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A 36-year-old male underwent uneventful small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for the correction of his high residual refractive error 12 years after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Preoperatively, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was counting fingers in both eyes. Corrected distance visual acuity was 20/20 in the right and 20/30 in the left eye due to amblyopia. One month after SMILE, UDVA was 20/20 and 20/30 in the right and left eye, respectively; post-PRK corneal haze had reduced. During the 4-year follow-up, UDVA remained stable and there were no complications. SMILE could be a good alternative approach for retreatment in post-PRK patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare Plusoptix (Gmbh, Nuremberg, Germany), 2WIN (Adaptica, Padua, Italy), the benchtop refractometer (Auto-Kerato-Refractometer KR-8900; Topcon Co, Tokyo, Japan), and retinoscopy with regard to the consistencies.Materials and Methods: In our prospective study, 200 eyes of 100 patients were included. We analyzed the demographics and characteristics of the patients, the percentage of patients from whom measurements could not be obtained, the measurements from both patients' eyes of pupil diameter, spherical, cylindrical, axis, and spherical equivalence.Results: The mean age ± SD was 7.8±4.5 years (range, 1-18 years). Pupil diameter measurements were found to be consistent (Cronbach's alpha value >0.8). The sphere and spherical equivalence measurements for both eyes were found to be consistent with each other in all apparatus (Cronbach's alpha value >0.8). However, consistency was found to be lower in cylindrical values and the Jackson cross-cylinder measurements at 0° and 45° axis were found to be inconsistent with each other (Cronbach's alpha value <0.8).Conclusions: While consistency was observed in all methods in terms of sphere and spherical equivalence, consistency dropped in cylindrical values and no consistency was observed in axis values. It is important to take this point into consideration, especially in axis measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the functionality of a new design of a thick endocapsular open ring for prevention of anterior capsule opacification (ACO) and posterior capsule opacification (PCO). Setting: The Institute of Vision and Optics, University of Crete and University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Design: Prospective, interventional pilot study. Methods: Fifteen patients (17 eyes) underwent cataract surgery with phacoemulsification. During surgery, a thick endocapsular open ring (peripheral capsule reconstructor) was inserted into the capsular bag, prior to intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Six different models of IOL were implanted. Postoperatively, the degree of ACO and PCO was evaluated and described as none, mild, moderate, or severe. Results: The mean follow-up period was 30±8.06 months (range: 12-36 months). At the last follow-up, mild PCO was observed in only three eyes and mild ACO in three patients. The centration of IOLs was good in all but one eye, which had a tilted IOL. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study suggest that the implantation of a new design of thick endocapsular open ring is feasible and may contribute to the prevention of PCO and ACO after cataract surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study evaluated the feasibility of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) for the imaging of EX‑PRESS® implant. Materials and Methods: This nonrandomized comparative case series was performed at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. The Ellex Eye Cubed (40 MHz) UBM and the Zeiss Visante OCT systems were used. The filtering bleb morphology (BL), aqueous outflow (AS), and tube position (TB) were evaluated by two independent observers using a quality scale of 1 (worst) to 4 (best). Data were also collected on corneal and iris clearance from the tip of the tube (CC and IC, respectively). Data from both the devices were statistically analyzed. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Ten eyes of 10 patients (6 males) with EX‑PRESS® implant were examined. TB, AS, and BL scores using UBM were 2.40 ± 0.39, 3.45 ± 0.72, and 2.45 ± 0.64, respectively. TB, AS, and BL scores for OCT were 3.35 ± 0.41, 1.55 ± 0.43, and 2.55 ± 0.55, respectively. AS was significantly higher with UBM whereas the opposite was true for TB. Differences in BL between OCT and UBM were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Imaging of the EX‑PRESS® implant is feasible with both UBM and OCT. Both modalities allow visualization of the position of the implant tube in relation to the iris or cornea and delineate the internal structure of the filtering bleb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To present a case of fungal keratitis that was successfully treated with direct intrastromal medication delivery through a corneal incision created with the femtosecond laser.Methods: A 71-year-old female patient with recurrent episodes of an unresponsive, deep stromal keratitis for six months' duration, resistant to various therapeutic approaches, was referred to our institute. The 150 kHz Intralase iFS laser (Abbott Medical Optics Inc., Santa Ana, CA) was used to create a corneal pocket in an attempt to permit drug delivery directly into the corneal abscess.Results: Five days after the intrastromal injections, the clinical condition was improved. Two years after the procedure, the cornea is stable and free of any clinical signs or symptoms of recurrence.Conclusions: In this case report, an alternative application of femtosecond laser technology is presented, performing intrastromal drug delivery through a corneal incision for the treatment of fungal keratitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To review the current literature on in vivo confocal microscopy anterior segment applications (cornea, conjunctiva, and glaucoma) and discuss its advantages in different pathological conditions. Methods: Review of selected relevant literature on in vivo confocal microscopy and its different applications. Results: In vivo confocal microscopy can be used to visualize most layers of the cornea and conjunctiva, providing excellent resolution. In the past, it was mainly utilized as a research tool; lately there seems to be an increasing interest for clinical applications; confocal microscopy aids the diagnosis and follow-up of many anterior segment disorders, such as corneal dystrophies, corneal and conjunctival inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, glaucoma patients, and assessment of surgical procedures. Conclusion: In vivo confocal microscopy is an important addition to the ophthalmic diagnostic tools with several anterior segment applications. Its clinical applications are being continuously explored and are quickly expanding to cover many new pathological aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate combination treatment with reduced-fluence photodynamic therapy (RDPDT) with Verteporfin and intravitreal bevacizumab, compared to bevacizumab alone, for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized comparative study comprising 95 patients with CNV. 49 patients received RDPDT (25 J/cm2) followed by intravitreal bevacizumab 1.25 mg one hour later, while 46 received intravitreal bevacizumab alone. Patients were followed for 12 months at four-week intervals with visual acuity (VA) assessment and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of the macula. Bevacizumab re-injections were performed as needed. Results: On average, patients were re-injected 4.45 times in the combination group and 6.96 times in the bavacizumab group ( p < 0.001). At 12 months, VA improved by 8.64 letters in the bevacizumab group and by 8.37 letters in the combination group ( p = 0.922). Conclusion: Adding a reduced-fluence PDT arm in combination with bevacizumab offers similar results to those of intravitreal bevacizumab alone with significantly reduced number of injection repetitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study evaluated the feasibility of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) for the imaging of EX-PRESS(®) implant., Materials and Methods: This nonrandomized comparative case series was performed at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. The Ellex Eye Cubed (40 MHz) UBM and the Zeiss Visante OCT systems were used. The filtering bleb morphology (BL), aqueous outflow (AS), and tube position (TB) were evaluated by two independent observers using a quality scale of 1 (worst) to 4 (best). Data were also collected on corneal and iris clearance from the tip of the tube (CC and IC, respectively). Data from both the devices were statistically analyzed. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant., Results: Ten eyes of 10 patients (6 males) with EX-PRESS(®) implant were examined. TB, AS, and BL scores using UBM were 2.40 ± 0.39, 3.45 ± 0.72, and 2.45 ± 0.64, respectively. TB, AS, and BL scores for OCT were 3.35 ± 0.41, 1.55 ± 0.43, and 2.55 ± 0.55, respectively. AS was significantly higher with UBM whereas the opposite was true for TB. Differences in BL between OCT and UBM were not statistically significant (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Imaging of the EX-PRESS(®) implant is feasible with both UBM and OCT. Both modalities allow visualization of the position of the implant tube in relation to the iris or cornea and delineate the internal structure of the filtering bleb.