Scedosporium scleritis following pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft

A 67-year-old female presented 6 months following left pterygium surgery with autoconjunctival graft with presumed episcleritis. Following a trial of topical dexamethasone, she returned with pain, reduced vision, and a donor-site scleral nodule. MRI orbits demonstrated scleritis; oral prednisolone was commenced for presumed immune-mediated scleritis. Ten days later, vision reduced to light-perception with significant vitritis overlying a subretinal lesion associated with the donor site. Vitreous tap cultured Scedosporium aurantiacum. Treatment consisted of vitrectomy, scleral debridement with corneal patch graft, with both systemic and intravitreal voriconazole. Further scleral debridement was attempted but unable to be completed due to its posterior extent. As repeat MRI orbits showed persistent active scleritis in proximity to the optic nerve which posed a risk of meningitis, a decision was made for enucleation. This case highlights the difficulties in distinguishing between infectious and autoimmune scleritis, and the importance of excluding infection, particularly in eyes with prior surgery.

Usage of E-Polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) Membrane for Managing Trabeculectomy Flap- Related Over-Filtration Due to Unavailability of Scleral Patch Graft during Nation-Wide Lockdown

Scleral flap tears during trabeculectomy are difficult to repair in a predictable fashion. Donor scleral flap reinforcements are commonly preferred for managing trabeculectomy flap-related over-filtration, leading to shallow anterior chamber (AC). Due to the advent of COVID-19 lockdown, especially in the initial phases, eye banking activities almost came to a standstill, with almost no corneal and/or scleral tissue retrievals. Hence, in this manuscript we have presented a mini case series with follow-up of two of our cases; where Gore-Tex (e-polytetrafluoroethylene) implant was used as an alternative to scleral patch graft, for managing trabeculectomy flap-related over-filtration, with their pros and cons. Though Gore-Tex implant stability in both cases were contentious, it still served the purpose of managing the flap-related over- filtration and subsequent shallow AC.

A Challenging Management of Pseudomonas Perforated Corneal Ulcer with Multilayer Amniotic Membrane Transplantation and Pericardial Patch Graft in Pediatric Patient

Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is the leading cause of corneal ulcers in children 0 to 3 years of age compared to children in general. Case presentation: A two-months-old infant presented with whitish patches on the right eye two days before admission. A central corneal ulcer with a size of 7-mm x 7-mm accompanied by corneal thinning and melting was shown on the right cornea. It is was surrounded by greyish white creamy infiltrates. Corneal scraping showed Pseudomonas aeruginosa specimens. The cornea became perforate and crystalline lens extrusion was found at the day after intravenous ceftriaxone, levofloxacin eye drop, and cefazoline fortified eye drop administering. It might be caused by bacterial elastase and toxin which contributed to corneal damage. The patient was underwent a multilayer Amniotic Membrane Transplantation (AMT) combined with a pericardial patch graft due to corneal perforation. Two months post-AMT and pericardial patch graft the corneal perforation became entirely heal due to multilayer AMT, despite lysis of the pericardial patch graft. Corneal scar formation and reduction of vitreous opacity in ultrasound examination were shown. The patient was planned to undergo keratoplasty. Conclusions: Corneal ulcers due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa are highly destructive. The levels of infection, diagnostic, and therapeutic are still problems in pediatric patients. Lens extrusion and lysis of the pericardial patch graft are examples in this case. Keratoplasty is the definitive treatment for corneal ulcers with perforation; however, multilayer AMT combined with pericardial patch graft can be used as an alternative therapy to accelerate wound healing, reduce inflammation, and maintain the integrity of the eyeball.

Corynebacterium ocular infection after Baerveldt glaucoma implant surgery: treatment involving immediate tube withdrawal and temporary subconjunctival tube placement: a case report

Background We report a case of Corynebacterium endophthalmitis secondary to tube exposure following Baerveldt glaucoma implant surgery that was successfully treated with prompt tube withdrawal and temporary subconjunctival tube placement without removing the glaucoma drainage device. Case presentation A 65-year-old Japanese man with secondary glaucoma underwent glaucoma drainage device surgery with a donor scleral patch graft in the inferonasal quadrant of his right eye. Ten months after surgery, he presented with tube exposure due to dehiscence of the overlying conjunctiva and erosion of the scleral patch graft. Eleven days later, mild inflammation was found in the anterior chamber and anterior vitreous body, with the root of the tube surrounded by a plaque at the site of insertion in the anterior chamber. He was diagnosed with infectious endophthalmitis secondary to tube exposure. Two days later, since medical therapy was ineffective, the tube was withdrawn from the anterior chamber and irrigated with a polyvinyl alcohol-iodine solution, and the tube was tucked into the subconjunctival space. Complete resolution of the infection was achieved 1.5 months later. The tube was reinserted nasally into the anterior chamber and covered with a scleral patch graft and a free limbal conjunctival autograft. Thereafter, there has been no recurrence of infection or tube exposure. Twenty eight months after tube reinsertion, his right best-corrected visual acuity was 20/50 and intraocular pressure was 12 mmHg. Conclusion Prompt tube withdrawal and temporary subconjunctival tube placement followed by tube reinsertion may be effective for endophthalmitis associated with tube exposure after glaucoma drainage device surgery.

