Biomedical subjects

Irving M Raber

Publications and source records attributed to Irving M Raber.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Successful management of aniridic ocular surface disease with long-term bandage contact lens wear.

PURPOSE: To present an aniridic patient with failed penetrating keratoplasties OU (PK) who underwent successful repeat PK OD, which has remained clear for 4 years with continuous bandage lens (BCL) wear. METHODS: A 73-year-old aniridic woman who had a failed PK complicated by ocular surface disease refused limbal stem cell transplantation and underwent repeat PK in her right eye. The immediate postoperative course was uneventful except for mild irregularity of the graft epithelium. Two months postoperatively, she presented with an epithelial defect along the inferotemporal graft margin adjacent to an exposed, loose interrupted suture. The suture was removed, and although the initial epithelial defect healed, she suffered recurrent episodes of epithelial breakdown and generalized whorl epitheliopathy. A BCL was inserted and rendered prompt healing of the graft epithelium, which has remained smooth and intact for 4 years. RESULTS: The graft remains thin and clear with a smooth and intact epithelial surface beneath the BCL and no signs of limbal stem-cell deficiency. CONCLUSION: Long-term BCL wear provided good corneal transplant surface protection in an aniridic patient with recurrent epithelial breakdown, thereby sparing the need for limbal stem cell transplantation and the use of potentially toxic systemic immunosuppressive therapy. Meticulous follow-up is required to monitor contact lens loss and epithelial breakdown as well as signs of secondary infectious keratitis.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

New onset of herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To report a series of patients with no previous history of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection who had new onset of herpetic keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty (PK). DESIGN: Noncontrolled, retrospective case series. METHODS: We included in the study the patients who had new onset of herpetic keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty for corneal diseases unrelated to HSV infection who were seen at the Cornea Service at Wills Eye Hospital (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) from January 1996 to December 2002. The diagnosis of HSV epithelial keratitis was based on clinical characteristics of either a classic herpetic dendrite, a geographic ulcer, or a nonhealing epithelial defect that responded only to antiviral therapy. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were included in the study. Eight of these (57%) had presented with a geographic ulcer whereas six patients (43%) had a classic dendrite. The most common primary corneal disease that led to PK was pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (36%), followed by keratoconus (29%), Fuchs dystrophy (21%), and corneal scar unrelated to HSV (14%). CONCLUSIONS: The ophthalmologist should be aware of the possibility of herpetic keratitis in eyes after PK, even in patients with no previous history of HSV infection.

Acyclovir↗

PubMed2004

Ferrara intracorneal ring implantation and cataract surgery for the correction of pellucid marginal corneal degeneration.

We report a case of Ferrara intracorneal ring (Mediphacos) implantation and cataract surgery for the correction of pellucid marginal corneal degeneration. Preoperatively, the patient's uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 0.05 in the right eye and 0.10 in the left eye. The best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was 0.50 with -2.00 -11.25 x 80 in the right eye and 0.60 with -2.00 -5.50 x 95 in the left eye. One month postoperatively, the UCVA was 0.50 in the right eye and 0.30 in the left eye. The BSCVA was 0.80 with -1.00 in the right eye and 0.60 with -0.75 -1.25 x 160 in the left eye. Ferrara intrastromal rings and cataract surgery resulted in a more regular corneal shape with a reduction in astigmatism for good visual recovery.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Conjunctival metastasis as initial sign of disseminated cutaneous melanoma.

PURPOSE: To describe a patient with conjunctival metastasis as the initial manifestation of metastasis from a cutaneous melanoma. DESIGN: Single interventional case report. METHODS: A 48-year-old woman with a history of cutaneous axillary melanoma developed a rapidly growing conjunctival mass. Subsequent systemic evaluation disclosed asymptomatic liver metastasis. The conjunctival lesion was resected. RESULTS: Histopathologic evaluation of the conjunctival tumor disclosed an epithelioid cell melanoma located in the conjunctival stroma, without appreciable junctional activity, compatible with metastatic melanoma. CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival metastasis from cutaneous melanoma can rarely be the initial manifestation of disseminated melanoma.

Conjunctival Neoplasms↗

PubMed2003

Epithelial ingrowth in a phakic corneal transplant patient after traumatic wound dehiscence.

