PurposeTo report surgical therapies for corneal perforations in a tertiary referral hospital.MethodsThirty-one eyes of 31 patients (aged 62.4±18.3 years) with surgically treated corneal perforations from January 2002 to July 2013 were included in this study. Demographic data such as cause of corneal perforation, surgical procedures, and visual outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsThe causes of corneal perforation (n=31) were divided into infectious (n=8, 26%) and noninfectious (n=23, 74%) categories. Infectious causes included fungal ulcer, herpetic stromal necrotizing keratitis, and bacterial ulcer. The causes of noninfectious keratopathy included corneal melting after removal of a metal foreign body, severe dry eye, lagophthalmos, canaliculitis, the oral anticancer drug S-1, keratoconus, rheumatoid arthritis, neurotrophic ulcer, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, and unknown causes. Initial surgical procedures included central large corneal graft (n=17), small corneal graft (n=7), and amniotic membrane transplantation (n=7). In two cases the perforation could not be sealed during the first surgical treatment and required subsequent procedures. All infectious keratitis required central large penetrating keratoplasty to obtain anatomical cure. In contrast, several surgical options were used for the treatment of noninfectious keratitis. After surgical treatment, anatomical cure was obtained in all cases. Mean postoperative best corrected visual acuity was better at 6 months (logMAR 1.3) than preoperatively (logMAR 1.8).ConclusionSurgical therapies for corneal perforations in our hospital included central large lamellar/penetrating keratoplasty, small peripheral patch graft, and amniotic membrane transplantation. All treatments were effective. Corneal perforation due to the oral anticancer drug S-1 is newly reported.

Purpose: To restore vision in complex eyes with coexisting anterior and posterior segment problems, combined corneal transplantation (penetrating keratoplasty [PK] or Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty [DSAEK]), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), and/or flanged intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation, designated vitreocorneal surgery are performed. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of vitreocorneal surgery for eyes with complex comorbidities. Methods: Thirteen consecutive eyes in 13 patients with coexisting corneal pathology (ie, corneal scarring, bullous keratoplasty, corneal laceration) and posterior segment pathology (ie, aphakia without capsular support, retinal detachment, intravitreal foreign body) underwent vitreocorneal surgery. Visual outcomes, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and additional surgery were retrospectively evaluated. Results: Vitreocorneal surgery included PK + PPV + intrascleral IOL fixation (n = 5), PK + PPV (n = 3), PK + intrascleral IOL fixation (n = 1), DSAEK + intrascleral IOL fixation (n = 1), and DSAEK + PPV + intrascleral IOL fixation (n = 3). An intraoperative Eckardt temporary keratoprosthesis use enabled safe PPV. No vitreoretinal/IOL complications occurred. One eye required repeat DSAEK to repair endothelial graft detachment and inversion. In 3 eyes, secondary glaucoma was subsequently treated by glaucoma drainage device implantation through the pars plana. Mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (logMAR) improved from 1.8 ± 0.9 preoperatively to 1.1 ± 0.6 at 11.2 ± 14.6 months postoperatively (P = 0.002). Postoperative refraction was −0.68 ± 2.56 D (spherical equivalent). Conclusions: PK or DSAEK with PPV and/or flanged intrascleral IOL fixation is useful for complex eyes with coexisting anterior and posterior segment problems.

PurposeTo report the first case of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) for bullous keratopathy (BK) secondary to argon laser iridotomy (ALI).PatientA 71-year-old woman presented with decreased visual acuity in her right eye due to BK secondary to ALI that was performed 10 years prior.ResultsPhacosurgery was performed first, followed by successful DMEK 4 months later. A DMEK shooter was used for donor insertion, which allowed for a stable anterior chamber during donor insertion, even when the anterior chamber was quite shallow. Also, removal of edematous epithelial cells and endoillumination probe-assisted DMEK was quite useful to visualize DMEK graft on the background of the dark brown iris seen in Asian eyes. The patient’s best corrected visual acuity rapidly increased from 20/200 to 25/20 after 1 month, with complete resolution of corneal edema.ConclusionWe reported the first successful DMEK case for BK secondary to ALI. The use of a DMEK shooter for donor insertion and endoillumination assistance to visualize the DMEK graft was a useful technique for BK secondary to ALI.

PurposeTo report a 10-year review of endothelial keratoplasty (EK) procedures, Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK), and underlying diseases at a tertiary referral hospital in Japan.Study designA single-center, retrospective case series.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed all medical records of bullous keratopathy (BK) surgically treated by EK (DSAEK/DMEK) at Kanazawa University Hospital from January 2007 to December 2016. Changes or modifications to the annual number of EK procedures and underlying diseases were analyzed.ResultsDuring this period, 320 EK procedures (DSAEK: 288 cases, DMEK: 32 cases) were performed on 250 patients. Total annual EKs gradually increased from 19 to 45 cases between 2007 and 2016. The annual number of DSAEKs was stable, although the proportion of DSAEKs to other procedures decreased significantly as re-DSAEKs and DMEKs increased. BK after argon laser iridotomy (ALI) was the leading cause in 2007, followed by Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy (FED) and failed penetrating keratoplasty. In 2016, BK after trabeculectomy (TLE) was most prevalent, followed by failed DSAEK, failed penetrating keratoplasty, and pseudophakic BK. The decreased ALI and FED, and increased BK after TLE and failed DSAEK were statistically significant.ConclusionThe distribution of EK procedures (DSAEK/DMEK) and underlying diseases changed over 10 years at a tertiary referral hospital in Japan. The proportion of re-DSAEK and DMEK increased among all EK procedures. Most significantly, among the underlying diseases, decreased ALI and FED and increased TLE and failed DSAEK were observed. Extended multicenter analysis may further elucidate the changes in EK procedures and the causes of BK in Japan.

Although endothelial damage of internationally shipped prestripped donor tissue for DMEK was higher than that of precut DSAEK donor, it was extremely low. Further evaluation using another vital dye and clinical studies may be needed to confirm this study.