Minimally invasive harvesting fascia lata (FL) in ophthalmic plastic surgery

Purpose: To describe a minimally invasive technique of harvesting fascia lata, and also to analyze the clinical uses and the outcome of fascia lata in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive surgery. Methods: This interventional study was done in three tertiary care eye hospitals in Bangladesh from July 2014 to June 2020. We obtained autologous fascia lata for the correction of congenital ptosis with poor levator function (⩽4 mm), covering the ciliary staphyloma, repair of the extruded implant following anophthalmic socket surgery, and was also used to wrap the orbital implant after enucleation. Preserved FL was used only for children before 6 years of age for the treatment of congenital ptosis. Results: Out of 60 subjects, 38 (63.3%) were male and 22 (36.7%) were female. Autogenous fascia lata was used for frontalis brow suspension (FBS) in 25 (41.67%) patients of congenital ptosis with poor levator function, as patch graft in ciliary staphyloma (11 cases, 18.3%), to wrap orbital implant following enucleation in intraocular malignancies (nine cases, 15%), to repair of implant extrusion following evisceration (five cases, 8.3%), and as fascial sling to correct recurrent paralytic ectropion (one case, 1.67%). Allogeneic or preserved fascia lata was used to correct congenital ptosis in patients less than 6 years of age (nine cases, 15%). Mean follow-up time was 5.32 months. Conclusion: Fascia lata (autogenous and allogeneic preserved) has varied uses in ophthalmic plastic surgery. Harvesting fascia lata (FL) using with minimally invasive method was successful with the least scar on the thigh to correct congenital ptosis, ciliary staphyloma, repair of extruded implant, and in wrapping implant after enucleation to get better cosmesis and motility.

Erosion of conjunctiva over the suture knot with a leak in an eye with a non-flow restrictive aqueous drainage device

We report a case of conjunctival erosion due to ligature suture knot exposure following Aurolab aqueous drainage device (AADI) implantation. A 48-year-old man, a known case of primary angle-closure glaucoma, had failed trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C and Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) in the right eye. The right eye had a large posterior AGV bleb with hypertropia and limitation of extraocular movement on downward gaze and uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP). An inferonasal AADI was performed uneventfully. At the 1-month postoperative visit, a small conjunctival erosion was noted over the ligature (6-0 vicryl) suture knot. However, there was no leak. Two weeks later, there was hypotony and a leak was noted at the site of the absorbed ligature. Immediate surgical repair was performed by re-ligature of the AADI tube with 8-0 vicryl and the ligature knot was placed under the scleral patch graft and the conjunctival defect was sutured. Early intervention helped in successfully healing the conjunctival erosion, reversal of the hypotony and well-controlled IOP. Adequate covering of the entire subconjunctival tube including its ligated part by a patch graft may prevent this complication.

TAG (Tube and Graft) Sandwich Technique: A Novel Single-Stage Scleral Reinforcement and Aqueous Drainage Tube Implantation

Purpose. Refractory glaucoma patients continue to require surgical intervention in the form of trabeculectomy surgery or glaucoma drainage device (GDD). Those patients that require a GDD but have thin sclera or scleromalacia present a challenge. Methods. In this article, we present a novel “TAG sandwich” single surgical procedure in which thinned sclera is reinforced with a pericardial patch graft (“bottom layer of the sandwich”) allowing safe implantation of the GDD (“the tube sandwich filling”) and then placing another patch graft on top of the tube part of the GDD (“top layer of the sandwich”). The surgery was performed on an open-angle glaucoma patient with a generalized thin sclera and uncontrolled intraocular pressure despite maximal topical medication and oral acetazolamide. Results. Reinforcing a compromised sclera with a pericardium patch graft allowed the safe implantation of a glaucoma drainage device. The patient’s intraocular pressure was safely controlled at 7 mmHg almost 1-year postsurgery without intraocular pressure-lowering drops. Conclusions. This scleral strengthening procedure can be considered by readers in other ocular surgeries where there is a risk of scleral perforation, as well as part of a combined surgery where refractory glaucoma patients with thin sclera require scleral reinforcement to allow for safer implantation of a glaucoma drainage device.