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Importance Determine phacoemulsification cataract surgery risk in a Covid‐19 era. Background SARS‐CoV‐2 (Covid‐19) transmission via microdroplet and aerosol generating procedures present a risk to medical professionals. As the most common elective surgical procedure performed globally; determining contamination risk from phacoemulsification cataract surgery may guide personal protection equipment use. Design Pilot study involving phacoemulsification cataract surgery on enucleated porcine eyes by experienced ophthalmologists in an ophthalmic operating theatre. Participants Two ophthalmic surgical teams. Methods Standardised phacoemulsification of porcine eyes by two ophthalmologists accompanied by an assistant. Fluorescein incorporated into phacoemulsification irrigation fluid identifying microdroplets and spatter. Contamination documented using a single‐lens reflex camera with a 532 nm narrow bandpass (fluorescein) filter, in‐conjunction with a wide‐field blue light and flat horizontal laser beam (wavelength 532 nm). Quantitative image analysis using Image‐J software. Main Outcome Measures Microdroplet and spatter contamination from cataract phacoemulsification. Results With phacoemulsification instruments fully within the eye, spatter contamination was limited to 16 cm below the neckline in surgeon 1 and > 5.5 cm below the neckline of surgeon 2. A small tear in the phacoemulsification irrigation sleeve, presented a worse‐case scenario the greatest spatter. No contamination above the surgeons' neckline nor contamination of assistant occurred. Conclusions and Relevance Cataract phacoemulsification generates microdroplets and spatter. Until further studies on SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission via microdroplets or aerosolisation of ocular fluid are reported, this pilot study only supports standard personal protective equipment.

Importance Keratoconus is a debilitating condition with a disproportionately high impact on health resources and vision-specific quality of life. Background This study aimed to compare 2-year outcomes of epithelium-off pulsed (p-ACXL) and epithelium-off continuous (c-ACXL) accelerated corneal crosslinking in progressive keratoconus. Design Prospective, interventional case series. Participants Eighty eyes of 80 patients were included. Methods The visual, refractive and tomographic results of the two crosslinking protocols were compared. Main outcome measures Uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) and maximum keratometry (KMAX ) on corneal tomography assessment. Results The mean patient age was 22.51 ± 6.12 years (SD) and 22.08 ± 5.72 years in the p-ACXL and c-ACXL groups, respectively. The mean CDVA significantly improved from 0.30 ± 0.16 logMAR at baseline to 0.23 ± 0.17 logMAR at 24 months (P = .04) in the p-ACXL group and from 0.36 ± 0.22 logMAR to 0.26 ± 0.27 logMAR (P = .02) in the c-ACXL group. The mean induced change in MRSE (+1.79 ± 2.30 D vs +0.27 ± 3.19 D, P = .04) and KMAX (-1.75 ± 1.80 D vs -0.39 ± 1.95 D, P = .04) were superior in the c-ACXL group compared to the p-ACXL group at 24 months. No complications were encountered. Conclusions and relevance In this prospective study, both p-ACXL and c-ACXL treatments were safe methods to halt the progression of keratoconus within a follow-up period of 24 months. c-ACXL appeared to offer superior refractive and tomographic outcomes when compared to p-ACXL but this did not translate into better visual outcomes.

IMPORTANCE Acanthamoeba is an increasingly prevalent cause of vision-threatening microbial keratitis. BACKGROUND To assess the incidence, clinical presentation, diagnosis and outcomes of patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) in Auckland, New Zealand over a 7-year period. DESIGN Retrospective observational consecutive case series. PARTICIPANTS Fifty-eight eyes of 52 patients diagnosed with AK. METHODS All cases of AK were identified using a cross-referenced search of clinical, laboratory and pharmacy records from March 2009 to May 2016. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Demographic and clinical data were collected including age, gender, risk factors, clinical manifestations, initial diagnosis, diagnostic investigations, treatment, presenting and final visual acuity and surgical interventions. RESULTS Contact lens (CL) use was noted in 96% of unilateral and 100% of bilateral cases. The mean duration of symptoms at presentation was 21 days and the mean duration from presentation to definitive diagnosis was 14 days. Initial diagnosis was recorded as CL-related keratitis in 70.6%, viral keratitis in 15.5% and AK in 12.0%. The diagnosis was confirmed with In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in 67.2%, corneal scrape in 22.4%, corneal biopsy in 1.7% and clinically in 8.6%. IVCM sensitivity was 83.0%. Surgical intervention was required in four patients, all with delayed diagnosis (range 63-125 days). The incidence of AK has more than doubled when compared with the preceding 7-year period. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE AK is a rare vision-threatening protozoal infection with rapidly-increasing incidence in New Zealand, predominantly affecting CL users. Diagnosis is often challenging and when delayed is associated with worse outcomes. IVCM offers rapid diagnosis with high sensitivity.