INTRODUCTION:The association of a granulomatous uveitis and congenital cataract and is rarely observed in newborn children. We describe the history of two patients presenting simultaneously with these two features in the absence of a TORCH infection.PATIENTS AND METHODS:The first patient, a boy born in 1997, presented to our hospital two days after birth with multiples Koeppe's and Busacca's nodules and bilateral cataract. The second patient, a boy born in 2006, was referred two weeks after birth. He presented with a severe unilateral granulomatous uveitis, multiples iris nodules, a high intraocular pressure of 45 mmHg and a congenital cataract.THERAPY AND OUTCOME:Lens extraction produced a rapid resolution of uveitis in these two patients. TORCH infection was ruled out in both children by history, extensive serologies performed simultaneously in mother and child or PCR of ocular fluids.CONCLUSIONS:A congenital cataract associated with a granulomatous uveitis is an extremely rare association. The removal of the lens resulted in complete resolution of the inflammation: a phacogenic mechanism could be at the origin of ocular inflammation in both cases.

PURPOSE:The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibiotic treatment of postoperative endophthalmitis with combined systemic meropenem and linezolid. METHODS:A retrospective analysis of endophthalmitis treated with systemic meropenem and linezolid compared to conventional systemic antibiotics by evaluation of outcome and adverse effects was carried out. RESULTS:26 patients with unilateral postoperative endophthalmitis with a systemic combination regimen of meropenem (2 g TID, mean duration of treatment 5.5 days) and linezolid (600 mg BID, mean duration of treatment 8.9 days) (group 1, mean follow-up time 140 days) were included in this study and compared to 45 postoperative endophthalmitis patients treated with conventional systemic antibiotics (group 2; mean follow-up time 320 days). In group 1, 69.2 % of eyes additionally received intravitreal amikacin and vancomycin (vs. 24.4 % in group 2; p < 0.001), in 92.3 % pars plana vitrectomy was performed (vs. 68.9 % in group 2, p = 0.047). Mean best corrected visual acuity improved from a baseline of 1.76 logMar for group 1 and 1.83 logMar for group 2 to 0.91 logMar (p = 0.0001) and 0.90 logMar (p < 0.0001), respectively, at the end of the follow-up, revealing no significant differences between the two groups at any time point (p > 0.05). Ocular complications were observed in 34.6 % of eyes in group 1 (vs. 37.8 % in group 2; p > 0.05). Adverse drug effects occurred significantly more frequently in group 1 (26.9 % vs. 4.4 % p = 0.02). CONCLUSION:In spite of the reported better penetration through the blood-ocular barrier and the broader antibacterial spectrum of meropenem and linezolid, no benefit in outcome was found in the present study. In contrast, adverse effects and costs of the combination regimen were significantly higher.

Aims: To compare the outcome of prophylactic oral valacyclovir (VAL) or oral acyclovir treatment (ACV) in patients having undergone penetrating keratoplasty for herpetic keratitis (HK).Methods: All patients having received a penetrating keratoplasty for HK and being treated postoperatively with either oral VAL or oral ACV (inclusion period from 12/97 to 3/06 and 5/92 to 9/96, respectively) were retrospectively evaluated. Records were analysed for postoperative reactivation of recurrent HK, graft rejection, endothelial cell loss, central corneal thickness and visual acuity after a follow-up of up to 5 years.Results: Twenty patients received VAL and were compared with 19 patients being treated with ACV. Two patients developed clinical signs of recurrent herpetic disease in the VAL group compared with three patients in the ACV group. Two patients from both groups each developed an irreversible graft failure. Best corrected visual acuity improved in both treatment groups from baseline (logMAR) -1.97 (VAL), -1.47 (ACV) to -0.85, -0.72, respectively, at the 1-year follow-up and slightly deteriorated after 5 years in the ACV group (-0.71 VAL vs -1.14 ACV).Conclusion: Prophylactic oral VAL treatment is at least as effective as ACV in preventing recurrence in patients who underwent corneal transplantation for HK. The tolerability of the two drugs is similar, but the dosing for VAL might be more comfortable for patients.

