Purpose: To propose improvements for promoting eyeball donation and managing donated corneas, this study analyzed the current system in Korea and reviewed relevant Korean laws, international standards, and foreign practices. Methods: To understand the current situation in Korea, annual reports published by the Korean Network for Organ Sharing and existing Korean laws were examined. For the international context, references were made to the National Organ Transplant Act, 21 CFR Part 1271 (Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 Part 1271), Current Good Tissue Practice guidelines of the Food and Drug Administration, and the Medical Standards of the Eye Bank Association of America in the United States. Opinions on promoting eyeball donation, improving the monitoring system for donated corneas and revising laws related to cornea management were gathered. The perspectives of 31 experts affiliated with the Korea Cornea Society were collected through a survey. Results: Currently, there are no laws or regulations that can be appropriately applied to the cornea which has properties of both organs and tissue. Additionally, there is no law regulating imported corneas. Therefore, there is a need to legislate or revise the current law; all experts who conducted the survey agreed on this. Furthermore, the current system faces limitations in the efficient procurement, stable supply, and management of donor corneas, as well as in donation promotion. To address these issues, the establishment of independent legislation for managing donated corneas and a National Central Eye Bank was proposed. This central body would oversee continuous personnel training, education, and monitoring, along with ensuring stable procurement, processing, and supply of corneas within a structured management system. Sixty-eight percent of the surveyed experts agreed with this proposal. Conclusions To establish a safe and efficient Korean corneal supply and demand system, it is imperative to enact cornea-specific laws, including the establishment of a National Central Eye Bank.

Purpose: This study reports the results of a survey on the diagnosis and treatment status of Acanthamoeba keratitis among members of the Korean Contact Lens Study Society. Methods: To understand the current trends of diagnosis and treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis in Korea, a 16-question survey was conducted on 1,189 members of the Korean Contact Lens Study Society in November 2024. Results: In total, 132 members responded to the survey (response rate; 11.1%). Among them, 79 members (59.8%) reported having encountered Acanthamoeba keratitis at least one case annually, whereas nine (6.8%) reported having experienced > 6 cases annually. Ninety-six members (72.7%) reported that they used slit-lamp microscopic findings and clinical symptoms as basis for diagnosis. Regarding first-line topical medication, 0.02% polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) was the most commonly used (63.3%), followed by 0.02% PHMB plus 0.02% chlorhexidine combined therapy (26.3%) and 0.02% chlorhexidine alone (24.6%). In cases of progressive keratitis despite medical treatment, the surgical treatment options included corneal transplantation (58.6%) and corneal epithelial debridement (46%). Corticosteroids were used in 70 patients (61.9%) to manage neovascularization or corneal opacity after keratitis improved (75.9%,); 0.1% fluorometholone (64.7%) was used most frequently. After keratitis improved, 104 patients (94.5%) continued to use eye drops for > 2 months. Conclusions The survey showed the diagnosis and treatment trends of Acanthamoeba keratitis in Korea.

Purpose: To report the proportion of ocular involvement in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) and to analyze various dry eye indexes and serum titers of markers depending on whether ocular involvement has occurred or not. Methods: This retrospective study considered 214 patients referred from the rheumatology department for pSS workup. Symptom questionnaires, ocular surface stain score (OSS), Schirmer test, tear breakup time (TBUT), meibomian gland dropout, meibum quality, meibum expressibility, lid margin abnormalities, and lipid layer thickness were evaluated. Anti-Ro, anti-La, and antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedation rate, and C-reactive protein were included as systemic serum titers of markers. Patients with (group 1) and without (group 2) ocular involvement were compared. We conducted a further subgroup analysis of group 1 by dividing it into two groups based on whether or not the cases met all the ocular criteria for pSS diagnosis. Results: Among the 214 referred patients, 118 were diagnosed as pSS: 87 out of 118 (73.7%) in group 1 and 31 (26.3%) in group 2. Group 1 showed higher meibum quality scores (p = 0.016), meibum expressibility (p = 0.010), and lid margin abnormalities on the lower lid (p = 0.029) and lower TBUT (p = 0.016) than group 2. OSS, TBUT, and the Schirmer test statistically differed (p < 0.001, p = 0.041, and p = 0043, respectively) between the patients who satisfied both ocular criteria (n = 46) and those who satisfied only one criterion (n = 41). There were no statistical differences in serum titers of markers between the two groups. Conclusions About half of patients referred from the rheumatology department for diagnosis of pSS were diagnosed with pSS. The proportion of ocular involvement in the pSS patients was 73.7%, and half of these patients met both ocular criteria. Only anti-Ro antibodies negatively correlated with TBUT. Also, OSS, TBUT, and Schirmer test were statistically different between the two subgroups.

