Kerry D. Solomon

Surgical prevention of posterior capsule opacification. Part 3: Intraocular lens optic barrier effect as a second line of defense.

PURPOSE To emphasize an important aspect of preventing posterior capsule opacification (PCO), the barrier effect established by the optic of a posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL), and present a new classification regarding capsular bag status after extra-capsular cataract extraction, including phacoemulsification. SETTING Center for Research on Ocular Therapeutics and Biodevices, Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. METHODS This analysis included 150 consecutive eyes obtained postmortem with United States-manufactured PC IOLs including (1) poly(methyl methacrylate), (2) silicone, and (3) hydrophobic acrylic designs that were accessioned in the Center from September 1995 to January 1, 1998. Gross photographs from behind (Miyake-Apple views) were taken and serial histologic sections prepared. RESULTS Microscopic analysis of the 150 eyes showed that the morphologic appearance of the capsular bag could be grouped into 2 categories: (1) those with little or no evidence of retained cortical material and cells, and (2) those with retained cortical material and cells in which a Soemmerings ring formed. With the latter, when a distinct barricade to cellular migration created by the IOL optic was noted, 2 discrete configurations occurred, depending on the different geometries of the optic components. With a classic biconvex optic with a curved and tapered edge, in many instances some ingrowth of cells proceeded posteriorly around the edge of the IOL optic in the direction of the central axis. With a lens optic that had a squared, truncated, and relatively thick edge, there was often abrupt termination of cells at the peripheral edge of the optic. The posterior capsule subtending the entire optic zone was therefore relatively or totally cell free. CONCLUSIONS The barrier effect of the IOL optic appears to be of critical importance in retarding ingrowth of cells, functioning as a second line of defense when cortical cleanup is incomplete. Analysis of PC IOLs obtained postmortem showed that a square, truncated optic edge seemed to provide the maximum impediment to cell growth behind the IOL optic.

Incidence and management of complications of transsclerally sutured posterior chamber lenses

ABSTRACT Thirty eyes with an average follow‐up of 23 months following transscleral fixation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) were retrospectively reviewed for complications. The most common complication was erosion of the polypropylene suture knots through half thickness scleral flaps (22 eyes, 73%). The average time for suture erosion through the sclera was 9.4 months (range one to 12). The polypropylene suture knots eroded through the conjunctiva in five eyes (17% incidence) at an average of 12 months postoperatively (range six to 18 months). All conjunctival erosions were surgically repaired. Other complications included clinically significant lens tilt/decentration (3/30, 10%), open angle glaucoma (5/30, 17%), and suprachoroidal hemorrhage (1/30, 3%). The complications associated with transscleral fixation of posterior chamber IOLs are distinctly different from those associated with anterior chamber IOLs. Prospective clinical trials may provide further information about pseudophakic rehabilitation in the absence of capsular support.

Refractive Surgery Survey 2001.

&NA; To determine the refractive surgery preferences of ophthalmologists worldwide, questionnaires were sent to 8920 members of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. A total of 1174 questionnaires was returned by the deadline. The practice distribution included 30.0% cataract surgeons, 47.3% comprehensive ophthalmologists, 14.4% refractive surgery (RS) specialists, 4.5% corneal/external disease specialists, 1.9% glaucoma specialists, and <1% retinal/oculoplastics/pediatrics/neurophthalmologists/researchers/retired. Responses were compared with those in the 2001 and 2002 surveys and demonstrate that RS practice patterns continue to evolve.

