.00 to -24.125D, uncorrected visual acuity, corrected visual acuity, refractive error, after 1, 3, 6 months, and 1 year. They received excimer laser in situ keratomileusis changing the nomogram(groupI:80~90% of PRK, II:100%, III:105%)with Visx 20/20 and the Chiron Automated Corneal Shaper microkeratome from Jan.1996. Mean age was 29.9 year old(20~48 year old). Men were 38 eyes, women were 70 eyes. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was -11.34D+/-3.94D and mean postoperative spherical equivalents(SE)of group III at 1, 3, 6 months, 1 year were -0.27D+/-1.05D, -0.44D+/-1.08D, -0.63D+/-1.21D, -0.81D+/-1.23D. In group 3, SE of -6D ~ -10D(A), -10D ~ -13D(B)and -13D~(C)after 1 year were -0.39D+/-0.57D, -0.68 D+/-0.98D, -1.94D+/-1.90D respectively. Uncorrected visual acuity after 1, 3, 6 months, 1 year was 0.5 or better in 76, 85, 76, 76%, and 0.8 or better in 46, 49, 49, 51% respectively. 42 eyes(71%) within 1D of attempted correction in group III. Best corrected visual acuity did not change in most eyes, 6 eyes(4.4% of 134 eyes)lost two or more of spectacle corrected visual acuity. No sight-threatening complications occurred intraoperatively. Postoperative complications included 29 eyes(21%)of interface foreign body, 16 eyes(12%)of night glare, 16 eyes(12%)of cap microwrinkling. Corneal haze did not be noted. LASIK for high myopia was safe method, but myopic regression observed after 1 year.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Foreign Bodies ; Glare ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Lasers, Excimer ; Male ; Myopia* ; Postoperative Complications ; Refractive Errors ; Visual Acuity