PURPOSE: To report a case of epithelial ingrowth (downgrowth) occurring in a phakic corneal transplant patient after traumatic wound dehiscence with iris prolapse that was successfully eradicated with early surgical intervention. METHODS: Interventional case report of a 70-year-old monocular, phakic patient who developed epithelial ingrowth within 1 week of repair of a traumatic penetrating keratoplasty wound dehiscence, with reposition of the iris that had been prolapsed for 36 hours. A gradually expanding membrane developed from the surface of the reposited iris, across the anterior lens capsule. Argon laser photocoagulation applied to the surface of the iris confirmed the diagnosis and outlined the extent of the epithelial tissue on the iris. RESULTS: Intraoperative peeling of the epithelial membrane from the surface of the lens and excision of the involved iris were performed combined with extracapsular cataract extraction and insertion of a posterior chamber intraocular lens via an open-sky technique through a repeat penetrating keratoplasty opening in the cornea. This resulted in complete resolution of the intraocular epithelialization. Histopathologic examination of the excised tissue confirmed the diagnosis of epithelial ingrowth. CONCLUSIONS: Reposition of traumatically prolapsed iris tissue can result in epithelial ingrowth. Early aggressive surgical intervention can successfully remove all the epithelial tissue from within the anterior segment.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Peripheral hypertrophic subepithelial corneal degeneration.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features, clinical course, and response to therapy of an atypical peripheral corneal opacification. METHODS: Retrospective case series review. RESULTS: Six patients are described with similar findings of bilateral, fairly symmetric, peripheral, hypertrophic, subepithelial corneal opacification. All patients were female and had no concurrent systemic conditions. All six patients complained of ocular irritation. Three patients complained of blurred vision, and one patient had monocular diplopia. In three patients followed up for more than 30 months, the corneal opacification remained stable in one patient and enlarged in the other two patients. The other three patients were examined once or twice, so the evaluation of disease progression was precluded. Two patients were treated surgically with superficial keratectomy followed by 2-minute intraoperative application of 0.02% mitomycin-C. Pathologic examination of bilateral keratectomy specimens from one patient showed subepithelial fibrosis without inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical findings are reminiscent but atypical of Salzmann nodular degeneration.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Porphyria cutanea tarda presenting as cicatricial conjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: To report a case of porphyria cutanea tarda presenting as cicatricial conjunctivitis. DESIGN: Observational study. METHODS: A 31-year-old man presented with bilateral inferior symblepharon, superior tarsal conjunctival scarring and concretions, and recurrent conjunctival and episcleral injection. RESULTS: Four years after initial presentation, the patient developed hepatitis C, and 2 years later blisters on his scalp and hands. Direct immunofluorescence studies of biopsies taken from the palpebral conjunctiva of the right lower lid were negative for cicatricial pemphigoid. A twenty-four hour urine specimen analysis revealed elevated levels of uroporphyrins and polycarboxylated porphyrins, confirming the diagnosis of porphyria cutanea tarda. The patient was treated with repeated phlebotomies and oral hydroxychloroquine, which resulted in a significant decrease in the skin lesions, conjunctival injection, and concretions under the upper lids. CONCLUSIONS: Cicatricial conjunctivitis may be a manifestation of porphyria cutanea tarda.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2002

Open-sky pupilloplasty during phakic penetrating keratoplasty to treat a fixed, dilated pupil.

We report a technique in which penetrating keratoplasty is performed in conjunction with open-sky pupilloplasty in a phakic patient. The technique was used in a 27-year-old man with poor vision and severe light sensitivity in the left eye dating back to an episode of presumed herpes simplex keratouveitis 13 years previously. Examination showed a best corrected visual acuity of 20/40, a paracentral midstromal corneal scar, a fixed dilated pupil, and a clear lens. Postoperatively, the pupil was relatively round with a diameter of approximately 4.0 mm, the cosmetic result was favorable, the photophobia had resolved, and the lens and corneal transplant were clear.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Indications for penetrating keratoplasty and associated procedures, 1996-2000.

PURPOSE: To identify current indications and trends in indications for penetrating keratoplasty and associated procedures. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty at Wills Eye Hospital from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2000. RESULTS: A total of 1,529 corneal transplants were performed during this 5-year period. The leading indications for penetrating keratoplasty were pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) in 416 (27.2%) cases, followed by regraft in 276 (18.1%), keratoconus in 236 (15.4%), and Fuchs endothelial dystrophy in 233 (15.2%) cases. Of the 416 PBK cases, 271 (65.1%) were associated with posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC IOLs), 141 (33.9%) with anterior chamber intraocular lenses (AC IOLs), and four (1%) with iris-fixated lenses. Of these 141 AC IOLs, 107 (75.9%) were closed-loop and 34 (24.1%) were open-loop. Of the 416 PBK cases, in 281 (67.5%) cases, the IOL was not exchanged; in 127 (30.5%) cases, the IOL was exchanged; in six (1.5%) cases, the IOL was repositioned; and in two (0.5%) cases, the IOL was removed at the time of surgery. Of the 271 PC IOLs, 248 (91.5%) were not exchanged and 19 (7.1%) were exchanged. Of the 141 AC IOLs, 33 (23.4%) were not exchanged and 104 (73.7%) were exchanged (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy remains the leading indication for corneal transplantation at our institution followed by regraft. The percentage of PBK cases associated with PC IOLs has increased significantly, whereas the percentage associated with AC IOLs has decreased. The frequency of regraft has also increased significantly.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Central discoid corneal dystrophy.

PURPOSE: To present a small kindred with a unique dominantly inherited corneal stromal dystrophy. METHODS: A 31-year-old man was noted to have bilateral, symmetric, central discoid corneal stromal opacification. We performed bilateral penetrating keratoplasties for decreased visual acuity, glare, and photophobia. RESULTS: Light microscopy revealed multiple extracellular vacuoles, concentrated in the anterior one-half of the central corneal stroma. Material within the vacuoles demonstrated intense reactivity with alcian blue and colloidal iron stains, consistent with glycosaminoglycan deposition. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated nonmembrane-bound vacuoles in the stroma that contained a faintly osmiophilic matrix and black circular profiles. Immunohistochemical analysis of the vacuolar deposits revealed that chondroitin sulfate was the primary glycosaminoglycan present. A clinical and serologic evaluation revealed no evidence of a systemic storage disorder. Genetic analysis did not reveal a mutation in the coding region of the CHST6 gene. CONCLUSIONS: Given these unique clinical and histopathologic findings as well as nearly identical clinical findings in the patient's father and one of four brothers, the authors believe that this represents a previously unreported, dominantly inherited corneal stromal dystrophy.

Adult↗