Flap thickness accuracy ☆ ☆☆ ★ ★★: Comparison of 6 microkeratome models

Purpose: To determine the flap thickness accuracy of 6 microkeratome models and determine factors that might affect flap thickness. Setting: Magill Research Center for Vision Correction, Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Methods: This multicenter prospective study involved 18 surgeons. Six microkeratomes were evaluated: AMO Amadeus, Bausch & Lomb Hansatome®, Moria Carriazo‐Barraquer, Moria M2, Nidek MK2000, and Alcon Summit Krumeich‐Barraquer. Eyes of 1061 consecutive patients who had laser in situ keratomileusis were included. Age, sex, surgical order (first or second cut), keratometry (flattest, steepest, and mean), white‐to‐white measurement, laser used, plate thickness, head serial number, blade lot number, and occurrence of epithelial defects were recorded. Intraoperative pachymetry was obtained just before the microkeratome was placed on the eye. Residual bed pachymetry was measured after the microkeratome cut had been created and the flap lifted. The estimated flap thickness was determined by subtraction (ie, mean preoperative pachymetry measurement minus mean residual bed pachymetry). Results: A total of 1634 eyes were reviewed. Sex distribution was 54.3% women and 45.7% men, and the mean age was 39.4 years ± 10.6 (SD). In addition, 54.5% of the procedures were in first eyes and 45.5%, in second eyes. The mean preoperative pachymetry measurement was 547 ± 34 &mgr;m. The mean keratometry was 43.6 ± 1.6 diopters (D) in the flattest axis and 44.6 ±1.5 D in the steepest axis. The mean white‐to‐white measurement was 11.7 ± 0.4 mm. The mean flap thickness created by the devices varied between head designs, and microkeratome heads had significant differences (P<.05). Factors that explained 78.4% of the variability included microkeratome model, plate thickness, mean preoperative pachymetry, Kmin, surgery order, head serial number, blade lot number, and surgeon. Factors such as age, sex, Kmax, Kaverage, white to white, and laser had no significant correlation to flap thickness. Conclusions: The results demonstrated variability between the 6 microkeratome models. Device labeling did not necessarily represent the mean flap thickness obtained, nor was it uniform or consistent. Thinner corneas were associated with thinner flaps and thicker corneas with thicker flaps. In addition, first cuts were generally associated with thicker flaps when compared to second cuts in bilateral procedures.

Topical ketorolac tromethamine 0.5% ophthalmic solution in ocular inflammation after cataract surgery

PURPOSE To compare the efficacy and safety of ketorolac 0.5% ophthalmic solution with its vehicle in the treatment of ocular inflammation after cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation. DESIGN Multicenter clinical study. PARTICIPANTS One hundred four patients were prospectively randomized, 52 patients in treatment group, 52 patients in control group. METHODS Patients received either ketorolac or vehicle four times daily in the operated eye for 14 days starting the day after surgery in a prospective, double-masked, randomized, parallel group study. Only patients with moderate or greater postoperative inflammation the day after surgery were enrolled. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcome measures include inflammation (cell, flare, ciliary flush), intraocular pressure and visual acuity. RESULTS Ketorolac was significantly more effective than vehicle in reducing the manifestations of postoperative ocular inflammation, including: anterior chamber cells (P: = 0.002) and flare (P: = 0.009), conjunctival erythema (P: = 0.010), ciliary flush (P: = 0.022), photophobia (P: = 0.027), and pain (P: = 0.043). Five times as many patients were dropped from the study for lack of efficacy from the vehicle group (22/52) than from the ketorolac group (4/52; P: = 0.001). Ketorolac was found to be equally as safe as vehicle in terms of adverse events, changes in visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and biomicroscopic and ophthalmoscopic variables. CONCLUSIONS Ketorolac tromethamine 0.5% ophthalmic solution was significantly more effective than vehicle in the treatment of moderate or greater ocular inflammation following routine cataract surgery, while being as safe as vehicle.

Complications of Intraocular Lenses with Special Reference to an Analysis of 2500 Explanted Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)

Abstract The incidence and types of complications seen with the major intraocular lens (IOL) types in a series of 2500 explant cases is reported. We confirm that the rate of complications is higher with anterior chamber IOLs (AC-IOLs) and with iris-fixated IOLs (IF-IOLs) than with posterior chamber IOLs (PC-IOLs). However, the open-loop AC-IOL fared better than the closed-loop designs. Although tissue complications of PC-IOLs (inflammation, glaucoma, cystoid macular oedema and retinal detachment) have decreased markedly, this study shows that decentration/ malposition remains a significant problem. With increased use of smaller diameter or aspherical optic (5.5 mm × 5.5 mm or 5 mm × 6 mm), as well as increasing use of bifocal/multifocal IOLs, it is important that the problem of decentration be addressed.

Factors Associated with Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome

PURPOSE To identify factors associated with intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) in patients undergoing routine phacoemulsification. DESIGN Comparative case series. PARTICIPANTS Analysis of 899 eyes of 660 patients undergoing routine cataract surgery. METHODS All routine cases of cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation between September 1, 2005, and August 31, 2006, were documented. Pertinent patient information, including age, gender, race, medical history, and current medication use (including tamsulosin [Flomax, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Ingelheim, Germany], other alpha(1)-antagonists, angiotensin antagonists, anticholinergics, cholinergic agonists, muscle relaxants, nitric oxide donors, and saw palmetto), were collected at the time of surgery. A telephone survey was used to determine previous use of tamsulosin, other alpha(1)-antagonists, and saw palmetto. Cases were identified intraoperatively as IFIS or non-IFIS following the triad of criteria developed by Chang and Campbell. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Presence of IFIS associated with medication use and medical history. RESULTS Analysis showed IFIS in 27 patients (4.1%) representing 33 eyes (3.7%). Tamsulosin use (P<0.001) and history of alpha(1)-antagonist use other than tamsulosin (P = 0.01) were shown to strongly correlate with IFIS in our study. Hypertension was noted to be a significant variable via multivariable generalized estimating equations analysis (P = 0.04) with a prevalence of 75.8% in patients with IFIS versus 56.4% in patients without IFIS. Saw palmetto showed a slight, but statistically insignificant, trend that current use or history of use may be associated with IFIS. There were no cases of posterior capsular rupture or vitreous loss. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to tamsulosin highly correlates with IFIS. Use of other alpha(1)-antagonists is also associated with IFIS. Several patients in our series were identified to have IFIS with no history of alpha(1)-antagonist use, indicating that other etiologic factors, or a combination of factors, can also elicit this response. Multivariable regression analysis shows no proven relationship between IFIS and individual use of angiotensin antagonists, anticholinergics, cholinergic agonists, muscle relaxants, nitric oxide donors, or saw palmetto, and diabetes or congestive heart failure.

