Jeffrey B. Robin

Herpetic Eye Disease Study: A Controlled Trial of Oral Acyclovir for Herpes Simplex Stromal Keratitis

PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy of oral acyclovir in treating stromal keratitis caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) in patients receiving concomitant topical corticosteroids and trifluridine. METHODS The authors performed a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial in 104 patients with HSV stromal keratitis without accompanying HSV epithelial keratitis. Sample size was chosen so that a 5%, one-tailed test would have an 80% chance of detecting a doubling of the median time to treatment failure. Patients were randomized to receive a 10-week course of either oral acyclovir (400 mg 5 times daily, n = 51) or placebo (n = 53). All patients also received a standard regimen of topical prednisolone phosphate and trifluridine. Ophthalmologic examinations were performed weekly during the 10-week treatment period, every 2 weeks for an additional 6 weeks, and at 6 months after entry into the trial. RESULTS The median time to treatment failure (defined as worsening or no improvement of stromal keratitis or an adverse event) was 84 days (95% confidence interval, 69-93 days) for the acyclovir group and 62 days (95% confidence interval, 57-90 days) for the placebo group. By 16 weeks, 38 patients (75%) in the acyclovir group and 39 patients (74%) in the placebo group had failed treatment. Also by that time, the keratitis had resolved with trial medications, and there was no subsequent worsening in nine patients (18%) in the acyclovir group and ten (19%) in the placebo group. None of these results were significantly different between the two groups. However, visual acuity improved over 6 months in significantly more patients in the acyclovir group than in the placebo group. CONCLUSION There was no statistically or clinically significant beneficial effect of oral acyclovir in treating HSV stromal keratitis in patients receiving concomitant topical corticosteroids and trifluridine with regard to time to treatment failure, proportion of patients who failed treatment, proportion of patients whose keratitis resolved, time to resolution, or 6-month best-corrected visual acuity. Visual acuity improved over 6 months in more patients in the acyclovir group than in the placebo group.

Molteno Implant for Control of Glaucoma in Eyes after Penetrating Keratoplasty

Seventeen patients (17 eyes) underwent implantation of a single plate Molteno implant for medically uncontrollable intraocular pressures after penetrating keratoplasty. Most of the eyes had extensive peripheral anterior synechiae, and 16 of 17 (94%) were pseudophakic or aphakic following keratoplasty. Other glaucoma procedures had been performed previously on 13 eyes: argon laser trabeculoplasty (one eye), trabeculectomy (seven eyes), transpupillary argon laser cyclophotocoagulation (three eyes), and cyclocryotherapy (three eyes). Follow-up ranged from 5 to 28 months (mean, 13 months). Three eyes underwent repeat Molteno implantation when intraocular pressure (IOP) was not satisfactorily reduced after the first procedure. Considering one eye with chronic hypotony as a failure, 12 of 17 eyes (71%) had IOPs of less than 21 mmHg at the time of the three most recent postoperative examinations after a single Molteno implant. Repeat implants in three eyes increased the number of eyes with IOPs of less than 21 mmHg to 14 (82%). Corneal allograft rejection after Molteno implantation occurred in seven eyes; two of these were successfully reversed with corticosteroid therapy. Three of the five eyes with irreversible graft rejection were regrafted, and two of these grafts have remained clear. Including the regrafted eyes, 13 eyes had clear grafts and controlled IOPs at the most recent postoperative examination. The Molteno implant may prove useful in the management of medically uncontrollable glaucoma following penetrating keratoplasty; however, there appears to be a substantial risk of postoperative graft rejection.

In Vivo Transillumination Biomicroscopy and Photography of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Clinical Study

Meibomian gland transillumination biomicroscopy and infrared photography were performed on 18 patients with clinically evident meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and dermatologic rosacea, 22 patients having MGD without evidence of dermatologic rosacea, and 15 unaffected individuals who served as controls. All patients having clinical signs of MGD demonstrated morphologic abnormalities of their meibomian glands by transilluminated biomicroscopy. Patients without dermatologic rosacea were noted to have varying degrees of gland distortion. Moreover, infrared photography documented a loss of the normal grape-like clusters of dark spots that represent the gland, suggesting a loss of glandular acini. Patients with dermatologic rosacea had more severe alterations, including marked distortion and loss of normal gland anatomy. There were no such abnormalities in clinically unaffected individuals. These data demonstrate that transilluminated biomicroscopy and infrared photography have the ability to identify a spectrum of morphologic alterations of the meibomian glands in MGD patients. The authors suggest that these techniques could be used to classify clinical MGD based upon the presence or absence of identifiable meibomian gland abnormalities.

Radial Keratoneurltis as a Presenting Sign in Acanthamoeba keratitis

Three myopic patients who wore soft contact lenses developed unilateral Acanthamoeba keratitis that presented with unusual infiltrates that appeared to be located along the corneal nerves. These infiltrates were found in the midstroma, beginning paracentrally, and extending to the limbus in a radial pattern. The epithelium overlying these infiltrates was intact. In two patients, the central epithelium had a stippled, almost dendritiform appearance leading to the misdiagnosis of herpes simplex keratitis. Cultures from corneal scrapings of two patients and cultures of a corneal biopsy from one patient, which included an area of presumed neural involvement, grew Acanthamoebae. All three patients used homemade saline solutions (salt tablets dissolved in distilled water). In one patient, Acanthamoebae were found in the contact lens case solution. In our recent experience, Acanthamoebae have also been found in the distilled water bottle and the saline solution made from distilled water and salt tablets in two additional patients with A. keratitis. Distilled water, which is not sterile, has proven to be one potentially avoidable source of A. keratitis in contact lens wearers.

