Ernest W. Kornmehl

Neuro-ophthalmologic manifestations of lyme disease

Lyme disease is a tick-borne spirochetal infection characterized by skin rash, neurologic, cardiac, and arthritic findings. The authors report six patients with Lyme disease who had neuro-ophthalmologic manifestations. One patient had meningitis with papilledema, two had optic neuritis, and one had neuroretinitis. Three patients had sixth nerve paresis, two of whom cleared quickly, whereas multiple cranial nerve palsies and subsequent optic neuropathy developed in another. Early recognition of neuro-ophthalmologic findings can help in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.

Intraocular Injection of Lidocaine

Lidocaine was inadvertently injected intraocularly in three patients. In the one patient who had not received prior mydriatics, the drug caused immediate dilation and paralysis of the pupil and diminished visual acuity to counting fingers. Retinal function began to improve after four hours and both retinal and pupillary function recovered completely by 16 hours. A second patient also recovered completely. The third patient developed a permanent field defect. The effects of intraocular lidocaine were then studied in an animal model. Lidocaine temporarily paralyzed the pupil in mydriasis and temporarily extinguished the b-wave of the electroretinogram. Light and electron microscopy study of the retina revealed no damage beyond that at the perforation site.

A spectrum of bilateral squamous conjunctival tumors associated with human papillomavirus type 16

Three patients with bilateral tumors presenting as multiple keratinizing and verrucous lesions of the bulbar and tarsal conjunctiva were determined by DNA amplification and hybridization studies to harbor human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16). Results of biopsy in two patients showed infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma in one eye and dysplasia or carcinoma in situ in the fellow eye. In the third patient, focal, inflamed, hypertrophic, papillary lesions with pseudoglandular invaginations of the surface epithelium were found in the tarsal conjunctivae of both eyes. These are the first documented cases of bilateral conjunctival tumors associated with human papillomavirus.

Penetrating Keratoplasty for Pseudophakic Bullous Keratopathy Associated with Closed-loop Anterior Chamber Intraocular Lenses

Closed-loop anterior chamber intraocular lenses (AC IOLs) are associated with a high incidence of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK). The prognosis for recovery of vision with penetrating keratoplasty and the exchange of one type of AC IOL for another remains controversial. A total of 40 consecutive patients with closed-loop AC IOLs and varying degrees of PBK underwent penetrating keratoplasty, explanation of the closed-loop AC IOL, and implantation of a flexible tripod AC IOL--all done with a uniform technique. The average follow-up study was 24 months. Average preoperative visual acuity was 20/170 (range, 20/25-hand motions) and average postoperative visual acuity was 20/44 (range, 20/20-no light perception). A total of 23 eyes (57.5%) achieved a visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Eleven eyes (27.5%) had a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse. Persistent cystoid macular edema was the most frequent cause of poor vision postoperatively (4 eyes), followed by age-related macular degeneration (3 eyes) and graft rejection (2 eyes). This is the first series documenting a good visual outcome for at least 2 years after penetrating keratoplasty and exchange of a closed-loop AC IOL for a single type of flexible tripod AC IOL.

Bilateral Keratitis in Lyme Disease

Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, has ophthalmic manifestations. The authors describe two cases of Lyme keratitis characterized by multiple focal, nebular opacities at varying levels of the stroma which may progress to edema, neovascularization, and scarring. Close observation, in addition to systemic antibiotic therapy, may be sufficient if the visual axis is not involved, and the patient is asymptomatic.

In Vivo Evaluation of a Collagen Corneal Allograft Derived From Rabbit Dermis

BACKGROUND This study evaluates epithelialization, clarity, intraocular inflammation, and fibroblast ingrowth of a collagen corneal allograft derived from rabbit dermis. METHODS Dermal collagen fibers were dispersed intact and chemically modified to make them soluble. The allografts consisted of a fibrous, opaque peripheral zone and a central clear area. Twelve New Zealand white rabbits underwent penetrating keratoplasty with implantation of an allograft. The grafts were evaluated daily for clarify, anterior segment inflammation, and extent of reepithelialization with a slit-lamp microscope. RESULTS Epithelialization of the fibrous peripheral zone of the graft ranged from 0% to 90%. The central clear area did not epithelialize in any of the animals. Fibroblasts migrated into the peripheral zone in all eyes. Complications included ulceration of the central clear area in two eyes. There was no ulceration or leakage at the graft-host interface and no synechia, fibrous, or inflammatory retrocorneal membranes in any of the eyes. CONCLUSIONS Our study is the first to describe the method of modifying dermal type I collagen into a clear corneal allograft. Survival of the corneal collagen allograft beyond 1 month may be limited by several factors including lack of epithelialization of the central clear area.

Grayson's Diseases of the Cornea

The first two editions of Diseases of the Cornea by Merrill and Grayson were widely acclaimed as the classic medical corneal texts of their day. The third edition by Arffa continues to provide the reader with a comprehensive, clear, and concise text of medical corneal disease. The text has 30 chapters with 584 illustrations, including 210 in color. Each chapter is preceded by an outline that provides the reader with an excellent overview of the information that can be found in that chapter. An exhaustive list of references follows each chapter, containing both historic and recent citations. Tables are generously provided to highlight information and to make it more accessible to the reader. Both the color and black-and-white photographs of common and rare diseases of the cornea and adnexa are very clear and enhance the text. Drawings are used judiciously to highlight important characteristics of the clinical photographs without distracting