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PubMed2005

The prevalence and associated features of posterior embryotoxon in the general ophthalmic clinic.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of posterior embryotoxon (PE) in the general ophthalmic clinic and to identify any features of PE that suggest that it is pathological rather than physiological. METHODS: Over 700 consecutive patients of all ages were examined with the slit lamp during their routine eye clinic appointment. Patients with posterior embryotoxon were invited to return for full ocular examination including keratometry, corneal topography, and gonioscopy. RESULTS: In all, 49 out of 723 patients were found to have PE. This gives a prevalence of 6.8% with an age range of 18 months to 95 years. There was a higher prevalence in the younger age group of 22.5% (age range 18 months to 20 years) compared to 5.9% in the older age range (21-95 years). A total of 29 patients with PE returned for further examination. Six patients had glaucoma (two with Axenfeld's syndrome and one with aniridia), and one had ocular hypertension. In all, 20 patients had bilateral PE on slit-lamp examination, which increased to 24 with gonioscopy. The majority of the PE was seen temporally (97.9%) and limited to a few clock hours. Gonioscopy showed that eight patients with PE had associated inferior pigmentation of schwalbes line. CONCLUSION: This large series found the prevalence of PE the general ophthalmic clinic to be 6.8%. Its presence should prompt careful anterior segment examination, including gonioscopy, to identify any associated abnormalities that may carry a risk of glaucoma. Children should also be assessed for any associated systemic or genetic abnormality.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2006

The effect of combinations of flurbiprofen, low molecular weight heparin, and doxycycline on the inhibition of corneal neovascularization.

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of various combinations of flurbiprofen, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), and doxycycline on the inhibition of corneal neovascularization in rats. METHODS: Chemical cauterization of the cornea in 32 eyes of 32 rats was performed using silver nitrate/potassium nitrate sticks. The animals were divided into 4 groups. Topical instillation of 0.015% flurbiprofen with 5 mg/mL LMWH (group 1); flurbiprofen with 10 mg/mL doxycycline (group 2); doxycycline with LMWH (group 3), and saline (group 4; control) was performed twice a day for 7 days. Slit-lamp photography was used to determine the percent areas of cornea covered by neovascularization and also by scar in each group. The means were compared to find any significant (P < 0.05) difference between groups. The animals were euthanized and the eyes enucleated for histological evaluation. RESULTS: The mean of percent area of corneal neovascularization 5 in group 1 was 48.5 +/- 13.1; group 2, 6.6 +/- 5.5; group 3, 22.0 +/- 27.6 and group 4, 64.6 +/- 9. The means of percent area of neovascularization in groups 2 and 3 were significantly lower compared with control and group 1. There was no significant difference in the percent corneal neovascularization between groups 2 and 3 or between group 1 and the control group. Histological findings were consistent with slit-lamp evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: Topical instillation of combinations of doxycycline with either flurbiprofen or LMWH can effectively inhibit corneal neovascularization made by chemical cauterization of the cornea in rats.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1997

Epiblepharon of the lower eyelid: classification and association with astigmatism.

To determine a classification system for epiblepharon of the lower eyelid and to evaluate a possible correlation between lower lid epiblepharon and astigmatism. Three morphologic characteristics (skin fold, cilia touching the cornea and corneal erosion) were observed by slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination and Polaroid pictures in 186 eyes of 102 patients with epiblepharon of the lower lid. In 112 eyes, cycloplegic refractions performed. A classification system reflecting the severity of epiblepharon was then sought, and the incidences and type of astigmatism were evaluated. Epiblepharon of the lower lid could be classified according to the height of skin fold, the area of cornea touched by cilia and the area of corneal erosion. There was significant agreement between these three classifications. The incidence of astigmatism of 0.5D or more was 54%; most was 'with-the-rule', regardless of a patient's age. In addition to the representative nature of other characteristics, skin fold height can be easily measured without the need for slit-lamp examination in children and is closely related with the amount of skin which should be excised during surgery to correct epiblepharon. A classification system using skin fold height may therefore be the most appropriate method. In addition, there may be a correlation between lower lid epiblepharon and astigmatism.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anterior uveitis associated with Kawasaki syndrome.

