This reflective narrative chronicled a nurse's lived experience in bridging grief and hope through the Eye Tissue Retrieval Program of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), the first eye bank in the Cordillera region. Anchored in compassion, cultural sensitivity, and indigenous values, the story illuminated how nursing care extends beyond clinical practice to embrace empathy, ethics, and human connection. Drawing from real encounters with donor families, the article highlighted how nurses facilitate the transformation of loss into legacy, and sorrow into service. Challenges encountered—such as cultural beliefs, time constraints in tissue retrieval, and limited awareness—were discussed in the context of eye-banking practices in developing countries. The narrative concluded by honoring the courage of donors and their families, while underscoring the enduring role of nurses as healers, advocates, and bridges of light in the journey from grief to sight.

Objective: We reported a case of Descemet's membrane detachment (DMD) following ripcord removal of a Baerveldt shunt in a post-corneal transplant eye, and the interventions done. Method: This is a case report Results: A 65-year-old male with multiple surgeries (phacoemulsification, two corneal transplants, and Baerveldt shunt implantation) in the right eye developed increased intraocular pressures, prompting removal of the intraluminal stent (ripcord) of the shunt. This was complicated by hypotony and DMD. Ripcord reinsertion and viscoelastic injection were performed to reattach the Descemet's membrane (DM) but failed. 0.1mL of 14% perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas was injected into the anterior chamber that successfully reattached the DM with return to pre-operative best-corrected visual acuity after 1 week. Conclusion Injection of an expansive gas (C3F8) was effective in repairing a corneal graft DMD in an eye with a Baerveldt shunt.
Glaucoma Drainage Implants ; Corneal Transplantation

Aims: Thiamethoxam (THIA) is a pesticide that has been widely used for its effectiveness in controlling and preventing insect pests. However, the use of THIA diffused in soil, surface and groundwater pose severe toxicity to the ecosystem. The hazardous pollution caused by the toxicity of THIA demands for remediation to ensure degradation of THIA into its safe constituent elements. Thus, the aim of this study is to isolate and identify potential THIA degraders for future bioremediation. Methodology and results: Bacteria were isolated from soil sample collected at a corn plantation which utilizes THIA as a source of pesticide. Overall, two bacterial isolates were isolated from the soil sample. The bacterial isolates were screened and identified for their ability to degrade pesticide by culturing in minimal salt media (MSM) supplemented with 50 mg/L THIA. The growth of isolates was observed and analyzed through spectrophotometry analysis, standard plate count method and pH value of culture medium. As a result, isolate THIA 1 had been found to possess the ability to degrade pesticide as it showed a high rate in growth of bacteria compared to its controls. Meanwhile, isolate THIA 2 showed no degrading activities while under treatment as it showed similar rate of growth towards its control. Isolate THIA 1 was identified as Acinetobacter sp. UMTFA THIA 1. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The isolation and identification of the pesticide degrading bacteria will provide promising source of pesticide degrading enzyme that can be further developed for enzymatic pesticide biodegradation. This will pave the way forward in bioremediation where new effective degradation tools can be developed for pesticide residue which otherwise lead to serious ecological problem.
Thiamethoxam ; Bacteria ; Corneal Transplantation

PURPOSE: To report a patient with a pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) who underwent Descemet's membrane stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) with manual preparation of the donor corneal graft.CASE SUMMARY: A 61-year-old female presented with visual disturbance in her right eye. Five months prior, she was treated with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens exchange surgery of the right eye, and a very severe corneal edema was revealed by slit-lamp examination. We diagnosed PBK and planned DSEK with manual preparation of a donor corneal graft because of the non-availability of a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser. After making the corneal graft using an artificial anterior chamber, crescent knife and cornea dissector, the keratoplasty proceeded using the graft. Three months after surgery, her graft was well-maintained on the right eye. The patient's visual acuity was 0.3, and the corneal endothelial cell count was 1,844/mm².CONCLUSIONS: Manual preparation of the donor corneal graft for DSEK is suitable as a second choice treatment method when the availability of surgical devices is limited.
Anterior Chamber ; Cornea ; Corneal Edema ; Corneal Transplantation ; Descemet Membrane ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Methods ; Middle Aged ; Phacoemulsification ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Visual Acuity

