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Moderator
Thomas John, MD, ABO
Panelists
Yong Woo Lee, MD, PhD; Ruti Sella, MD
Viewing Papers
Expand a paper title to the right to view the paper abstract and authors. Use the video link to jump to that poster in the session.
Presenting Author
Dilek Dursun Alt?nors, FACS, MD
Co-Authors
Leyla Asena (MD), Aydan Alpugan (MD)
Purpose
To evaluate safety, indications, complications, and patient satisfaction associated with keratopigmentation using a microneedling device in patients with corneal leukoma and no visual potential.
Methods
This retrospective study included 11 eyes from 11 patients who underwent keratopigmentation via microneedling between January 2020 and May 2025. Following corneal epithelial removal, pigmentation was performed under topical anesthesia using the Dr.pen Ultima N2-W Dermapen device. Sterile, undiluted skin tattoo pigments—EU REACH-compliant and matched to the fellow eye—were applied. A bandage contact lens was placed postoperatively. Patients were monitored for healing, complications, and cosmetic outcomes.
Results
Etiologies of corneal leukoma included trauma (n=4), keratoplasty rejection (n=3), bullous keratopathy (n=1), Peters anomaly (n=1), congenital glaucoma (n=1), and phthisis bulbi secondary to glaucoma (n=1). Mean procedure time was 35.6?±?12.3 minutes. Epithelial healing and resolution of conjunctival hyperemia occurred within one week in all cases. Two patients developed ciliary injection on postoperative day 1, resolved with topical steroids. Over a mean follow-up of 17.06?±?7.3 months (range: 8-39), all patients reported aesthetic improvement with no pigment fading, dissatisfaction, or need for re-pigmentation. Intraocular pressure remained within normal limits throughout follow-up.
Conclusion
Microneedling-assisted keratopigmentation using Dermapen is a safe, effective, and customizable technique for improving ocular cosmesis in patients with corneal leukoma. Adjustable needle depth allows for tailored treatment. Further studies are warranted to assess long-term outcomes and broader applicability.
Presenting Author
Leslie M Vargas, MD
Co-Authors
Rosali Nodarse (BSc), William Trattler (MD), Allison Podvin (None), Alexandra Gil (BSc)
Purpose
A retrospective analysis of the incidence of postoperative elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients receiving steroid eye drops following pterygium excision, conducted in South Florida between June 2012 and November 2024.
Methods
A retrospective review was conducted of 460 eyes that underwent surgical pterygium excision followed by a planned 2?month course of topical steroid therapy. The primary postoperative outcome was the incidence of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), assessed using either Goldmann applanation tonometry or a handheld iCare tonometer. IOP measurements were obtained preoperatively and at approximately 1?week, 1?month, and 2?months postoperatively. Patients with an IOP ? 21 mmHg and an increase of 10 mmHg above preoperative measurements were considered to have elevated IOP.
Results
This analysis included 460 eyes that underwent pterygium excision in South Florida between June 2012 and November 2024. Postoperative elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) occurred in 72 eyes (15.65%), of which 20 (27.78%) were female and 52 (72.22%) were male. Among eyes demonstrating a steroid response, the mean IOP increase was 13.00 mmHg in females and 15.02 mmHg in males. The majority of IOP elevations were observed in patients 60 years or older.
Conclusion
Because pterygium recurrence risk is linked to postoperative inflammation, an extended topical steroid regimen may be used. Careful follow-up is essential, as a significant proportion of patients may develop elevated IOP. When this occurs, therapy to lower IOP can be initiated while maintaining an appropriate level of anti-inflammatory treatment.
Presenting Author
Mohamad A. Alzein, BSc
Co-Authors
Aron Sebhat (MD, MPH), Mohammadali Ashraf (MD), Abdelrahman Elhusseiny (MD, MSc), Hajirah Saeed (MD, MPH), Haarisudhan Sureshkumar (BSc), Salmah Abdulkadir (BSc), Rohith Erukulla (MSc)
Purpose
To evaluate geographic disparities in access to pediatric corneal transplantation (PCT) across the United States and examine the role of social determinants of health (SDOH) in shaping accessibility.
Methods
Twenty nine ophthalmology practices performing PCT, with 81 office addresses, were identified and mapped using ArcGIS Pro to define 60-minute drive-time accessibility zones. Pediatric population densities were determined using US census data and were overlaid with the drive-time map to determine the percent within accessible distance for each region of the contiguous US (Northeast, Midwest, South, Mountain, and Pacific). Census tract data from 2024 were used to compare pediatric population density and SDOH indicators, such as income, education, internet access, insurance, and vehicle availability, between accessible and non-accessible areas.
Results
Sixty two percent of the 73 million children living in the US do not live within sixty minutes of the 29 PCT providers identified nationwide. Among children without access, 26.2% were from the South and 12.3% from the Midwest, together comprising 38.5% of the inaccessible population. The census tracts with limited PCT access revealed significantly lower median household income, elevated child poverty rates, decreased educational achievement, and limited internet availability (all p < 0.0001). 79.1% of patients living in rural areas were living in areas outside of PCT access.
Conclusion
A large portion of the US pediatric population has poor access to PCT, and these children are more likely to be from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and rural regions. Further study should assess the effects of poor access on long-term visual, social, and academic outcomes and introduce intervention programs to enhance access to PCT.
Presenting Author
Brandon D. Ayres, MD
Co-Authors
Zaina Al-Mohtaseb (MD), W. Barry Lee (MD), Nicole Fram (MD), Eris Jordan (OD), Saba Kadlec (MD)
Purpose
Evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a single administered dose of varied concentrations of human corneal endothelial cells (CECs) in combination with Y-27632 rho-kinase inhibitor (AURN001) compared to CECs alone and Y-27632 alone in subjects with corneal edema secondary to corneal endothelial dysfunction.