Forty-one children with a clinical diagnosis of Kawasaki syndrome had a pediatric ophthalmologic examination performed at a mean time of 8.6 days after onset of fever. Twenty-seven of 41 patients (66%) had evidence of anterior uveitis by slit lamp examination. Bilateral involvement was noted in 25 of 27 patients (97%). Punctate keratitis was evident in 5 of 41 patients (12%). Three of these five had coexisting uveitis. The incidence of anterior uveitis in patients examined during the first week of their illness was 83% (20 of 24 patients), compared to an incidence of 41% (7 of 17) in patients first examined greater than 1 week after onset of disease (P = 0.004). There was no difference in the uveitis, vs. the non-uveitis groups with respect to age, sex, race or subsequent aneurysm formation as a complication of their Kawasaki syndrome. The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was not different in the two groups. Anterior uveitis is a common finding early in the course of Kawasaki syndrome. Slit lamp examination may be a helpful clinical tool in identifying patients with Kawasaki syndrome, and uveitis should be considered for inclusion in the Centers for Disease Control case definition of Kawasaki syndrome.

Child↗
PubMed1993

[Potential laser hazards to bystanders during photocoagulation].

The authors measured reflected laser beams delivered by slit-lamp photocoagulator and binocular indirect ophthalmoscope laser delivery systems, to evaluate potential hazards to the eyes of bystanders. 514 nm laser beams were used; reflected laser beams were measured by a light power meter (Advantest: TQ8210). Reflected lasers were found to be hazardous at 1 meter from whitish tile when a 0.75 Watt laser beam was delivered by the binocular ophthalmoscope laser system, as in an operating room. At 1 meter from a wall in a photo-coagulating room for out-patients, the reflected laser beam was found to be well below hazardous levels. Reflections at 40 cm from a non-laser-coated Goldmann 3-mirror contact lens were 2.66 mW/cm2, which exceeds the exposure limits, when 0.3 W laser was delivered by the slit-lamp photocoagulator. This decreased 85-90% when the laser was reflected from a laser-coated lens. From the point of view of safety, it is recommended that laser surgeons replace non-laser-coated lenses with laser-coated ones.

Eye↗
PubMed1993

Videokeratography of the fellow eye in unilateral keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To identify a population of keratoconus patients with unilateral disease based on clinical findings and slit-lamp biomicroscopy and examination with a nine-ring photokeratoscope (Corneascope) and to study the topography of the clinically normal fellow eye with videokeratography. METHODS: Clinical charts and Polaroid Corneascope photographs of both eyes of 200 patients with a diagnosis of keratoconus from three large cornea referral practices in the Los Angeles area were retrospectively reviewed. Patients whose clinical findings were within normal limits and whose Corneascope Polaroid photographs had concentric rings with no detectable abnormalities, consistent with a diagnosis of keratoconus in one eye, were considered unilateral. These patients were recalled to our clinic, and the topography of the apparently normal eye was studied using a Corneascope and a computer-assisted videokeratoscope, the Topographic Modeling System, on the same day. RESULTS: Based on examination with a slit-lamp biomicroscope and the Corneascope, eight patients had unilateral disease. Videokeratography in seven of the eight fellow eyes displayed a pattern of inferior steepening suggesting "early keratoconus." All seven eyes had a positive "I - S value," a quantitative measure, indicating increased dioptric power below the corneal apex. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that keratoconus is almost always bilateral. These data support genetic influences in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Additionally, videokeratography data presented might prove useful in the detection of early keratoconus and refining patient selection for myopic keratorefractive procedures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Echographic evaluation of glaucoma shunts.

