The year’s most read corneal articles: Key findings and innovations
These 5 studies highlight critical advancements in corneal transplants, dry eye disease, and refractive surgery.
1. Expanding donor age limits could help alleviate corneal transplant tissue shortage
Expanding the donor age limit to include corneas from individuals aged 76 to 80 years may help alleviate the global shortage of keratoplasty tissue, as a study found these tissues to be as safe and effective as those from younger donors. The study reported comparable endothelial cell densities and suitability rates, with favorable short-term clinical outcomes and no early graft failures in the older donor group.
Read more here.
2. Study investigates intereye agreement in dry eye disease signs
A study on dry eye disease (DED) found moderate-to-good agreement between eyes in diagnostic metrics, with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.45 to 0.81 and weighted kappa values from 0.58 to 0.69. However, a significant proportion of patients exhibited clinically important intereye differences, highlighting the need to assess both eyes in future DED clinical trials.
Read more here.
3. New device shows promise in treating corneal erosions
A study evaluating the plexitome device for treating recurrent corneal erosions and other corneal conditions found it to be safe and effective, with no visible corneal scarring and minimal adverse effects reported. These findings suggest the device may provide a scar-free alternative for treating corneal pathologies, particularly in the optical axis, though further research is needed to confirm its long-term efficacy.
Read more here.
4. Infectious keratitis leads in postoperative complications for children with penetrating keratoplasty
A study analyzing pediatric penetrating keratoplasty (PK) found that nearly 48% of patients experienced complications, with anterior segment issues (40.8%) being more prevalent than posterior segment problems (17.6%). Infectious keratitis was the most common anterior complication, affecting 30% of patients with a median onset of 275 days post-surgery.
Read more here.
5. Impact of corneal size on refractive surgery outcomes highlighted in new research
A study found that corneal diameter significantly affects preoperative screening for corneal refractive surgery, with smaller diameters having a greater impact on corneal morphology and biomechanics. Analysis revealed that smaller corneas strongly influenced topographic and biomechanical parameters, highlighting the importance of considering corneal diameter in surgical planning.
Read more here.