Effect of hinge location on corneal sensation and dry eye after laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of a superior or nasal hinge location on corneal sensation and dry eye after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). SETTING: Magill Research Center for Vision Correction, Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. METHODS: This prospective randomized masked study included 47 patients having bilateral myopic LASIK surgery. The first eye was randomly assigned to have a nasal or superior hinge flap; the fellow eye had the alternate location. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, corneal sensation, basic secretion test, tear film breakup time, conjunctival and corneal staining, and a subjective questionnaire were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months. The Wilcoxon signed rank test and paired t test were used for comparison. RESULTS: Dry eye occurred with the same frequency in both groups. However, eyes with the nasal hinge had significantly better nasal sensation than those with the superior hinge (P<.05) at 1 month. CONCLUSION: Better nasal corneal sensation was found at 1 month in the nasal hinge group but there was no difference in any other parameters measured.

Comparison of visual outcomes, photopic contrast sensitivity, wavefront analysis, and patient satisfaction following cataract extraction and IOL implantation: aspheric vs spherical acrylic lenses

PurposeTo determine vision quality when testing two acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs), AcrysofIQ and AcrysofSingle-Piece, after routine cataract extraction and IOL implantation.SettingStorm Eye Institute and Magill Research Center for Vision Correction, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.MethodsProspective, randomized, double-masked study that included 53 eyes of 27 patients who underwent bilateral cataract extraction and IOL implantation. Patients were randomly divided into two groups depending on the type of IOL implanted: AcrysofIQ or AcrysofSingle-Piece. Preoperative, 1- and 3-month postoperative evaluations included ETDRS visual acuity, photopic contrast sensitivity, pupil size, wavefront testing, and a subjective questionnaire. Comparisons between the two groups and comparisons to baseline were made at each visit. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsPreoperative, statistically significant differences were evident in response to the subjective questionnaire (near activities, driving dimensions, and overall score) between the two groups. Postoperatively there was a greater increase in contrast sensitivity at 1 and 3 months in the AcrysofIQ group when compared to baseline. Patients with AcrysofIQ IOL had a significant reduction in total high-order aberrations (HOA) and spherical aberration (SA) when compared to those patients with AcrysofSingle-Piece at 1 and 3 months and to baseline. Postoperative patient satisfaction showed no difference among the groups.ConclusionThe use of a new aspheric acrylic IOL may improve the quality of vision as a result of the reduction of total HOA and SA.

Epithelial downgrowth after clear cornea phacoemulsification: Report of two cases and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE To report two cases of diffuse epithelial downgrowth after clear cornea phacoemulsification and to review the different treatment options for this ominous disease. DESIGN Two interventional case reports. METHODS Retrospective review of two eyes from two different patients in whom epithelial downgrowth developed 7 and 3 months after uneventful clear cornea phacoemulsification. In the first case, the epithelial invasion seemed to be growing from the temporal incision site onto the corneal endothelium toward the visual axis. Cryotherapy was applied to the affected cornea, with control of the growing membrane. A penetrating keratoplasty was performed to restore visual function. In the second patient, the membrane was attached to the iris and posterior cornea and was confirmed by diagnostic argon laser photocoagulation. This case was surgically treated with en bloc excision and a corneoscleral graft. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Visual acuity at the final follow-up visit. RESULTS Surgical treatment of the epithelial downgrowth was different for both patients. In the postoperative period, a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/60 and 20/30 was achieved in each case. No regrowth of the membrane was observed. CONCLUSIONS Treatment of epithelial downgrowth is controversial. We present two cases of epithelialization of the anterior chamber with either clinical or histologic confirmation after clear cornea sutureless phacoemulsification. Surgical treatment should be attempted promptly to obtain a good visual prognosis.