BACKGROUND: It is frequently impossible to determine by clinical examination alone if a filtering bleb is present over the equatorial plate(s) of a glaucoma shunt. This uncertainty can result in management dilemmas when patients with these devices have elevated intraocular pressures (IOPs). The authors describe how standardized echography can be used to determine if fluid is present around the plates and to characterize the blebs. METHODS: Four hundred twenty-seven plates in 269 patients who had undergone single- or double-plate Molteno implantation underwent standardized echography (both A- and B-scan examinations) to determine if blebs were present around the plates, primarily when results of slit-lamp examinations had been inconclusive. Bleb sizes, locations, and characteristics also were evaluated. RESULTS: Sixty-five percent of the plates had associated blebs, which were graded according to their sizes (small, medium, and large, in 29%, 44%, and 27% of plates with blebs, respectively). Fluid (which appeared as an echolucent area) could be seen underlying and/or overlying the plates (which appeared as echodense lines). Larger blebs were often associated with scleral flattening. Although bleb sizes did not necessarily correlate with the levels of IOP control, the presence of a bleb on ultrasound was indicative of tube patency. CONCLUSION: Standardized echography was invaluable in the postoperative management of patients who had undergone Molteno implantation because it demonstrated the presence or absence of blebs and characterized them when results of slit-lamp examinations had been inconclusive. This technique also can be used to evaluate similarly designed aqueous shunting devices.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Corneal optical coherence tomography before and immediately after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the representation of the corneal structure with optical coherence tomography before and immediately after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy. METHODS: Twenty-four eyes of 24 patients with myopia and myopic astigmatism were prospectively studied. The corneal thickness and the corneal profile were assessed with slit-lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography preoperatively and immediately after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy. RESULTS: The attempted mean spherical equivalent of the refractive corrections was -6.7 +/- 3.6 (mean +/- SD) diopters with a mean calculated stromal ablation depth of 91 +/- 38 microm. The corneal optical coherence tomography was reproducible in all patients, demonstrating a mean decrease of central corneal thickness after epithelial debridement and excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy of 118 +/- 45 microm. The comparison of the calculated stromal ablation depth and the corneal thickness changes determined by corneal optical coherence tomography revealed a significant linear relationship with a correlation coefficient of 0.88 (P <.001). The flattening of the corneal curvature was confirmed in all patients with the optical coherence tomography system and correlated with the attempted refractive correction (r =.82, P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: The slit-lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography system presented in this study allowed noncontact, cross-sectional, and high-resolution imaging of the corneal configuration. This initial clinical evaluation demonstrated that corneal optical coherence tomography could be a promising diagnostic modality to monitor corneal changes of thickness and curvature before and after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Comparison of rebound tonometry with Goldmann applanation tonometry and correlation with central corneal thickness.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Rebound tonometry (RT) is performed without anaesthesia with a hand held device. The primary aim was to compare RT with Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) and to correlate with central corneal thickness (CCT). The secondary aim was to prove tolerability and practicability of RT under "study conditions" and "routine practice conditions." METHODS: In group 1 (52 eyes/28 patients), all measurements were taken by the same physician, in the same room and order: non-contact optical pachymetry, RT, slit lamp inspection, GAT. Patients were questioned about discomfort or pain. In group 2 (49 eyes/27 patients), tonometry was performed by three other physicians during routine examinations. RESULTS: RT was well tolerated and safe. Intraocular pressure (IOP) ranged between 6 mm Hg and 48 mm Hg. No different trends were found between the groups. RT tended to give slightly higher readings: n = 101, mean difference 1.0 (SD 2.17) mm Hg; 84.1% of RT readings within plus or minus 3 mm Hg of GAT; 95% confidence interval in the Bland-Altman analysis -3.2 mm Hg to +5.2 mm Hg. Both RT and GAT showed a weak positive correlation with CCT (r2 0.028 and 0.025, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: RT can be considered a reliable alternative for clinical screening and in cases where positioning of the head at the slit lamp is impossible or topical preparations are to be avoided.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Tolerability and safety of 0.1% diclofenac plus 0.3% tobramycin fixed-dose ophthalmic solution: a randomized, comparative, controlled study in healthy volunteers.