Methods
In this phase 1/2 parallel-arm, dose-ranging study, 97 subjects were enrolled at 20 sites and followed for 12 months. Subjects were randomized to AURN001 high, medium, or low dose; CECs alone; or Y-27632 alone. The proportion of subjects with a ?15-letter improvement from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 12 months was evaluated, along with change from baseline in BCVA, central corneal thickness (CCT), and score on the VFQ-25 patient questionnaire. Rates of adverse events (AE), graft rejection and rescue were recorded.
Results
TBD
Conclusion
TBD
Presenting Author
Nitin Rangu, BA
Co-Authors
Kamran Riaz (MD), Neal Rangu (MD)
Purpose
To evaluate the clinical outcomes and safety profile of Mitomycin intravascular chemoembolization (MICE) to treat corneal neovascularization (NV).
Methods
A 100-eye retrospective case series from nine international centers undergoing MICE for corneal neovascularization (2021-2025). Data included BCVA, complications, and NV regression by surgeon and ImageJ analysis.
Results
Preoperative mean BCDVA was 0.9 ± 0.65. At 3 months post-MICE, BCDVA was 0.8 ± 0.58 (p = 0.128), improving significantly at 6-12 months (0.7 ± 0.55, p = 0.012) and 12+ months (0.5 ± 0.51, p = 0.381). Complications included corneal thinning (n = 2) and additional surgery (n = 25). No infections or intraocular elevations were noted. KNV regression was observed in 81.4% of eyes at 6-12 months and 65.1% at 12+ months. ImageJ analysis showed a mean vascularization decrease of -55.6% ± 15.2 at 6-12 months and -32.6% ± 14.5 at 12+ months.
Conclusion
MICE is effective in the management of corneal vascularization. Limited complications and significant BCDVA improvement were demonstrated.
Presenting Author
Isabela Yang, MD
Co-Authors
Neslihan Koseoglu (MD), Ana Balbuena-Pareja (MD), Luiz Luciano Lamazales (MD), Stephanie Cox (OD), Pedram Hamrah (MD)
Purpose
The cornea is the body's most innervated tissue. Nerve dysfunction disrupts somatosensory pathways, producing neuropathic corneal pain (NCP). The non-contact esthesiometer (NCE) quantifies mechanical and chemical sensitivity via air-puff. This study evaluates concordance of Cochet-Bonnet (CB) and NCE across NCP subtypes.
Methods
A retrospective, cross-sectional study of patients with NCP seen in the Cornea Service of the New England Eye Center between 2022 to 2024. Peripheral NCP patients presented complete pain resolution after PCT, mixed NCP patients were classified with partial improvement after PCT and central NCP classified with no improvement or worsening after PCT. In all patients, NCE followed by CB was conducted. The NCE protocol started at the lowest air pressure and increased gradually (levels 1 to 5). Confirmation with lowest stimuli were recorded. Spearman test correlated CB and NCE in peripheral, central and mixed NCP group (non-normally distributed data).
Results
A total of 84 eyes of 84 patients (mean age 50.3 ± 17.6 years) were included. Overall, median NCE was 2.0 (IQR 2.0) and CB 6.0 cm (IQR 0.5). In peripheral NCP (n=20), NCE was 2.0 (IQR 2.0) and CB 6.0 cm (IQR 0.0). In mixed NCP (n=30), NCE was 2.0 (IQR 2.0) and CB 6.0 cm (IQR 0.2). In central NCP (n=34), NCE was 2.0 (IQR 1.25) and CB 6.0 cm (IQR 1.0). A weak inverse correlation was found overall (?=-0.224, p=0.04), none in peripheral (?=0.002, p=0.992), weak in mixed (?=-0.195, p=0.302), and weak in central NCP (?=-0.296, p=0.089).
Conclusion
NCE and CB showed weak overall correlation in NCP subtypes, with no correlation in peripheral and weak correlation in mixed and central NCP groups. These findings suggest that while CB remains useful for mechanical testing, NCE may provide complementary insight into corneal nerve dysfunction in NCP.
Presenting Author
Salem Abu Al-Burak, BSc
Co-Authors
Fahad Butt (BSc), Monali Malvankar (PhD), Alex Camacho (MD)
Purpose
Corneal neurotization has emerged as a treatment for Neurotrophic keratopathy (NK), with two primary surgical strategies: autografts and allografts. However, comparative data on their efficacy and safety remain limited.This systematic review aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and technical considerations of autografts versus allografts.
Methods
This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, CINAHL, and Web of Science, covering literature up to November 13, 2024. Two reviewers independently conducted screening (Covidence®) and risk-of-bias assessments (ROBINS I). The primary outcomes assessed were corneal sensation (Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometry), visual acuity, epithelial healing, complication profiles, patient satisfaction, and technical complexity.
Results
A total of 10 studies (113 eyes; 89 autograft, 24 allograft) were included. Autografts (mainly sural nerve) restored corneal sensation in 82-100% of cases, improving from 0.8 mm to 49.7 mm, with 64-89% achieving epithelial healing. Visual acuity improved in up to 100% of cases. Complications occurred in 21%, mostly persistent epithelial defects. Allografts (Avance) improved sensation from 0 to 30-60 mm, with universal epithelial healing, visual gains in several cases, and no complications. Patient satisfaction was high in both groups. Autografts required longer, technically complex surgery, while allografts simplified procedures but faced cost and availability limitations.
Conclusion
Both autografts and allografts offer substantial clinical efficacy in corneal neurotization. Autografts provide strong outcomes in sensory restoration and epithelial healing, at the cost of increased operative time and donor-site morbidity. Allografts represent a lower-risk alternative with excellent safety and simpler surgical logistics.
