Vital dye staining of corneal endothelial cells can be combined with Adobe Photoshop software to yield a quantitative assessment of areas of acute endothelial cell loss and/or damage. This described technique holds promise for a more consistent and accurate method to evaluate the surgical trauma to the endothelial cell layer in laboratory models. This method of quantitative analysis can probably be generalized to any area of research that involves areas that are differentiated by color or contrast.

Smaller size (3 mm) incisions for EK surgery result in greater acute endothelial area damage than larger size (5 mm) incisions. Pull-through insertion techniques through a 5-mm incision seem equivalent in the amount of induced area damage to that of forceps insertion. Compressive injury from the incision appeared less when the tissue was folded than when not folded. Insertion with any technique through a 3-mm incision resulted in larger areas of endothelial damage. All these iatrogenic death zones outside the central endothelial area would be missed clinically by standard early specular microscopy after EK surgery.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy, safety and stability of standard epithelium-off cross-linking (SCXL) versus accelerated epithelium-off cross-linking (ACXL) and transepithelial epithelium-on cross-linking (TCXL) in the treatment of progressive keratoconus (KC) in children. Methods: This prospective multicentre controlled trial included 271 eyes (136 children) with grade 1-3 progressive KC who were randomized to undergo SCXL (n = 91, as a control group), ACXL (n = 92) or TCXL (n = 88). Uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity, subjective refraction, pachymetry, keratometry and corneal topography measurements were recorded preoperatively and 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively. Results: At 1 year, there was no significant difference in uncorrected distance visual acuity, refractive sphere, cylinder, spherical equivalent or Kmax between the ACXL and SCXL groups; however, during year 2, ACXL regressed while SCXL continued to improve. After 2 years, there were significant differences in all visual, refractive and keratometric components between SCXL and both ACXL and TCXL (p < 0.0001) and between ACXL and TCXL (p < 0.0001). KC progressed in 5.4% of patients who had ACXL and 28.4% of those who had TCXL but in none of those who had SCXL. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis was documented in 43.3% of eyes that progressed postoperatively. Conclusion: SCXL was more effective for paediatric KC and achieved greater stability than either ACXL or TCXL, and ACXL was superior to TCXL. SCXL also achieved marked improvement in both myopia and spherical equivalent; however, these refractive outcomes were unpredictable and uncontrollable. TCXL had a 28.4% failure rate within 2 years. SCXL is preferable for management of paediatric KC.

Ultrathin tissue for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty can be safely prepared with minimal endothelial cell damage using a low-pulse energy, high-frequency femtosecond laser; however, the resulting stromal surface quality may not be optimal with this technique.