Ziel: Patienten und Methoden: Ergebnisse: Schlussfolgerungen: Purpose: Patients and Methods: Results: Conclusion:

BACKGROUND:A retrospective evaluation was undertaken of eyelid reconstruction with amniotic membrane or oral mucosal membrane transplantation in patients with lower lid cicatricial entropion after orbital surgery.PATIENTS AND METHODS:Seven patients (four women) were treated with a scar tissue dissection and an amniotic membrane or mucosal membrane transplantation between 2003 and 2006 (Five amniotic membrane grafts and two oral mucosal membrane grafts). In selected cases additional procedures like a lateral tarsal strip operation, a tarsal fracture, or the reinsertion of the lower lid retractors were performed.RESULTS:All patients showed a favourable postoperative result with a good anatomic correction of the entropion and a regression of the preoperative disturbances. All the grafts took well. Two patients had to be reoperated twice and one patient three times as a result of a relapse of the cicatricial entropion. However, as well in these patients the anatomical and functional result was favourable at the end.CONCLUSIONS:The difficult scar dissection with the subsequent amniotic membrane or oral mucosal membrane transplantation seems to be an appropriate procedure to reconstruct complicated cicatricial entropion after orbital surgery.

BACKGROUND:Fusarium has been an exceptionally rare cause of infectious keratitis. A recent outbreak of Fusarium keratitis in contact lens wearers in North America and Asia has been associated with the multipurpose disinfection solution ReNu with MoistureLoc (Bausch&Lomb). We report a series of Fusarium keratitis in Swiss contact lens wearers.PATIENTS AND METHODS:A multicentre retrospective case review of patients with corneal ulceration and a positive microbiological identification of Fusarium species was undertaken.RESULTS:Between September 2005 and August 2007, six cases of Fusarium keratitis were identified. Patients were 39 to 63 years of age. All patients were using disposable soft contact lenses for at least two years. Four patients used daily wear disposable lenses. Two patients were wearing 1-monthly disposable lenses and used ReNu with MoistureLoc solution. Due to multiresistant Fusarium, enucleation was required in two cases and an emergency keratoplasty was performed in three cases. An optical keratoplasty was undertaken in one case that developed corneal scarring. Final visual acuity in patients with preserved eyes ranged from light perception to 8 / 20.CONCLUSIONS:Exposure to ReNu with MoistureLoc is not the only risk factor for Fusarium keratitis. In addition to antifungal therapy, an early keratoplasty with excision of the infected tissue seems mandatory to improve prognosis.

Donepezil, a selective acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, has been shown to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in ocular normotensive rabbit eyes. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of oral donepezil on IOP and pupil diameter after mid-term oral treatment in normotensive persons. Thirty-two newly diagnosed Alzheimer patients with normal IOP and no further antiglaucomatous treatment were included in the study. IOP and pupil diameter Were evaluated before and 4 weeks after daily intake of 5 mg donepezil. IOP and pupil diameter were significantly lower/smaller after 4 weeks of treatment. The mean IOP of all 63 eyes was 14.1 mmHg before and 12.8 mmHg after treatment (8.8% reduction). Mean pupil diameter constricted from 3.9 to 3.6 mm (-7.4%). These findings show that donepezil, and, possibly, other selective AChE inhibitors, can potentially be used to treat glaucoma. They are also known to have neuroprotective effects in Alzheimer's, and, therefore, might have an additional therapeutic benefit.