The purpose of this double-blind, observer-masked, randomized, crossover trial was to compare the tolerability and safety of a fixed-dose ophthalmic solution of 0.3% tobramycin plus 0.1% diclofenac versus Tobrex (tobramycin sulfate ophth) and Voltaren (diclofenac sodium). Control treatments included a saline solution and a control solution of 0.3% tobramycin prepared by Alcon Cusí. Ten healthy volunteers received three consecutive instillations of 1 drop of a given ophthalmic solution at 08:00, 11:00 and 14:00 h to the same eye; after a washout period of 18 h, the next ophthalmic solution was tested according to a randomized sequence. Occurrence, intensity, and duration of ocular irritation and conjunctival hyperemia at baseline and after the three instillations were recorded. Slit lamp biomicroscopy examination, measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) changes, visual acuity, and examination of the fundus of the eye were performed after each third instillation by an ophthalmologist. Side effect incidence and patient and investigator opinions were also recorded. Results showed that Voltaren instillation induced statistically significant ocular irritation (p = 0.0077); the remaining ophthalmic solutions tested caused no ocular irritation (Physiological Saline Braun, p = 0.9808; Tobrex, p = 0.8826; control 0.3% tobramycin solution, p = 0.8327; and 0.1% diclofenac plus 0.3% tobramycin, p = 0.5399). None of the ophthalmic solutions tested caused severe conjunctival hyperemia. Analysis of the sum of conjunctival parameters of both eyes for all ophthalmic solutions studied showed no statistically significant differences (p = 0.4688). Moderate superficial punctate keratitis was observed after instillation of Voltaren and of 0.1% diclofenac plus 0.3% tobramycin (1 subject each) that spontaneously resolved within 2 days. Slit lamp biomicroscopy, visual acuity and IOP values showed no statistically significant changes. No systemic side effects related to the study treatments were recorded. In conclusion, the ophthalmic solution containing 0.1% diclofenac plus 0.3% tobramycin was well tolerated under the study conditions. Its tolerability was equivalent to that of Braun physiological saline, Tobrex and a control 0.3% tobramycin solution and was better than that of Voltaren.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Transplantation of human limbal cells cultivated on amniotic membrane for reconstruction of rat corneal epithelium after alkaline burn.

BACKGROUND: The transplantation of limbal epithelial cells cultivated on amniotic membrane is a newly developed treatment for limbal stem cell deficiency. The purpose of our study was to investigate the biological characteristics of limbal epithelial cells and evaluate the effect of transplantation of cultivated human limbal epithelial cells on ocular surface reconstruction in limbal stem cell deficiency rat model. METHODS: Human limbal cells were isolated and cultivated in vitro. Cytokeratins 3, 12, and 19 (K3, K12 and K19) and p63 were detected by immunofluorescent staining or RT-PCR. BrdU labelling test was used to identify the slow cycling cells in the cultures. Limbal stem cell deficiency was established in rat cornea by alkali burn. Two weeks after injury, the rats received transplants of human limbal stem cells cultivated on amniotic membrane carrier. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by slit lamp observation, Hemotoxin and Eosin (HE) staining and immunofluorescent staining. RESULTS: On day 7 in primary culture, p63 and K19 were strongly expressed by most cells but only a few cells expressed K3. On days 14 and 21, p63 and K19 were still expressed by a majority of cells, but the expressive intensity of p63 decreased in a number of cells, while the proportion of K3 positive cells increased slightly and some cells coexpressed p63 and K3. RT-PCR showed that gene expression of both p63 and K12 were positive in cultivated limbal cells, but in mature superficial epithelial cells, only K12 was detected. BrdU labelling test showed that most cells were labelled with BrdU after 7 days' labelling and BrdU label retaining cells were observed after chasing for 21 days with BrdU free medium. For in vivo test, slit lamp observation, HE staining and immunofluorescent staining showed that the rats receiving transplant of human limbal stem cells cultivated on amniotic membrane grew reconstructed corneas with intact epithelium, improved transparency and slight or no neovascularization. A majority of epithelial cells of the reconstructed cornea were positive to antihuman nuclear antibody and cells expressing K3 were found mainly in superfacial epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Limbal stem cells can be cultivated in vitro: the cells are characterized by high proliferation and slow cycling and identified as p63/K19 positive and K3/K12 negative. During culture, some stem cells can proliferate and differentiate into mature cornea epithelial cells. Amniotic membrane is a suitable carrier for limbal stem cells. Transplantation of human limbal stem cells cultivated on amniotic membrane can functionally reconstruct rat cornea with limbal stem cell deficiency.

