Given the broad range of causative organisms, routine treatment of dacryocystitis with any specific antibiotic may fail in up to one-third of patients. Obtaining a culture at the time empiric antibiotic treatment is initiated can prove extremely valuable when treating patients with dacryocystitis.

Purpose: To describe clinical outcomes of a minimally invasive technique for direct corneal neurotization to treat neurotrophic keratopathy. Methods: All cases of corneal neurotization for neurotrophic keratopathy performed by a single surgeon using minimally invasive direct corneal neurotization were reviewed. The supraorbital donor nerve was directly transferred to the cornea through an upper eyelid crease incision using either a combination of endoscopic and direct visualization or direct visualization alone. Detailed ocular and adnexal examinations as well as Cochet–Bonnet esthesiometry of the affected cornea were performed. Corneal histopathology and in vivo confocal microscopy after minimally invasive direct corneal neurotization were reviewed in one patient who underwent simultaneous penetrating keratoplasty. Results: Five consecutive cases in 4 patients were included, with a mean follow up of 15.8 months (range: 11–23 months). Average denervation time was 17.8 months (range: 6–24 months). Baseline corneal conditions were Mackie stage 1 (20%), Mackie stage 2 (40%), and Mackie stage 3 (40%). All patients demonstrated improvements in corneal sensibility and appearance postoperatively. All patients demonstrated stable or improved visual acuity. No patients developed persistent epithelial defects postoperatively, and all achieved return of tactile skin sensation in the donor nerve sensory distribution. In vivo confocal microscopy after minimally invasive direct corneal neurotization and simultaneous penetrating keratoplasty demonstrated regeneration of corneal nerves. Complications included an asymptomatic small bony excrescence lateral to the supraorbital notch in one patient and cataract progression in the patient who underwent penetrating keratoplasty. Conclusions: Minimally invasive direct corneal neurotization is a safe and effective treatment of neurotrophic keratopathy.

An 8-year-old boy presented for oculoplastic evaluation of bilateral microphthalmia. He had multiple other congenital anomalies, including microcephaly, wide-spaced teeth, sloping shoulders, protruding ears, syndactyly, a posterior urethral valve, cystic dysplasia of the kidneys, and a bicuspid aortic valve. Taken together, these findings supported the diagnosis of Lenz microphthalmia syndrome. CT of the orbits revealed bilateral microphthalmic globes with associated colobomatous cysts. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of Lenz microphthalmia syndrome with associated orbital cysts.

Purpose: To assess early outcomes of corneal neurotization for postherpetic neurotrophic keratopathy (NK). Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent corneal neurotization for postherpetic NK by a single experienced oculoplastic surgeon was performed. Collected data included stage and etiology of NK as well as comorbidities, prior treatment history, neurotization technique, donor nerve site, preoperative and postoperative examination findings (i.e., ocular surface quality, corneal clarity, corneal sensation by Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometry, and visual acuity [VA]), and follow-up duration. Differences between preoperative and postoperative values were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Of 23 adult patients who underwent corneal neurotization, 3 (13%) had history of herpes simplex keratitis and/or endotheliitis, and 4 (17%) had history of herpes zoster ophthalmicus. One patient with herpes zoster ophthalmicus was excluded due to inadequate follow-up duration. Of the 6 patients included in the study, 3 (50%) had Mackie stage 1 disease, 1 (17%) had stage 2, and 2 (33%) had stage 3 with impending perforation, but all had markedly diminished corneal sensation, with a median denervation time of 11.8 months (interquartile range [IQR] 9.4–29.2 months). Following neurotization, median corneal sensation improved significantly from 1.6 cm (interquartile range 0.0–1.9 cm) to 3.6 cm (IQR 3.0–5.6 cm, p = 0.028), with 1 patient achieving full sensation by postoperative month 5. All patients with a persistent epithelial defect preoperatively showed complete corneal healing by their last follow-up visit. VA also improved postoperatively in all patients (p = 0.028). Median follow-up duration was 11.3 months (interquartile range 9.6–17.9 months). Conclusions: Corneal neurotization can successfully reinnervate corneas previously devitalized by herpetic disease and halt the progressive nature of postherpetic NK. If utilized appropriately and early in the disease process, neurotization may reduce morbidity and maximize visual potential in postherpetic NK.

The authors propose an office-based, cost-effective, minimally invasive, sutureless technique for treating SOFP with local anesthesia in a safe and effective manner. The lack of complications or recurrence with an adequate follow-up period following this technique is encouraging. Surgeons should consider this technique in the surgical correction of SOFP.

No abstract

The Conducted Electrical Weapon is a weapon often used by law enforcement agencies as a method of less lethal means to subdue a suspect. Injuries to the eye with these devices are usually due to the projectile force of the metal probes that are released when these devices are engaged. The authors report what may be the first case of an impaled orbital TASER probe that required primary enucleation for globe perforation.

To describe the novel use of a bilayer dermal substitute to reconstruct exenterated orbits. A retrospective chart review was performed in the practices of two surgeons (RET and PDL) of all patients who had undergone orbital exenteration between April 2014 and June 2016 and whose subsequent reconstruction included lining the socket with Integra bilayer. Patient demographics, pathologic diagnoses, surgical and post-operative complications, graft integrity, and patient acceptance were recorded. The charts of 7 patients (4 men and 3 women, ages 60-87 years) were reviewed. In all cases, the Integra graft had taken well to the socket bed at the time of silicone removal 3-4 weeks after surgery. Epithelialization of the socket occurred rapidly over the Integra graft (within several weeks) without incident in each case and with minimal postoperative management. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were noted. Integra dermal substitute is an ideal graft for the lining of an exenterated orbit. It is readily available in large quantities, handles easily, lines the socket smoothly, epithelializes rapidly, and requires minimal postoperative care. It offers minimal morbidity compared to skin grafting or free flap reconstruction, but greatly speeds epithelialization compared to laissez faire management. Surgeons should consider reconstructing exenterated orbits with the Integra matrix, both for its ease of use and its ability to epithelialize rapidly.