Comptonsheehan3724
Purpose Various injectors are commercially available for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) but not all injectors have been studied for endothelial damage of grafts. The aim of the study was to compare endothelial damage in pre-stripped DMEK tissue from three clinically used injector devices the modified Jones tube, the STAAR intraocular (IOL) injector, and the Geuder glass cannula in a laboratory setting. Methods Twenty-four human donor corneas were used for this study, eight for each study arm. Each endothelial graft was pre-stripped, trephined to 8.0 mm diameter, then loaded into either the modified Jones tube, the STAAR IOL injector, or the Geuder glass cannula by an eye bank technician who had no prior experience with any of the injectors. Grafts were then ejected, stained with Calcein acetoxymethyl (AM), and quantitatively analyzed using FIJI image software. The primary outcome was the percent of endothelial damage from injector loading and injection. Donor demographics were analyzed using Fisher's exact test. The percentage of endothelial cell loss was compared across groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results The mean percent of endothelial damage from after injection of the graft was 37.8% (±SD 12.2%) for the modified Jones tube, 37.0% (±SD 13.9%) for the STAAR IOL injector, and 23.5% (±SD 5.1%) for the Geuder cannula (P = 0.008). Conclusion DMEK injectors contribute to intraoperative endothelial damage of transplanted grafts. The Geuder glass cannula may offer increased ease of use and less endothelial damage compared to the modified Jones tube or STAAR IOL injector for the novice user in early cases.Purpose To study the practical use of the Rubric for Assessment of Eye Bank Professionals for Eye Retrieval (RAEPER) as a competency assessment tool by organizing a workshop in two eye banks - one in India and other in America. Methods Two-day workshop was conducted in two eye banks - named Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital (SCEH) in India and Miracles in Sight (MIS) in America. Day 1 of workshop comprised of didactic lectures and discussions and day 2 was eye retrieval assessment done on human eyes in a wet lab setting. Assessment was done using RAEPER by two independent senior eye bank managers. Tiplaxtinin Results MIS had 27 participants, 15 males and 12 females (mean age 38.8 years, range 28-55) and SCEH had 11 participants, 10 males and 1 female (mean age 48 years, range 22-68). All participants were in house technicians, who had a minimal experience of at least 150 eye retrievals. At MIS, step 19 (crystalline lens check) got a score of 3 (Competent) 93.5% of the time. At SCEH, step 6 (conjunctival removal) and step 4 (Irrigation of cornea with sterile saline) were high scoring with 90.11% and 72.7% scoring 3, respectively. Conclusion India's cornea blind population is expected to reach 10 million by 2020. Steps need to be taken to improve cornea retrieval rates in the country and make various eye banks self-sufficient. Incorporating such training modules not only improves the cornea utilization rates, but also helps standardize the entire eye banking process.Purpose This study evaluated corneal tattooing for esthetic purposes in patients with corneal opacification. Methods Eight eyes of eight patients were included in the study (four males and four females). Corneal tattooing was achieved by stromal puncture in five patients, femtosecond laser-assisted corneal tattooing in two patients, and femtosecond laser-assisted corneal tattooing and stromal needling (combined procedure) in one patient. In six of the patients, the entire cornea was stained black; in one patient, the center of the cornea (3 mm) was stained black and the periphery was stained dark brown; and in the last patient, the corneal periphery was stained dark brown. Patient satisfaction was evaluated on the first day after surgery and at the last visit as follows Very satisfied (4), satisfied (3), moderately satisfied (3), and not satisfied (1). Results The patients ranged in age from 11-80 years. The mean satisfaction score of the patients was 4 and 3.5 on the first postoperative day and at the last visit, respectively. No complication occurred during or after surgery. Conclusion Corneal tattooing for esthetic purposes was successful in both blind eyes and seeing eyes.Purpose To analyze the risk factors in eyes developing ectasia following keratorefractive procedures. In addition, the study assessed visual outcomes following various treatment modalities for ectasia. Methods In this retrospective study, data of patients who underwent keratorefractive procedures, presenting to the refractive services of a tertiary eye care hospital in South India between January 2016 and May 2019 was analyzed. Of these, the eyes that developed ectasia were noted and the possible risk factors were determined. Visual outcomes following treatment with corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) with or without intracorneal ring segment implantation (ICRS) or topography-guided corneal ablation (T-PRK) were analyzed. Results Forty eyes of 26 patients developed ectasia following keratorefractive procedures, with a mean interval of 73.1± 45.4 months between primary procedure and ectasia development. Of these, 14 patients had bilateral presentation. Identifiable risk factors included ablation depth > 75 μm (59.25%), percentage of tissue altered (PTA) > 40% (48.14%), residual stromal bed 40% were the most common risk factors. Treatment following CXL with ICRS or T-PRK demonstrated significantly better visual outcomes in comparison with CXL alone.Purpose To study the efficiency of vitamin D3 (buccal spray) alone and combination of vitamin D3 with cyclosporine in the treatment of dry eye disease (DED) in patients with deficient serum 25(OH)D levels. Methods Around 90 patients with DED with deficient serum 25(OH)D levels were included and randomized into three groups and were given treatment for dry eye (Group A- 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), Group B- 0.5% CMC + 2000 IU vitamin D through buccal spray, Group C- 0.5% CMC + 2000 IU vitamin D through buccal spray + 0.05% cyclosporine). The patients were followed at day-15, day-30, and day-90 for improvement in tear breakup time (TBUT) and Schirmer's, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score. Improvement in serum vitamin D level was assessed at day-90. One way ANOVA test, paired t-test, and Chi-square test were used for analysis. Results Group B and Group C had significantly higher in Schirmer's test-I values as compared to Group A (P = 0.001, P less then 0.001, P less then 0.001 at day-15, day-30, and day-90, respectively).