Amnion↗
PubMed1993

Clinical study of venous abnormalities in diabetic retinopathy.

The authors studied 304 eyes (248 cases) affected by diabetic retinopathy in relation to venous abnormalities. The posterior pole and surrounding mid-peripheral area were examined by ophthalmoscopy, slit-lamp examination with contact lens and fluorescein angiography. There were 225 eyes with preproliferative and 79 eyes with proliferative retinopathy. Fifty-six eyes (18%) of the total eyes had venous abnormalities: 17 (8%) of the 225 eyes with preproliferative retinopathy and 39 (49%) of the 79 eyes with proliferative retinopathy. In the 56 eyes with venous abnormalities, 54 (96%) showed beading, 14 (25%) showed looping and 2 (4%) showed duplication. All eyes which showed looping or duplication had proliferative retinopathy. The locations of the venous abnormalities were analyzed: 42% were in secondary branches, 27% in tertiary branches, 18% in primary branches, 10% in fourth branches and 3% in fifth branches. The portion of the fundus affected was upper temporal, lower temporal, upper nasal and lower nasal in 28%, 22%, 29% and 21%, respectively. Based on our results, eyes with looping or duplication on ophthalmoscopic or slit-lamp examination have an extremely high probability of being in some stage of proliferative retinopathy. Retinopathy should be confirmed by fluorescein angiography and photocoagulation should be performed as quickly as possible.

Diabetic Retinopathy↗
PubMed1998

In vivo tear-film thickness determination and implications for tear-film stability.

PURPOSE: Previous measurements of tear-film thickness in vivo are limited and cannot be easily applied in a clinical setting. A novel technique to measure tear-film thickness indirectly is introduced here, requiring only a slit lamp, video camera, and computer. A recent fluid mechanical theory relates tear-film thickness h, to the tear meniscus radius R, tear surface tension or, tear viscosity mu, and upper lid velocity U. This theory yields the result that h/R = 2.12 (microU/sigma)2/3. All parameters except h/R are taken as known physical constants, and R was measured for each subject, allowing the above equation to establish h. Tear-film breakup was also evaluated and correlated with tear-film thickness. METHODS: A clinical study was performed in which aqueous tear-film thickness was determined for 45 subjects, including 24 non-lens subjects, 15 hydrogel contact lens wearers, and 6 RGP lens wearers. R was measured by instilling fluorescein dye in the form of an eyedrop and videotaping the tear meniscus in profile. Tear-film breakup was videotaped through the ocular port of the slit lamp and evaluated based on a severity scale. RESULTS: Aqueous tear-film measurements are in the same range as literature values, with most measured values falling between 6 and 12 microm. Average tear-film thicknesses for non-lens, hydrogel, and RGP subjects are 10.4, 6.5, and 5.8 microm, respectively. Tear-film breakup is most severe in subjects with thin tear films, especially in contact-lens wearers. CONCLUSIONS: Tear-film thickness is an important parameter that varies among individuals. These variations correlate with differences in tear-film stability.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Myotonic dystrophy. Predictive value of normal results on clinical examination.

Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is well known for its highly variable clinical picture, including the age at which symptoms are first detected. In order to assess the proportion of asymptomatic gene carriers at different ages, we have used linked DNA markers to study individuals at 50% genetic risk of DM, in whom neurological examination, slit-lamp examination and electromyography (EMG) had failed to show diagnostic signs. A total of 139 asymptomatic offspring of DM patients were studied. Our analyses identified 11 out of these 139 as probable gene carriers. Our data show that penetrance of the DM gene increases with age. After correction for the possibility of genetic recombination between the DM gene and the DNA markers used, we calculated the residual chance of carrying the DM gene as 8.3% for clinically normal offspring aged between 20 and 39 yrs. We evaluated several factors that might influence this figure. Neither the sex of the propositus nor that of the affected parent modified the risk of carrying the DM gene. Presence of aspecific lens opacities also did not correlate with the risk of having inherited the DM gene. Since a significant proportion of DM gene carriers are not detected by neurological examination, including slit-lamp examination and EMG, these results confirm the need for DNA analysis in asymptomatic offspring of DM patients.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2003

Presumed hyposecretory/hyperevaporative KCS: tear characteristics.

PURPOSE: To characterize patients with ocular surface drying and a diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). METHODS: Patients with a prior diagnosis of KCS and symptoms of dryness or foreign-body sensation who also had vital staining of the interpalpebral fissure ocular surface in the absence of lid and ocular surface inflammation were entered into the study along with normal controls. Patients were segregated into those with "classic" KCS, who did not have concomitant meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), and those with KCS and MGD. The latter had slit-lamp evidence of difficult-to-express or turbid meibomian secretions upon expression. Patients and normal controls were evaluated for tear volume, flow, and turnover using fluorophotometry; meibomian gland dropout by meibography; evaporation by evaporometry; and tear production by the Schirmer 1 test. RESULTS: All patients with KCS had decreased tear volume, flow, and Schirmer 1 values as well as increased meibomian gland dropout. None of the patient groups were found to have increased tear evaporation compared with normals or other disease subgroups. No correlation between degree of meibomian gland dropout and evaporation was found. The degree of total vital staining or presence of corneal staining correlated with a more severe aqueous deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ocular surface drying in the absence of inflammation have decreased tear volume, flow, and Schirmer 1 values as well as increased meibomian gland dropout. The role of meibomian gland dropout or slit-lamp MGD in disease is unclear and in our study specifically did not correlate with increased tear evaporation.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1997

Contact lens tonometry--application in humans.

PURPOSE: To establish a standard clinical procedure for measuring intraocular pressure (Po) with the contact lens tonometer (CLT), to demonstrate possibilities for analyzing ocular pulsation and performing ophthalmodynamometry. METHODS: A reliable histogram-based analyzing system for determining Po is used. First, the ocular pressure was registered with the CLT method and compared with the Goldmann applanation pressure, measured immediately beforehand. Second, ocular pulsation was studied by recording Po for 30 to 70 seconds, and the pulse amplitude was then analyzed. Third, an ophthalmodynamometry method during slit-lamp examination was tested. The central retinal artery was observed through the contact lens while the appositional force was elevated. A mark was set at the systolic and diastolic pressure while observing arterial pulsation (similar to the Korotkoff sounds). RESULTS: Compared with the Goldmann method measurements, Po obtained with the CLT method yielded a linear regression of r = 0.7 (right eye) and r = 0.68 (left eye), and was therefore highly significant (P < 0.0001, two-tailed). Analysis of the pulse amplitude showed great variability (range, 1 to 9 mm Hg; means, 2.9 mm Hg [right eye] and 3.0 mm Hg [left eye]). The dependence of the pulse amplitude on Po and age was shown with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.55 and r = 0.59, respectively. The difference between the right and left eye of the person was < 0.5 mm Hg. CONCLUSION: The CLT can be used during slit-lamp examination and permits tonometry during ophthalmoscopy, ocular pulsation assessment at different intraocular pressures, and ophthalmodynamometry.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Noncontact laser photothermal keratoplasty. I: Biophysical principles and laser beam delivery system.