François-Neetens fleck corneal dystrophy (CFD) is a rare, autosomal dominant corneal dystrophy characterized by numerous small white flecks scattered in all layers of the stroma. Linkage analysis localized CFD to a 24-cM (18-Mb) interval of chromosome 2q35 flanked by D2S2289 and D2S126 and containing PIP5K3. PIP5K3 is a member of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase family and regulates the sorting and traffic of peripheral endosomes that contain lysosomally directed fluid phase cargo, by controlling the morphogenesis and function of multivesicular bodies. Sequencing analysis disclosed missense, frameshift, and/or protein-truncating mutations in 8 of 10 families with CFD that were studied, including 2256delA, 2274delCT, 2709C-->T (R851X), 3120C-->T (Q988X), IVS19-1G-->C, 3246G-->T (E1030X), 3270C-->T (R1038X), and 3466A-->G (K1103R). The histological and clinical characteristics of patients with CFD are consistent with biochemical studies of PIP5K3 that indicate a role in endosomal sorting.

Purpose of this retrospective study was to analyse the outcome of deep lamellar keratoplasty.The records of 9 patients with deep lamellar keratoplasty were reviewed. Age, sex, systemic diseases, indication for surgery, pre- and postoperative visual acuity and findings, visual acuity and findings at last follow-up and complications were noted.Nine eyes of 9 patients have been operated with the "big bubble" technique described by Anwar. Indications for operation were keratoconus (4), keratoglobus (1), central corneal scar after keratitis (3) and after alkali burn (1). In 3 cases the intraoperative technique had to be changed to penetrating keratoplasty. The preoperative visual acuity was 0.2 to 0.3. All 9 patients showed a postoperative improvement of visual acuity: best corrected from 0.3 to 0.8. In one eye particles in the interface were found. At last follow-up all grafts were clear. There were no postoperative complications.The results demonstrate that deep lamellar keratoplasty is a technically difficult procedure, in 3 out of 9 patients the operation method failed. The postoperative course after deep lamellar keratoplasty did not show any severe complications. The patients who had to be changed to penetrating keratoplasty were not disadvantaged in respect of the final result (visual acuity and findings). The postoperative visual acuities after deep lamellar keratoplasty and after penetrating keratoplasty were comparable. Despite the small number of patients and the relatively short observation period, we noticed that after deep lamellar keratoplasty the sutures could tendentially be removed earlier and thus the duration of topic steroids therapy was shorter compared to penetrating keratoplasty.

Background: Amphotericin B (AmB) and various lipid formulations of AmB are available for the treatment of fungal infections of the eye. Currently, the recommended route of administration for the treatment of fungal keratitis is by topical application. Nevertheless, because of the risk of a difficult to treat exogenous fungal endophthalmitis, a combined topical and systemic treatment is frequently given when treating deep fungal keratitis. To date, little is known about the pure corneal availability of these drugs following systemic treatment. In this study, the corneal concentration following 7 daily doses of parenteral AmB lipid complex (ABLC) or liposomal AmB (L-AmB) was compared to that of AmB deoxycholate (D-AmB) in a rabbit model. Methods: Following induction of uveitis in one rabbit eye by intravitreal injection of endotoxin, daily doses of D-AmB (1 mg/kg), ABLC (5 mg/kg) or L-AmB (5 mg/kg) were given intravenously on 7 consecutive days. Five or more rabbits per treatment were used. AmB concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in corneas collected at autopsy 24 h after the 7th and final dose. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: After 7 days of treatment, mean corneal concentrations of AmB in the inflamed eyes were significantly higher (2.38 ± 1.47 µg/g; p < 0.01) following treatment with L-AmB compared with ABLC (<0.1 µg/g) and D-AmB (0.46 ± 0.2 µg/g). No AmB could be detected in the corneas of the non-inflamed eyes. Conclusion: In our rabbit model, AmB penetration into the cornea was significantly higher after systemic administration of L-AmB compared with conventional D-AmB or ABLC.