Purpose: To report the proportion of ocular involvement in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) and to analyze various dry eye indexes and serum titers of markers depending on whether ocular involvement has occurred or not. Methods: This retrospective study considered 214 patients referred from the rheumatology department for pSS workup. Symptom questionnaires, ocular surface stain score (OSS), Schirmer test, tear breakup time (TBUT), meibomian gland dropout, meibum quality, meibum expressibility, lid margin abnormalities, and lipid layer thickness were evaluated. Anti-Ro, anti-La, and antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedation rate, and C-reactive protein were included as systemic serum titers of markers. Patients with (group 1) and without (group 2) ocular involvement were compared. We conducted a further subgroup analysis of group 1 by dividing it into two groups based on whether or not the cases met all the ocular criteria for pSS diagnosis. Results: Among the 214 referred patients, 118 were diagnosed as pSS: 87 out of 118 (73.7%) in group 1 and 31 (26.3%) in group 2. Group 1 showed higher meibum quality scores (p = 0.016), meibum expressibility (p = 0.010), and lid margin abnormalities on the lower lid (p = 0.029) and lower TBUT (p = 0.016) than group 2. OSS, TBUT, and the Schirmer test statistically differed (p < 0.001, p = 0.041, and p = 0043, respectively) between the patients who satisfied both ocular criteria (n = 46) and those who satisfied only one criterion (n = 41). There were no statistical differences in serum titers of markers between the two groups. Conclusions About half of patients referred from the rheumatology department for diagnosis of pSS were diagnosed with pSS. The proportion of ocular involvement in the pSS patients was 73.7%, and half of these patients met both ocular criteria. Only anti-Ro antibodies negatively correlated with TBUT. Also, OSS, TBUT, and Schirmer test were statistically different between the two subgroups.

Purpose: To report the proportion of ocular involvement in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) and to analyze various dry eye indexes and serum titers of markers depending on whether ocular involvement has occurred or not. Methods: This retrospective study considered 214 patients referred from the rheumatology department for pSS workup. Symptom questionnaires, ocular surface stain score (OSS), Schirmer test, tear breakup time (TBUT), meibomian gland dropout, meibum quality, meibum expressibility, lid margin abnormalities, and lipid layer thickness were evaluated. Anti-Ro, anti-La, and antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedation rate, and C-reactive protein were included as systemic serum titers of markers. Patients with (group 1) and without (group 2) ocular involvement were compared. We conducted a further subgroup analysis of group 1 by dividing it into two groups based on whether or not the cases met all the ocular criteria for pSS diagnosis. Results: Among the 214 referred patients, 118 were diagnosed as pSS: 87 out of 118 (73.7%) in group 1 and 31 (26.3%) in group 2. Group 1 showed higher meibum quality scores (p = 0.016), meibum expressibility (p = 0.010), and lid margin abnormalities on the lower lid (p = 0.029) and lower TBUT (p = 0.016) than group 2. OSS, TBUT, and the Schirmer test statistically differed (p < 0.001, p = 0.041, and p = 0043, respectively) between the patients who satisfied both ocular criteria (n = 46) and those who satisfied only one criterion (n = 41). There were no statistical differences in serum titers of markers between the two groups. Conclusions About half of patients referred from the rheumatology department for diagnosis of pSS were diagnosed with pSS. The proportion of ocular involvement in the pSS patients was 73.7%, and half of these patients met both ocular criteria. Only anti-Ro antibodies negatively correlated with TBUT. Also, OSS, TBUT, and Schirmer test were statistically different between the two subgroups.

