The aim of the HYLAN M study was to investigate if symptoms and/or signs of patients suffering from severe dry eye disease (DED) can be improved by substituting individually optimized artificial tear therapy by high molecular weight hyaluronan (HMWHA) eye drops. In this international, multicenter study, patients with symptoms of at least ocular surface disease index (OSDI) 33 and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) of at least Oxford grade 3 were included. A total of 84 per-protocol patients were randomized in two study arms. The control group continued to use their individual optimum artificial tears over the study period of eight weeks; in the verum group, the artificial tears were substituted by eye drops containing 0.15% HMWHA. At the week 8 visit, the average OSDI of the verum group had improved by 13.5 as compared to the control group (p = 0.001). The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) had improved by 0.04 logMAR (p = 0.033). CFS, tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer I, lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE), mucocutaneous junction (Yamaguchi score), and tear osmolarity were not significantly different between the verum and control groups (p > 0.050). We conclude that for most patients with severe DED, 0.15% HMWHA eye drops provide excellent improvement of symptoms without impairment of dry eye signs.

Acute dacryocystitis retention (ADR) is an unusual entity that contributes to an incorrect diagnosis and treatment. We describe a case of acute dacryocystitis retention occurring in a 61-year-old diabetic male who presented with severe pain, swelling, and inflammatory signs above the left medial canthal ligament tendon. He had no previous history of epiphora. Computed tomography scan indicated acute dacryocystitis. Clinical treatment resulted in complete resolution of the condition. Syringing one month after the acute episode indicated a patent lacrimal excretory system. The temporary obstruction that evolved to an acute dacryocystitis retention was probably secondary to nasal alteration or supposed dacryoliths. Timely, conservative clinical treatment can lead to complete resolution of acute dacryocystitis retention with no further treatments.

We report a case of a young healthy patient who developed orbital cellulitis and scleritis after retinal detachment surgery that was repaired with a scleral buckling procedure. Once scleral implant infection occurs, orbital infection results requiring removal of the implant in all previous reported cases. However, our patient was treated with systemic antibiotic and steroids without the need for removal of the scleral buckle.

Purpose: To study the use of ultra-thick human amniotic membrane for management anophthalmic socket contracture. Methods: A prospective study done at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Thirty-six patients (45 eyelids) were involved. Contracted socket caused by trauma, previous surgery or radiotherapy, delay in use of prosthesis, Congenital Anophthalmia/Microphthalmia, and Anophthalmia secondary to Enucleation/Evisceration were included in the study. Results: Thirty-three patients (42 eyelids) underwent fornix reconstruction with cryopreserved ultra-thick human amniotic membrane. Mean ± SD age at surgery was (40.90 ± 17.32) years. Mean follow up was 10.5 months. Grade II fornix contracture was the most common type in 23 (54.8%) eyelids. The most common involved primary diagnosis was Anophthalmia secondary to Enucleation/Evisceration (n = 13). The incidence of pyogenic granuloma (PG) after surgery was seen in 8 eyelids (19.0%). Conclusion: Anophthalmic contracted socket secondary to significant history of multiple PG excision (> 5 times) and secondary to enucleation/evisceration were associated with good surgical outcome. Cryopreserved ultra-thick human amniotic membrane is an ideal material for the management of anophthalmic socket contracture.

PURPOSE: The aim of the HYLAN A study was to investigate if symptoms and/or signs of patients suffering from severe dry eye disease (DED) in Saudi Arabia can be improved by substituting individually optimized artificial tear therapy by high molecular weight hyaluronan (HMWHA) eye drops. METHODS: The HYLAN M study, a multicenter prospective randomized open-label study, was performed in 11 centers in eight countries. Patients suffering from severe DED were electronically randomized in two parallel arms. patients with symptoms of at least ocular surface disease index (OSDI) 33 and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) of at least Oxford grade 3 were included . The patients in the control group continued with their individual optimized therapy as by the time of inclusion. The patients in the hylan A group replaced their individual lubricant eye drops by preservative-free eye drops containing 0.15% hylan A. The total OSDI scores as well as the OSDI subscores for pain and for visual disturbances of each patient at baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks of treatment was used to analyse the improvement of symptoms. We focus and report the results obtained at the two study centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital and Riyadh Military Hospital). RESULTS: A total of 13 patients were included in the study. The majority of the study participants were middle aged (40-65 years). Overall, female patients accounted for 76.9% of all study participants. At the initiation of the study, both hylan A and control groups had relatively similar total OSDI scores together with pain and vision subscores. At 4-week follow-up, both groups demonstrated a noticeable decrease in all study variables. Nevertheless, the OSDI scores improved significantly in the group of patients treated with hylan A eye drops at 8 weeks, whereas the scores increased in the control group. CONCLUSION: Saudi Arabia has a very high prevalence of patients with severe dry eye disease. Ethnicity, climate, and a high incidence of diabetes mellitus may contribute to this situation. Lubricant eye drops frequently do not provide adequate relief from ocular pain and instable vision in severe chronic ocular surface disease. High molecular weight hyaluronan (HMWHA) eye drops provide superior relief of symptoms of patients suffering from severe DED. This includes ocular pain as well as unstable vision.

Canaliculitis is defined as infection of the canalicular part of the lacrimal system. Despite usual presenting clinical characteristics such as pouting of the lacrimal punctum, discharge, and redness at the medial canthus area, it is usually misdiagnosed and overlooked. The presence of punctal ulceration and tissue necrosis is an uncommon presentation in these patients. We report a case of a 35-year-old female with a 3-day history of left lower eyelid medial swelling, tenderness, and discharge. She was found to have left lower eyelid diffuse conjunctival injection and swelling involving the lower lacrimal punctum with whitish necrotic tissue. The patient was taken to the minor treatment room and debridement of the necrotic tissue was done and swabs were taken for culture and sensitivity. The punctum was found to be open with deroofing of the proximal canalicular system due to the severe nature of the infection; this was followed by irrigation using moxifloxacin and povidone-iodine. The patient was started on systemic antibiotics, topical antibiotic eye drops, and povidone-iodine sticks to clean the affected area. Few days later, the microbiology results revealed infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the patient was improving gradually until she had complete resolution of the infection.