Aim of the Work:To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the biggest neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Itay Elbaroud City, Behera province, Egypt. Methods: We studied data of 240 newly born infants with gestational age (GA) ≤34 weeks or birth weight (BW) ≤2000 g or infants with unstable course who were admitted to the biggest NICU in Itay Elbaroud City, Behera province, Egypt, between October 1, 2018 and October 31, 2020. There is no standard screening system in Egypt. Furthermore, we had screened babies more than 1500 g, more than 32 weeks and found signs of ROP, so we decided to expand our inclusion criteria to include babies up to 2000 g of birth weight and up to 34 weeks gestational age in addition to older and heavier babies with unstable course in NICUs. Clinical information about perinatal neonates was collected by reviewing medical charts. The main outcomes are the incidence and severity of ROP. The relationship of clinical risk factors and the development of ROP were analyzed. Results: The overall incidence of ROP was 34.1%, and the overall incidence of type 1 ROP was 26.3% of infants. ROP was significantly associated with GA (odds ratio; OR: 6.8; (3.7-12.3), BW (OR: 4.1; 2.3-7.3), apnea, supplementary oxygen administration, and thrombocytopenia. Conclusion:The incidence of ROP is high in Itay Elbaroud city, Behera Province, Egypt. Immaturity, low birth weight, low gestational age, oxygen administration, apnea, thrombocytopenia, and jaundice are important risk factors for development of ROP.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in corneal biomechanics after LASIK and F-SMILE. Setting: Elite Eye Center, Tanta, Egypt. Design: Prospective, randomized, unmasked, interventional comparative case series. Patients and methods: A total of 60 eyes were equally divided into two groups; group A: received LASIK and group B: received F-SMILE. Pentacam and CorVis ST parameters were compared before and 6 months after procedures. P ⩽ 0.05 was used for significance of results. Results: bIOP decreased by 0.762 ± 1.211 mmHg in group A ( p = 0.092), and by 2.52 ± 1.389 mmHg in group B ( p < 0.001) and the difference between groups became significant ( p = 0.001). A1 increased significantly in group A only ( p = 0.036); while A2 decreased insignificantly in both groups. DAR increased significantly in both groups ( p < 0.001, p = 0.022), but the difference between groups remained insignificant ( p = 0.461). IR increased significantly in group A only ( p < 0.001) and the difference between groups became significant ( p = 0.026). ARTH decreased in both groups ( p = 0.245, p = 0.695) and the difference remained insignificant ( p = 0.928). SP-A1 decreased in group A by 8.89 ± 1.38 mmHg/mm ( p = 0.637), and by 32.6 ± 4.39 mmHg/mm in group B ( p < 0.001) and the postoperative difference between groups was significant ( p = 0.013). CBI increased significantly in group A ( p < 0.001), but insignificantly in group B ( p = 0.098) and postoperative difference between groups was highly significant ( p < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between change in CCT and corresponding changes in DAR, IR, and ARTH after surgery in both groups. Conclusion: The significant differences between groups postoperatively as regards bIOP ( p = 0.001), IR ( p = 0.026), SP-A1 ( p = 0.013), and CBI ( p < 0.001) indicate stiffer corneas after F-SMILE and suggest less influence on corneal biomechanics than LASIK.

Purpose To compare the safety and efficacy of standard 30 min epithelium‐off cross‐linking ( CXL ) versus photorefractive keratectomy ( PRK ) combined with accelerated epithelium‐off cross‐linking ( AXL ) for the treatment of progressive keratoconus ( CXL ‐Plus). Methods This study was a prospective multicentre comparative clinical study. A total of 125 eyes of 75 patients with grade 1 keratoconus and documented progression were divided into two groups. Group A included 58 eyes treated with standard CXL . Group B included 67 eyes treated with combined PRK and AXL . The recorded data included UDVA , CDVA , subjective and objective refraction, keratometry and pachymetry using corneal topographies preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of follow‐up. Results In group A, at 24 months of UDVA and CDVA were improved from 1.12 ± 0.38 and 0.58 ± 0.42 to 0.66 ± 0.20 and 0.20 ± 0.12 (Log MAR ± SD ). The spherical equivalent was reduced from 4.03 ± 1.18 to 1.78 ± 1.04 D. The cylinder reduction was 0.32 ± 0.19 D. In group B, at 24 months of UDVA and CDVA were improved from 1.26 ± 0.52 and 0.68 ± 0.36 to 0.58 ± 0.28 and 0.20 ± 0.16 (Log MAR ± SD ). The spherical equivalent was reduced from 4.23 ± 0.95 to 1.92 ± 0.74 D. The cylinder reduction was ±1.76 D. Conclusion Surprisingly, standard CXL showed close results to CXL ‐Plus at the 24th follow‐up month. Standard CXL acted as a stabilizing procedure associated with a late myopic component reduction. CXL ‐Plus acted as a refractive and stabilizing procedure with an early effect on both the myopic and the astigmatic component but no later improvements. Standard CXL seems to be more powerful than AXL in its long‐term effect. Therefore, in the future, we want to test the combination of PRK with standard CXL .

Postoperative results of DSAEK using donor tissue excluded from use in penetrating keratoplasty as a result of stromal flaws are equivalent to results using standard donor tissue. Central corneal thickness measurements should be performed before cutting to avoid tissue perforation. The use of ASF tissue for DSAEK will expand the cornea donor pool.