Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE: To examine and report the results of penetrating keratoplasty performed in patients with varicella-zoster virus keratopathy. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 15 patients who had penetrating keratoplasty for varicella-zoster virus keratopathy from January 1989 through December 1998 on the Cornea Service at Wills Eye Hospital. RESULTS: Twelve patients had a preoperative diagnosis of herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and three, of varicella. Four eyes had lateral tarsorrhaphies performed in conjunction with penetrating keratoplasty. Three eyes had endothelial rejection episodes that responded well to treatment with topical steroids. One eye had a regraft 1 month after primary failure, and this second graft also failed because of recurrent neurotrophic keratopathy. Three eyes that had repeated penetrating keratoplasty for graft failure had clear grafts at the last examination. At an average follow-up time of 50 months, 13 (86.7%) grafts remained clear, and the best corrected visual acuity was 20/100 or better in eight (53.3%) eyes. Five patients had decreased visual acuity because of retinal diseases. CONCLUSION: Although varicella-zoster virus keratopathy is an uncommon indication for penetrating keratoplasty, effective visual rehabilitation can be achieved in these patients. Careful postoperative management, frequent lubrication, and lateral tarsorrhaphies to protect the corneal surface are major factors in the successful outcome of these cases

Objective: To assess psychological stress and other factors as possible triggers of ocular herpes simplex virus (HSV) recurrences. Design: A prospective cohort study nested in a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Setting: Fifty-eight community-based or university sites. Participants: Immunocompetent adults (N = 308), aged 18 years or older, with a documented history of ocular HSV disease in the prior year and observed for up to 15 months. Exposure Variables: Psychological stress, systemic infection, sunlight exposure, menstrual period, contact lens wear, and eye injury recorded on a weekly log. The exposure period was considered to be the week before symptomatic onset of a recurrence. Main Outcome Measure: The first documented recurrence of ocular HSV disease, with exclusion of cases in which the exposure week log was completed late after the onset of symptoms. Results: Thirty-three participants experienced a study outcome meeting these criteria. Higher levels of psychological stress were not associated with an increased risk of recurrence (rate ratio, 0.58; 95%;, confidence interval, 0.32-1.05; P=.07). No association was found between any of the other exposure variables and recurrence. When an analysis was performed including only the recurrences (n=26) for which the exposure week log was completed late and after symptom onset, there was a clear indication of retrospective overreporting of high stress (P =.03) and systemic infection (p=.01). Not excluding these cases could have produced incorrect conclusions due to recall bias. Conclusions: Psychological stress does not appear to be a trigger of recurrences of ocular HSV disease. If not accounted for, recall bias can substantially overestimate the importance of factors that do not have a causal association with HSV infection. $$:

PURPOSE: To determine whether the widespread use of topical fluoroquinolones has changed the spectrum of ulcerative keratitis, and to determine how it has affected practice patterns in the treatment of corneal ulcers. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 48 consecutive patients with infectious corneal ulcers from 7/1/91 to 12/31/91 and 47 consecutive patients from 7/1/94 to 12/31/94. Patients were treated with intensive topical antibiotics (either standard fortified antibiotics or topical fluoroquinolones) at a frequency of at least every hour while awake. Some patients were admitted to the hospital, and some underwent scraping for smears and cultures. RESULTS: Ulcers which were seen in 1994 appear to have been more severe than those seen in 1991 as judged by the presence of more ulcers associated with hypopyons, (P< 0.05) but not with regard to the size of the infiltrate or epithelial defect. More ulcers in 1994 were treated on an outpatient basis (P< 0.02) and fewer ulcers were scraped and cultured than in 1991 (P< 0.001). Culture results from the 1991 and 1994 groups were similar. The most frequently isolated organisms were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus spp. CONCLUSION: The spectrum of ulcerative keratitis at a tertiary referral center may be showing a trend towards more severe ulcers, but the causative agents responsible for the infection are unchanged

The purpose of the Committee on Ophthalmic Procedures Assessment is to evaluate on a scientific basis new and existing ophthalmic tests, devices, and procedures for their safety, efficacy, clinical effectiveness, and appropriate uses. Evaluations include examination of available literature, epidemiological analyses when appropriate, and compilation of opinions from recognized experts and other interested parties. After appropriate review by all contributors, including legal counsel, assessments are submitted to the Academy's Board of Trustees for consideration as official Academy policy. $$:

BACKGROUND: Excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) can be useful to treat anterior corneal dystrophies both before and after penetrating keratoplasty. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the recurrence of corneal dystrophies after excimer laser PTK. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty excimer laser PTK procedures were performed in 43 eyes of 33 patients with corneal dystrophies. Preoperative diagnoses included Reis-Bucklers dystrophy (13 eyes), granular dystrophy (11 eyes), anterior basement membrane (ABM) dystrophy (11 eyes), lattice dystrophy (7 eyes), and Schnyder crystalline dystrophy (1 eye). INTERVENTION: Two excimer lasers (VISX 20/20 model B and VISX Star) were used to perform all PTKs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: After PTK, patients were followed on a regular basis with measurement of best-corrected visual acuity and biomicroscopic examination. Evidence of recurrent dystrophy was noted according to specific criteria. RESULTS: Follow-up range was from 1.1 to 71.2 months (mean, 19.5 months). Clinically significant recurrent dystrophy occurred in 17 eyes. The ABM dystrophy recurred in the form of recurrent corneal erosions in 5 (42%) of the 12 eyes within 6 to 9 months of PTK. Four of these five eyes had mild erosions, which were treated successfully with topical medications while one eye required an additional PTK for an erosion outside the initial treatment area. Eight (47%) of 17 eyes with Reis-Bucklers dystrophy developed clinically significant recurrence an average of 21.6 months after PTK. Three (23%) of 13 eyes with granular dystrophy were found to have a significant recurrence a mean of 40.3 months after PTK. Only one (14%) of seven eyes with lattice dystrophy developed a significant recurrence at 6 months after PTK. Six eyes with significant recurrence after PTK were retreated successfully with additional PTK. Three eyes later developed recurrence of granular and Reis-Bucklers dystrophy after the second PTK. The probability of recurrence of these dystrophies after PTK was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. CONCLUSION: Phototherapeutic keratectomy can restore and preserve useful visual function for a significant period of time in patients with anterior corneal dystrophies. Even though corneal dystrophies are likely to recur eventually after PTK, successful retreatment with PTK is possible