Lyon P. Robinson

Six‐year review of Acanthamoeba keratitis in New South Wales, Australia: 1997–2002

Aim: To assess the incidence and risk factors for Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), the diagnostic interval, and the efficacy and outcome of current treatment among the population of New South Wales, Australia.

Long-term follow-up results of lamellar keratoplasty as a treatment for recurrent pterygium and for scleral necrosis induced by beta-irradiation.

PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lamellar keratoplasty (LK) in the treatment of recurrent pterygium and of scleral necrosis induced by beta-irradiation. METHODS A retrospective review of patients who, between 1988 and 2001, underwent LK for the above indications. Recurrence rates, tectonic outcomes, pre- and postoperative visual acuities, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS In the recurrent pterygium group, LK was performed on 68 eyes. The mean age (mean +/- SD) at presentation was 45.1 +/- 13.7 years (range 17 to 77). The recurrence rate following LK was 5.9%, with a mean time to recurrence of 6.2 +/- 2.9 months (range 3 to 10). In all cases, the recurrence occurred above or below the lamellar grafts, and a second LK prevented any further recurrence. The mean length of follow-up was 27.1 +/- 26.6 months (range 3 to 132). The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved or remained unchanged in 65 of the 68 eyes (95.6%) but was reduced in the remaining three eyes (4.4%). In the scleral radionecrosis group, LK was performed on 30 eyes. The mean age at presentation was 67.7 +/- 10.3 years (range 37 to 85). Tectonic restoration was achieved in all patients. The mean length of follow-up was 49.0 +/- 45.1 months (range 8 to 120). The BCVA improved or remained unchanged in all patients. No significant complications were identified. CONCLUSION Lamellar keratoplasty is a safe and effective treatment option for both recurrent pterygium and beta-irradiation-induced scleral necrosis. In our opinion, LK is the treatment of choice for multiple or aggressive recurrences of pterygium and a successful management option for scleral radionecrosis.

Successful corneal autograft after clearance of anterior chamber cytomegalovirus with oral valganciclovir in a patient with multiple failed corneal allografts.

Purpose: To report a case of recurrent corneal graft failure because of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and to demonstrate successful clearance of the virus with oral valganciclovir, confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. This allowed for a successful corneal autograft to be performed. Methods: Interventional case report. Results: A 90-year-old white man with 4 previous corneal graft failures in his right eye is presented. His visual acuity was no light perception in the left eye subsequent to ocular trauma. His initial penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy was from a human leukocyte antigen-matched multiorgan donor who was CMV-seropositive. An anterior chamber paracentesis was performed to exclude an infective etiology. CMV was detected on PCR of aqueous humor. After a 12-week course of oral valganciclovir, a repeat aqueous PCR test confirmed the clearance of CMV. A corneal autograft from his left eye was subsequently performed with good outcome. Conclusions: We present a case of successful corneal autograft after clearance of CMV from the anterior chamber (PCR confirmed) in a patient treated with oral valganciclovir.