Jin Hyoung Kim

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rebamipide 2% ophthalmic solution on early dry eye following small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgery by analyzing dry eye indicators before and after the procedure.Methods: In this retrospective study, an initial sample of 372 SMILE surgery patients were divided into a rebamipide group (artificial tears and 2% rebamipide) and a control group (artificial tears only). Changes in dry eye indicators, including the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score, tear meniscus height (TMH), tear break-up time (TBUT), and dry eye classification, were analyzed at 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively in comparison with the preoperative baseline.Results: In total, 250 patients (250 eyes) were selected: 135 in the rebamipide group and 115 in the control group. Preoperative characteristics such as gender, age, spherical equivalent refraction, ablation depth, and optical zone size showed no significant differences between the two groups. Both groups demonstrated a significant increase in OSDI and CFS scores at 2 weeks postoperatively, followed by a decrease at 4 weeks, with no significant differences between groups. TMH increased significantly in the rebamipide group at 2 and 4 weeks (P=0.043, P=0.004), but showed no significant change in control group or intergroup difference. No significant difference was found in the first TBUT between the two groups at any time point, but the average TBUT significantly and rapidly increased from 2 to 4 weeks postoperatively in the rebamipide group (P=0.001). The dry eye classification was significantly lower in the rebamipide group at 4 weeks postoperatively (P=0.014).Conclusion: The use of rebamipide 2% ophthalmic solution immediately after SMILE surgery is expected to be helpful in treating early postoperative dry eye, as it increased TMH and TBUT starting from 2 weeks postoperatively.

This multi-center cohort study included 3401 myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) procedures conducted in 1756 myopia patients between 2002 and 2005. Pre- and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and manifest refraction spherical equivalent (SE) were recorded. Factors predicting low postoperative efficacy (defined as a postoperative UCVA < 0.5) were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Compared with 1 month postoperatively, logMAR UCVA at 3 months postoperatively was significantly decreased (p = 0.002) and that at 2 and 3 years was significantly increased (p < 0.001). LogMAR BCVA at 2 years postoperatively was significantly decreased compared with 1 month postoperatively (p = 0.008). Over the 3-year postoperative period, overall refractive predictability within ±1.00 D and ±0.50 D ranged from 69.0% to 86.2% and from 43.3% to 67.8%, respectively. This also decreased from 1 month to 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.005). Multivariate logistic regression analysis using generalized estimating equations, revealed that higher preoperative SE (odds ratio [OR], 2.58 and 7.23; p < 0.001) and lower preoperative BCVA (OR, 2.44; p = 0.003) were predictive of a low postoperative efficacy. In summary, myopic LASIK can be effective and safe with a high refractive predictability in a Korean population, but myopic regression occurs over time. Higher preoperative SE and lower preoperative BCVA are predictive of a low postoperative efficacy.

Seo MH, et al. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc. 2017 Mar;58(3):259-267. https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2017.58.3.259

To describe femtosecond laser-assisted corneal biopsy and its use in assessing the causative organisms in 2 cases of infectious corneal ulcers. A 27-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman, both of whom showed uncertain symptoms, repeated negative test results for infectious organisms, and after no improvement despite empirical therapy, underwent diagnostic corneal biopsy by using a femtosecond laser. A corneal flap depth of 200 microm and a diameter of 3 mm were obtained from each patient. The biopsy specimen from the male patient showed pseudohyphae, which led to a diagnosis of candidal keratitis. The biopsy specimen from the female patient showed positive Gram stain and no evidence of fungal ulcers and yielded a culture of Streptococcus viridans. No complications occurred during either procedure. Femtosecond laser-assisted corneal biopsy enabled identification of the infectious pathogen in both patients. This technique is easy, safe, and rapid, and it yields a biopsy specimen with a uniform depth and precise size. Femtosecond laser-assisted corneal biopsy can be used as an accurate diagnostic method in uncertain cases of corneal ulcers.