corneal graft survival following primary penetrating keratoplasty (PK) with imported donor corneas.METHODS: The eyes of patients who underwent primary PK with imported donor corneas were classified retrospectively into two groups according to a donor-age cutoff of 65 years. Primary outcome measures were rejection-free graft survival and graft survival. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to assess the factors affecting graft survival. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, while differences between groups were examined using a log-rank test. A subgroup analysis of low- and high-risk eyes according to preoperative diagnosis was also performed.RESULTS: A total of 140 eyes from 138 patients (age, 58 ± 18 years) were enrolled. Cox regression analysis revealed that the donor age of 65 years or older group presented an increased risk of both graft rejection and failure. Survival analysis revealed that rejection-free graft survival and graft survival rates were higher in eyes in the donor age of less than 65 years group. Finally, in the subgroup analysis, both rejection-free graft survival and graft survival rates were significantly higher in the donor age of less than 65 years group than in the donor age of 65 years or older group, but only in the low-risk subgroup.CONCLUSIONS: Donor age may correlate with graft survival in primary PK performed with imported donor corneas. Donor age could be a considerable factor in primary PK with imported donor corneas, especially in preoperatively low-risk patients.]]>
Cornea ; Corneal Transplantation ; Diagnosis ; Graft Rejection ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Methods ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To report a case of anterior uveitis secondary to Listeria monocytogenes infection. CASE SUMMARY: A 57-year-old male presented to our clinic with ocular pain and decreased vision in the right eye for 2 days. The patient had a history of liver transplantation 2 years prior and used immunosuppressive agents. Listeria monocytogenes was identified in blood cultures 1 month before his visit. At presentation, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the right eye was counting fingers at 20 cm and the intraocular pressure (IOP) was 50 mmHg. Conjunctival hyperemia, corneal edema, keratic precipitates, and cells in the anterior chamber were observed in the right eye. The patient was diagnosed as anterior uveitis in the right eye. Conventional uveitis treatment was initiated but clinical features did not improve and black hypopyon appeared. The possibility of anterior uveitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes infection was considered. An anterior chamber tap and culture were conducted to identify pathogens. Anterior chamber antibiotic injections and systemic antibiotic injections were performed. One week after injection, the BCVA of the right eye improved to 0.4 and the IOP decreased to 14 mmHg. One month after injection, the BCVA of the right eye improved to 1.0 and the IOP decreased to 16 mmHg. No inflammation of the anterior chamber was observed. CONCLUSIONS: When nonspecific uveitis occurs in immunosuppressed patients, cultures and appropriate antibiotics should be considered because of the possibility of infection.
Anterior Chamber ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Corneal Edema ; Endophthalmitis ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Inflammation ; Intraocular Pressure ; Listeria monocytogenes ; Listeria ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Uveitis ; Uveitis, Anterior ; Visual Acuity

Keratoplasty, which is cornea transplant surgery, is one of the treatment methods for patients with turbidity or keratitis. Recently, keratoplasty using a surgical robot was studied to increase precision. In this study, the effect of surgical factors on the deformation and curvature of the cornea were analyzed in order to improve the accuracy of keratoplasty and derive the optimal surgical factors using finite element method (FEM). Suturing tension and depth were selected as surgical factors. An FEM model, a constitutive equation, and boundary conditions were determined using experiments and reference data. Suturing tension significantly impacted deformation and curvature change, and suturing depth affected the position of the thread-cornea contact point. Both factors have a significant impact on a focal point in the retina and the patient's visual acuity after keratoplasty.
Cornea ; Corneal Transplantation ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Methods ; Retina ; Visual Acuity