Purpose: To report the proportion of ocular involvement in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) and to analyze various dry eye indexes and serum titers of markers depending on whether ocular involvement has occurred or not. Methods: This retrospective study considered 214 patients referred from the rheumatology department for pSS workup. Symptom questionnaires, ocular surface stain score (OSS), Schirmer test, tear breakup time (TBUT), meibomian gland dropout, meibum quality, meibum expressibility, lid margin abnormalities, and lipid layer thickness were evaluated. Anti-Ro, anti-La, and antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedation rate, and C-reactive protein were included as systemic serum titers of markers. Patients with (group 1) and without (group 2) ocular involvement were compared. We conducted a further subgroup analysis of group 1 by dividing it into two groups based on whether or not the cases met all the ocular criteria for pSS diagnosis. Results: Among the 214 referred patients, 118 were diagnosed as pSS: 87 out of 118 (73.7%) in group 1 and 31 (26.3%) in group 2. Group 1 showed higher meibum quality scores (p = 0.016), meibum expressibility (p = 0.010), and lid margin abnormalities on the lower lid (p = 0.029) and lower TBUT (p = 0.016) than group 2. OSS, TBUT, and the Schirmer test statistically differed (p < 0.001, p = 0.041, and p = 0043, respectively) between the patients who satisfied both ocular criteria (n = 46) and those who satisfied only one criterion (n = 41). There were no statistical differences in serum titers of markers between the two groups. Conclusions About half of patients referred from the rheumatology department for diagnosis of pSS were diagnosed with pSS. The proportion of ocular involvement in the pSS patients was 73.7%, and half of these patients met both ocular criteria. Only anti-Ro antibodies negatively correlated with TBUT. Also, OSS, TBUT, and Schirmer test were statistically different between the two subgroups.

Purpose: To report the proportion of ocular involvement in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) and to analyze various dry eye indexes and serum titers of markers depending on whether ocular involvement has occurred or not. Methods: This retrospective study considered 214 patients referred from the rheumatology department for pSS workup. Symptom questionnaires, ocular surface stain score (OSS), Schirmer test, tear breakup time (TBUT), meibomian gland dropout, meibum quality, meibum expressibility, lid margin abnormalities, and lipid layer thickness were evaluated. Anti-Ro, anti-La, and antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedation rate, and C-reactive protein were included as systemic serum titers of markers. Patients with (group 1) and without (group 2) ocular involvement were compared. We conducted a further subgroup analysis of group 1 by dividing it into two groups based on whether or not the cases met all the ocular criteria for pSS diagnosis. Results: Among the 214 referred patients, 118 were diagnosed as pSS: 87 out of 118 (73.7%) in group 1 and 31 (26.3%) in group 2. Group 1 showed higher meibum quality scores (p = 0.016), meibum expressibility (p = 0.010), and lid margin abnormalities on the lower lid (p = 0.029) and lower TBUT (p = 0.016) than group 2. OSS, TBUT, and the Schirmer test statistically differed (p < 0.001, p = 0.041, and p = 0043, respectively) between the patients who satisfied both ocular criteria (n = 46) and those who satisfied only one criterion (n = 41). There were no statistical differences in serum titers of markers between the two groups. Conclusions About half of patients referred from the rheumatology department for diagnosis of pSS were diagnosed with pSS. The proportion of ocular involvement in the pSS patients was 73.7%, and half of these patients met both ocular criteria. Only anti-Ro antibodies negatively correlated with TBUT. Also, OSS, TBUT, and Schirmer test were statistically different between the two subgroups.

Purpose: To report a case of recurrent subepithelial infiltrates (SEIs) after epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), which improved with the use of topical cyclosporin and tacrolimus.Case summary: A 33‐year‐old female patient with bilateral EKC developed multiple SEIs, which were worse in the left eye, after applying topical antibiotics and steroid for 3 weeks. She was administered 0.5% loteprednol etabonate every 2 hours, which was gradually tapered to once a day, and 0.1% cyclosporine once daily. However, the SEIs recurred. Therefore, 0.1% cyclosporine was administered twice a day in both eyes and the frequency of administration of steroid eye drops was increased. The dose of steroid eye drops was reduced, but two attempts to taper the dose failed. SEIs in the right eye improved with the use of 0.1% cyclosporine. However, SEIs in the left eye recurred on tapering the steroid dose. Therefore, topical 0.02% tacrolimus ointment was administered once daily in the left eye. After 2 weeks of using tacrolimus, the topical steroids were discontinued. SEIs were well‐controlled for 6 months with 0.1% cyclosporine administered 1‐2 times/day in the right eye and 0.02% tacrolimus administered 1 time/3 days in the left eye. Conclusions Topical cyclosporine and tacrolimus can minimize the requirement for steroids, and treat chronic and recurrent SEIs after EKC.