In this first of a two-part series, Arun C. Gulani, MD, MS, explains how approaching keratoconus as a refractive surgery will change the way both ophthalmologists and patients will approach this condition to bring in a new era of not only relieving but also enhancing the lifestyle of this patient population. In Part 2, Dr. Gulani will share strategies and cases of patients with keratoconus with different case scenarios in action.
Ganciclovir gel is effective for herpes simplex epithelial keratitis, and emerging evidence shows it also can be used to treat other corneal disease.
Post-keratoplasty fungal infections are becoming increasing more common, and the risk is significantly higher after DSEK compared with PK.
Acanthamoeba keratitis is a vision-threatening disease most frequently seen in contact lens wearers. The disease mimics numerous diseases, and early recognition is needed to achieve optimal visual outcomes.
Patients with dry eye can be kept healthy-and happy-by diagnosing properly, following specific treatment plans, and providing excellent communication.
Keratoconus in eyes with stage I or II disease has remained stable during follow-up to 2 years after circular keratotomy performed using a femtosecond laser.
Long-arc ICRS were developed to meet the needs of patients with nipple-type keratoconus. However, new study findings suggest they may also help to improve visual acuity and regularise the cornea in patients with all types of keratoconus.
Improvements in the Boston Keratoprosthesis device have resulted in fewer complications after implantation, but they still occur. Surgeons should be alert to development of infectious keratitis and endophthalmitis postoperatively.
Dr. Donaldson explains that prior corneal surgery does not necessarily indicate that FLACS would be ineffective. However, there are some immediate disqualifications to bear in mind.
One of the most memorable patients ever to walk into the office of Sonal Tuli, MD, had a fishhook protruding from his eye, which he held open with his fingers. Dr. Tuli offers some pointers based on experience from cases like these.
The same photoactivation process used in collagen cross-linking for keratoconus can kill bacteria without the need for the oxygen responsible for the biomechanical effects, potentially pointing toward better treatments for keratitis, according to Olivier Richoz, MD, PhD.
When a graft fails, surgeons have three factors to consider: the reason for the graft failure, the chances of success with a second surgery, and what has to be done differently to ensure the success of a new graft, said Francis Price Jr., MD.
A 65-year-old male with a history of congenital cataracts, bilateral cataract extraction and secondary placement of anterior chamber intraocular lenses with subsequent development of glaucoma, cicatricial conjunctivitis, dry eye and limbal stem cell deficiency presented with left eye pain and decreased vision.
Over the past few years, various diagnostics have been introduced to help clinicians identify inflammatory conditions on the ocular surface more readily and, therefore, provide treatment to patients earlier in their disease states.
2015 may be noted as a year of emergence for sustained-release drug delivery therapies for dry eye and glaucoma, according to Jonathan H. Talamo, MD, Boston.Cornea specialists have always appreciated the need to treat dry eye, “but it’s now becoming more and more appreciated and the importance of underlying dry eye and drying is so ubiquitous,” said Ernest W. Kornmehl, MD, Brookline, MA.
New research into pattern-recognition receptors is yielding promising therapies that target the specific pathogens and inflammatory pathways in keratitis, researchers said.
Ophthalmology Times is pleased to announce Amy Patel, MD, of Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, UC Irvine Health, Irvine, CA, as the winner of its 2015 Resident Writer’s Award Program, sponsored by Allergan. Dr. Patel’s winning entry is featured here.
Contact lens-assisted corneal crosslinking (CA-CXL) is a novel technique in which a riboflavin-soaked ultraviolet (UV) barrier-free soft contact lens is applied over the denuded cornea prior to UVA irradiation.
Herpes simplex virus in children is often diagnosed late or misdiagnosed, and children can experience visual loss due to complications or amblyopia.
Contact lens-Assisted corneal crosslinking (CA-CXL) is a novel technique in which a riboflavin-soaked ultraviolet (UV) barrier-free soft contact lens is applied over the denuded cornea prior to UVA irradiation. It is used to allow CXL in eyes with a thin cornea and has been associated with good results, and can be done with a standard or accelerated CXL protocol.
Understanding of keratoconus and the resulting dramatic changes in management in recent years have given rise to treatment paradigms that would have been unrecognizable to ophthalmologists a generation ago. The new landscape features a wider range of treatment options, better diagnostic and monitoring tools, and better understanding of the underlying pathology of the disease.
A group of surgeons were faced with a suprachoroidal hemorrhage following trauma, and decided to break the ‘rules’ when tackling the case, and came out with surprisingly good results.
Findings of a retrospective case review show that eyes that underwent implantation of the Boston Type 1 keratoprosthesis had greater improvement in visual acuity than those undergoing repeat donor corneal transplantation.
The development of a bioengineered cornea may serve to provide corneas to the millions of people worldwide unable to obtain a human donor cornea.
Findings from a study undertaken at Dr Lovisolo’s practice indicate that in carefully-selected patients, a triple procedure, comprising Keraring implantation followed by accelerated CXL and topo-guided ablation can provide significant functional improvement in cases of progressive keratoconus.