BACKGROUND:The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the outcome of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) performed at the University Eye Clinic Bern during the last 12 months.PATIENTS AND METHODS:Nine men (62.4 +/- 16.7 yrs.) and four women (78.3 +/- 22.3 yrs.) were treated with an AMT and grouped according to the ophthalmologic diagnosis: Group A, chronic corneal surface defect without limbal stem cell deficiency (n = 8); Group B, conjunctival fornix reconstruction (n = 7); Group C, filtering bleb defect (n = 2).RESULTS:11/17 (65 %) AMT's performed in 14 eyes of 13 patients showed a favorable postoperative result after a mean follow-up time of 8.7 (+/- 2.9) months. In Group A (chronic corneal surface defect) 4/8, in Group B (conjunctival fornix defect) 7/7 and in Group C (filtering bleb defect) 0/2 showed an improvement of the basic ocular problem. 4/8 patients from Group A and 7/7 patients of Group B showed postoperatively a strong reduction of the ocular inflammation.CONCLUSIONS:In the present small study, favorable results were achieved in patients with chronic corneal surface defects without limbal stem cell deficiency and conjunctival fornix defects following AMT. In patients with fornix defects, the AMT seemed to be a valuable alternative to the more complicated transplantation of mouth- or nose mucous membrane. The two eyes with filtering defects failed.

Background: Purpose of this retrospective study was to analyse the outcome of deep lamellar keratoplasty. Patients and methods: The records of 9 patients with deep lamellar keratoplasty were reviewed. Age, sex, systemic diseases, indication for surgery, pre- and postoperative visual acuity and findings, visual acuity and findings at last follow-up and complications were noted. Results: Nine eyes of 9 patients have been operated with the "big bubble" technique described by Anwar. Indications for operation were keratoconus (4), keratoglobus (1), central corneal scar after keratitis (3) and after alkali burn (1). In 3 cases the intraoperative technique had to be changed to penetrating keratoplasty. The preoperative visual acuity was 0.2 to 0.3. All 9 patients showed a postoperative improvement of visual acuity: best corrected from 0.3 to 0.8. In one eye particles in the interface were found. At last follow-up all grafts were clear. There were no postoperative complications. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that deep lamellar keratoplasty is a technically difficult procedure, in 3 out of 9 patients the operation method failed. The postoperative course after deep lamellar keratoplasty did not show any severe complications. The patients who had to be changed to penetrating keratoplasty were not disadvantaged in respect of the final result (visual acuity and findings). The postoperative visual acuities after deep lamellar keratoplasty and after penetrating keratoplasty were comparable. Despite the small number of patients and the relatively short observation period, we noticed that after deep lamellar keratoplasty the sutures could tendentially be removed earlier and thus the duration of topic steroids therapy was shorter compared to penetrating keratoplasty.

ABSTRACT Candida albicans is the most frequent cause of fungal keratitis in temperate regions. Caspofungin has potent activity against Candida spp. in a variety of clinical settings. Little is known, however, about its activity against fungal keratitis. We compared the efficacy of topical caspofungin with that of topical amphotericin B (AMB) in a rabbit model of experimental keratomycosis. Keratitis was induced with a standardized inoculum of Candida albicans (SC 5314) placed on the debrided cornea. Twenty-four hours after infection, animals were randomly assigned to treatment with 0.15% caspofungin, 0.5% caspofungin, 0.15% AMB, and a saline control ( n = 12 rabbits in each group). For the first 12 h, treatment was repeated every 30 min and, after a 12-h pause, was resumed at hourly intervals for another 12 h. The animals were examined and killed 12 h after administration of the last dose. Treatment effects were evaluated by clinical assessment, fungal culture, and histopathology. Drug treatment significantly reduced corneal fungal recovery from 3.78 log 10 CFU in saline-treated animals to 2.97, 1.76, and 1.18 log 10 CFU in animals treated with 0.15% caspofungin, 0.5% caspofungin, and 0.15% AMB, respectively. By histopathology, the mean hyphal density was significantly lower in the corneas of treated animals than in those of the controls; there was no difference in hyphal densities between the different treatment groups. The depth of corneal invasion was not significantly reduced by the antifungal treatments. By clinical assessment, keratitis progressed in animals treated with saline, whereas disease progression was inhibited by all drug treatment regimens. In our rabbit model, 0.5% caspofungin was as effective as 0.15% AMB for the topical treatment of Candida keratitis. The potential clinical efficacy of caspofungin awaits further investigation.