BACKGROUND: Thermal shrinkage of stromal collagen is known to produce changes in the corneal curvature. We designed a novel, noncontact laser beam delivery system to perform laser photothermal keratoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The instrument consisted of a pulsed holmium:YAG laser (2.10-micrometer wavelength, 250-microsecond pulse width, 5-hertz repetition rate) coupled via a monofilament fiber to a common slit-lamp microscope equipped with a polyprism, an adjustable mask, and a projection lens. The system projected an 8-spot annular pattern of infrared laser energy on the cornea to achieve a thermal profile within the stroma and to attain controlled, predictable collagen shrinkage. The system produced treatment patterns of 8 to 32 spots of 150 to 600 microns diameter in concentric rings, continuously adjustable between 3 and 7 mm. The versatility of the system in creating different treatment patterns was tested on thermal paper and human cadaver eyes. RESULTS: A uniform beam profile and different treatment patterns for myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism were obtained. Myopic correction of 6.00 diopters was demonstrated on cadaver eyes. Corneal topography documented corneal flattening (> 6.00 D) with the following treatment parameters: each spot size on the cornea = 300 microns, radiant exposure of each spot = 18.0 J/cm2, number of pulses = 1, diameter of the treatment ring = 3 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Noncontact slit-lamp microscope laser delivery system for laser photothermal keratoplasty provides flexible and precise selection of laser treatment parameters. It may improve the efficacy of the procedure.

Cadaver↗
PubMed2006

Clinical and microbiological profile of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in southern India.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical and microbiological profile of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in immunocompetent individuals in southern India. DESIGN: Retrospective noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen cases of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis diagnosed between January 2002 and December 2004 were studied. METHODS: All medical and laboratory records of patients with infectious keratitis during the study period were reviewed. In all cases, after relevant history recording and slit-lamp examination, corneal/conjunctival scrapings were collected. Multiple scrapings were taken from the lesions and examined by fluorescence or light microscopy after staining with potassium hydroxide and calcofluor white (KOH + CFW), Gram's stain, Kinyoun's, and Giemsa stain. In some cases, the serum was tested for human immunodeficiency virus antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical course, demographic features, predisposing factors, microbiological profile, treatment, and final outcome. RESULTS: Of 4822 cases of suspected microbial keratitis seen during the period, 19 (0.4%) were identified as microbiologically proven microsporidial keratitis. All patients were apparently healthy; 8 had a history of ocular trauma, and 3 mentioned bathing in unclean river water. All but 2 had unilateral involvement. The mean age of the patients was 38.4+/-13.7 years (range, 23-73). The duration of symptoms ranged from 1 day to 2 years, with 11 of 19 (58%) presenting within a week of onset of symptoms. Slit-lamp examination revealed multifocal, coarse, punctate, raised epithelial lesions in all patients. A mild to moderate nonpurulent conjunctivitis was present in all cases, with papillary and/or follicular reaction in 14. Corneal/conjunctival scrapings demonstrated microsporidial spores by KOH + CFW in 16 of 17 cases tested, whereas the diagnosis was made by Giemsa stain in 2 cases and by Gram's stain in one. Kinyoun's (1% acid fast) stain was confirmatory in all cases. In all patients, treatment was started after debridement and included oral and/or topical antimicrobial agents. At last follow-up, 15 of 19 achieved a visual acuity of 20/20. CONCLUSIONS: Microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of atypical punctate epithelial keratitis associated with conjunctivitis and can be diagnosed by routine microbiological methods. The disease can occur in healthy individuals, and the outcome of treatment is often satisfactory.

Adult↗