Results of Penetrating Keratoplasty For Aphakic And Pseudophakic Bullous Keratopathy

We retrospectively studied 61 consecutive cases of penetrating keratoplasty performed for aphakic bullous keratopathy or pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. After keratoplasty, the mean visual acuities of both groups of patients improved significantly from preoperative levels (P less than .0001). One year after keratoplasty, 18 eyes had visual acuities of 20/40 or better. Twelve of the 24 eyes followed up for at least two years after surgery had visual acuities of 20/40 or better. The mean visual acuities for the eyes with aphakic bullous keratopathy and the eyes with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy were not significantly different at either one or two years after keratoplasty. Cystoid macular edema (11 eyes) and glaucoma (12 eyes) were the most common causes of visual acuities worse than 20/40. There were no significant differences in the incidences of these complications in the group with aphakic bullous keratopathy and in the group with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Intraocular lens removal did not significantly affect either visual acuity or macular complications after keratoplasty.

Peripheral corneal disorders

The peripheral cornea is anatomically and physiologically distinct from its central counterpart. The major differences relate to the gradual transition of corneal tissues to those of the conjunctiva, episclera, and sclera; furthermore, the vascular structures, lymphatics, and inflammatory cells from these neighboring structures are intimately associated with the limbus and periphery of the cornea. The peripheral cornea is thereby predisposed to three main classes of disorders which do not normally involve the central cornea. First, local conditions affecting the sclera and conjunctiva may secondarily spread to involve the limbus and peripheral cornea. These include several infectious diseases, as well as hypersensitivity conditions, mass lesions, and degenerations. Second, due to the associated blood vessels and lymphatics, the peripheral cornea may be involved in a variety of systemic diseases, including vasculitides, autoimmune disorders, and abnormal metabolic conditions. Finally, there are several conditions, such as the noninflammatory peripheral degenerations, which primarily affect the peripheral cornea without associated ocular or systemic changes. In this review, we present a classification and discussion of the various disorders which may involve the peripheral cornea.

Mycobacterium chelonei Keratitis After Radial Keratotomy

Two patients who had undergone radial keratotomy developed delayed postoperative infectious keratitis. Both patients had surgery at the same outpatient facility, and their procedures had been performed by the same surgeon. The corneal lesions appeared similar in both cases, consisting of white irregular infiltrates with radiating projections and fluffy, indistinct margins. Although they were found at all levels, the lesions were most concentrated in the mid-to-deep stroma and were associated with overlying epithelial defects. In both cases, Mycobacterium chelonei was isolated from corneal biopsy specimens. Both patients were treated with topical fortified amikacin; in one there was complete resolution of the corneal infiltrates with medical therapy alone. Although the other patients lesions initially appeared to resolve with medical therapy, she eventually required corneal transplantation because of recurrence of the infiltrates. Histopathologically, the infiltrates consisted of myriads of acid-fast bacteria with rare inflammatory cell infiltrations.

Ocular Involvement in the Respiratory Vasculitides

The respiratory vasculitides are idiopathic inflammatory syndromes, characteristically involving the pulmonary vasculature as well as that of several other organ systems. The inflammatory response in these diseases is uniformly granulomatous. There are three distinct, recognized respiratory vasculitides: Wegeners granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome (allergic granulomatosis and angiitis), and lymphomatoid granulomatosis. Each of these entities may have ophthalmic manifestations, and ocular involvement may, in fact, be the presenting sign. The systemic and ocular manifestations, as well as the differential diagnosis and management of each of these entities are discussed.

Crescentic Lamellar Keratoplasty for Pellucid Marginal Degeneration

Pellucid marginal degeneration is an uncommon, idiopathic, noninflammatory peripheral thinning disorder affecting the inferior cornea. 1 The resulting irregular corneal astigmatism frequently precludes spectacle or contact lens correction. Various surgical procedures have been used to modify the corneal astigmatism and improve visual acuity in severe cases. 2 We successfully treated pellucid marginal degeneration with an inferior, crescentic, lamellar keratoplasty.

The Clinical Characteristics and Course of Adult Gonococcal Conjunctivitis

We studied 21 cases of adult conjunctivitis caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, confirmed by either Grams stain or culture, that were seen between 1972 and 1986. The patients, typically young men, had irritation or pain, a copious purulent discharge, and marked conjunctival inflammation. Keratitis, anterior chamber inflammation, periocular edema and tenderness, gaze restriction, and preauricular lymphadenopathy were common. All patients were hospitalized and treated with high doses of parenterally administered antibiotics. Two patients had severe ulcerative keratitis at initial examination, which ultimately resulted in light-perception visual acuity, despite antibiotic therapy and keratoplasty. In the remainder of the patients, corneal involvement was milder and transient, and treatment with parenteral penicillin and topical antibiotics was uniformly effective in reversing the course of the infection and preventing significant visual loss. Careful ophthalmologic and microbiologic monitoring is suggested to prevent possible complications caused by penicillin-resistant strains.