Michael Cahane

Postoperative Complications After Molteno Implant Surgery

We performed Molteno implant surgery in one eye each of 41 patients with uncontrolled glaucoma. Intraocular pressure was controlled (intraocular pressure less than or equal to 18 mm Hg) in 32 eyes (78%). The mean preoperative intraocular pressure was 40 +/- 13.2 mm Hg, whereas the mean postoperative intraocular pressure was 16 +/- 6.6 mm Hg. Patients were followed up for an average of 16 months after the operation. Visual acuity was unchanged in 23 eyes (56%), improved in nine eyes (22%), and poorer in nine eyes (22%). The major complications included shallow anterior chamber and hypotony in six eyes (14.6%), vitreous hemorrhage in two eyes (4.9%), retinal detachment in one eye (2.4%), and malignant glaucoma in two eyes (4.9%). Less grave complications included hyphema in four eyes (9.8%), peripheral choroidal effusion in 15 eyes (36.6%), obstruction of the tube in six eyes (14.6%), recession of the tube into the angle in two eyes (4.9%), erosion of the tube in one eye (2.4%), and Tenons cyst formation in three eyes (7.3%).

Axial Length and Scleral Thickness Effect on Susceptibility to Glaucomatous Damage: A Theoretical Model Implementing Laplace’s Law

Laplaces law relates the pressure inside a hollow sphere with its radius and the tension in its walls. A theoretical model implementing Laplaces law in the eye globe is presented. The physical model may help to explain certain aspects in glaucomatous disk damage such as higher susceptibility of myopic eyes to glaucomatous damage and a possible explanation for glaucoma nerve head damage in low tension glaucoma.

Small-incision manual extracapsular cataract extraction using selective hydrodissection.

Hydrodissection is a technique in which balanced salt solution is injected through a cannula into various layers of a cataractous lens to separate the lens lamella in a nonspecific location. Selective hydrodissection allows separation of the lens lamella at different desired anatomical layers. The technique allows the smallest possible nucleus, ie, the hard-core nucleus, to be hydroexpressed as a separate entity, requiring, correspondingly, a relatively small capsulorhexis and limbal incision. Then, in a second maneuver, the epinucleus, which engulfs the hardcore nucleus to form the adult nucleus, also can be aspirated or hydroexpressed as a whole. Selective hydrodissection permits scleral incision and stitchless surgery in planned extracapsular cataract extraction and also may serve as an intermediate step for surgeons who wish to convert to or learn phacoemulsification techniques.

Refractive results with secondary piggyback implantation to correct pseudophakic refractive errors

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of implanting a second intraocular lens (IOL) to correct pseudophakic refractive errors. SETTING: Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. METHODS: This prospective noncomparative case series included 10 pseudophakic eyes, 5 with a myopic residual refractive error and 5 with a hyperopic residual refractive error. All eyes had secondary piggyback IOL implantation with the IOL placed in the ciliary sulcus. Five types of IOLs were used to correct the residual refractive error. RESULTS: The mean preoperative myopia was −6.6 diopters ± 3.3 (SD), and the refractive outcome was within 0.5 ± 0.7 D of the desired refraction (range –1.5 [undercorrected] and +1.0 D [overcorrected]). The mean preoperative hyperopia was +3.8 ± 0.8 D, and the refractive outcome was within 0.46 ± 0.4 D of the desired refraction (range 0 and 1.0 D overcorrected). All patients showed visual acuity improvement. Best spectacle‐corrected visual acuity improved from 20/44 to 20/30 (P<.05). CONCLUSION: An IOL type that is appropriate for implantation in the ciliary sulcus is a viable option for correcting pseudophakic refractive error using the piggyback technique.

Direct Intraoperative Continuous Monitoring of Intraocular Pressure

We present a system of intraoperative continuous monitoring of intraocular pressure (IOP) consisting of a sterilizable pressure sensor attached to a digital monitor and an analogic recording instrument. Used in conjunction with an anterior-chamber maintainer, IOP may be accurately maintained at a specific and desired level.

Dislocation of a scleral-fixated, posterior chamber intraocular lens after fixation suture removal

Abstract A 58‐year‐old man’s posterior chamber intraocular lens dislocated after a transscleral fixation suture was removed during a routine eye examination. The lens had to be repositioned. A scleral flap over the fixation sutures and a better understanding by general ophthalmologists of transscleral fixation suturing would have prevented this complication.

European Association of Tissue Banks

Tissue banking is a specific field of medical practice. The European Association of Tissue Banks (EATB) is a scientific nonprofit organization that coordinates and supports aspects of tissue banking within Europe. The evolvement, structure and principal fields of interest and activities of the EATB are described.

Effect of capsulorhexis diameter on glare disability

Purpose: To determine whether the diameter of the anterior capsulorhexis has an effect on postoperative glare. Setting: Sapir Medical Center, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel. Methods: Forty patients had extracapsular cataract extraction (manual or phacoemulsification) through an intact continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) of various sizes. The CCC diameter was measured and the opacity of the anterior and posterior capsules was evaluated before and after dilation of the pupils. Glare test (Miller‐Nadler glare tester) was performed with the eyelid in a normal position and after lid elevation. Results: The diameter of the CCC ranged from 3.50 to 7.00 mm (mean 4.87 mm). The anterior capsule was always opaque in the area of contact with the IOL material. None was graded clear; 60% were graded as +3. Mean glare disability prior to pupil dilation was 12.1 ± 8.8 (SD) and after dilation, 17.3 ± 9.7. There was no correlation between glare disability and the diameter of the capsulorhexis, the width of the exposed opacified capsular ring, or the grading of capsule opacification (anterior and posterior). Dilation of the pupil significantly increased glare disability (P = .016), unrelated to CCC diameter. Conclusion: A CCC larger than 3.5 mm does not induce significant glare.

Epikeratophakia After Ocular Trauma

Five patients with long-standing monocular traumatic aphakia and contact lens intolerance underwent epikeratophakia. This procedure was chosen to rehabilitate the visual function in those eyes that exhibited distorted anterior segment anatomy after trauma. Three of the patients had corneal scars associated with their old perforation wounds, and all of them had undergone an intracapsular cataract extraction soon after their original injuries. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/50 or better in all cases before surgery. Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity improved to within two lines of the best-corrected preoperative visual acuity, after a minimum follow-up period of six months. No intraoperative complications were noted. One cornea developed late-onset partial scarring of the interface in the area of the original scar, but the process arrested spontaneously.

Artificial Cornea and the Future of Eye Banking

A report on the construction of functional human corneal equivalent reflects a step towards creation of an artificial cornea. We discuss the current status of supply and demand for corneas for transplanation, and wonder if the creation of an artificial cornea will have an effect on corneal transplantation in the near future