Presbyopia is an age-related condition that progressively decreases the ability to focus on near objects. Minimally invasive surgical techniques have been developed to improve near vision, including laser in situ keratomileuses (LASIK) and corneal inlay. Most have similar approaches using monovision or increasing the depth of focus. Monovision laser refractive surgery is a combination of conventional LASIK, LASIK which creates a multifocal cornea (central near or peripheral near) and aspheric micro-monovision LASIK with a special ablation profile, which develops spherical aberration. Conductive keratoplasty is a method that uses radiofrequency energy to shrink the mid-peripheral corneal stromal tissue. However, it is not used because of regression. A corneal inlay is a small device that is implanted in the corneal flap or pocket made by a femtosecond laser. It is inserted into the non-dominant eye. There are various inlays such as the Flexivue Microlens (refractive), Raindrop (corneal shape-changing), and KAMRA (small-aperture) inlays. However, the safety and effectiveness of these inlays have not been proven over a long follow-up period, so care is required when performing inlay implantation. All presbyopia treatments can improve near vision but also have limitations and side effects such as reduced far vision, contrast sensitivity, or increased glare. Therefore, it is essential to select patients carefully. Mechanisms associated with presbyopia are not fully understood, and presbyopia remains challenging for ophthalmologists.
Contrast Sensitivity ; Cornea ; Corneal Transplantation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glare ; Humans ; Inlays ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Methods ; Presbyopia ; Refractive Surgical Procedures ; Vision, Monocular

PURPOSE: We report a case of herpes simplex keratitis after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). CASE SUMMARY: A 67-year-old male underwent DMEK in his left eye due to pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. One week after DMEK, re-bubbling was performed due to partial detachment of Descemet's membrane at the corneal periphery. After re-bubbling, the cornea remained clear and the patient's visual acuity gradually improved. Two months after DMEK, the patient presented with mild discomfort and decreased visual acuity. The cornea showed an irregular, narrow dendrite with an epithelial defect and surrounding opacity. After confirming that Descemet's membrane was attached, the patient was started on oral valacyclovir for suspected herpes keratitis. Herpes simplex virus type 1 was eventually identified by polymerase chain reaction. The corneal lesion resolved after three weeks of antiviral treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to penetrating keratoplasty, DMEK can trigger outbreaks of herpes simplex keratitis. Herpes simplex keratitis should remain on the clinician's differential diagnosis for patients who present with a corneal epithelial irregularity and decreased visual acuity following DMEK.
Aged ; Cornea ; Corneal Transplantation ; Dendrites ; Descemet Membrane ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease Outbreaks ; Herpes Simplex ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Keratitis, Herpetic ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVE: To assess the lower tear meniscus height (LTMH), central tear film thickness (CTFT), and central corneal epithelial thickness (CCET) after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 20 patients who had DALK in one eye over a three-month period. LTMH, CTFT, and CCET of the operated eyes and the unoperated fellow eyes were measured using high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT). Correlations between three OCT assessments and age, time following surgery, graft size, bed size, and the number of residual sutures were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to patients with keratoconus, patients with other corneal conditions had significantly higher CCET in the fellow eye (P=0.024). For all patients, CCET in the operated eye was significantly negatively correlated with the number of residual sutures (R=-0.579, P=0.008), and was significantly positively correlated with time following surgery (R=0.636, P=0.003). In the fellow eye, a significant positive correlation was found between age and CCET (R=0.551, P=0.012), and a significant negative correlation between age and CTFT (R=-0.491, P=0.028). LTMH was found to be significantly correlated between operated and fellow eyes (R=0.554, P=0.011). There was no significant correlation between LTMH and age, bed/graft size, time following surgery, or residual sutures (all possible correlations, P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Patients with keratoconus tend to have a thinner central corneal epithelium. Corneal epithelium keeps regenerating over time after DALK. DALK did not induce a significant change in tear volume compared with the fellow eye. Postoperative tear function might depend on an individual's general condition, rather than on age, gender, bed/graft size, time following surgery, or residual sutures.
Adult ; Corneal Transplantation ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Epithelium, Corneal/pathology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tears ; Tomography, Optical Coherence