OBJECTIVE: We describe the management of a case of severe corneal melting after corneal cross-linking (CXL) treated with a staged approach using a conjunctival flap followed by deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK).
METHODS: A 12-year-old male developed severe corneal melting with pending perforation after an accelerated epithelium-off CXL protocol. We initially treated the patient with a conjunctival flap to prevent perforation. Three months later, we performed DALK to restore vision.
RESULTS: Conjunctival flap surgery allowed us to avoid corneal perforation and penetrating keratoplasty (PK) à chaud. Once the inflammation had resolved, we recessed the conjunctiva and performed DALK for optical purposes. Twelve months later, the graft was clear and the corrected visual acuity was 20/25 (Snellen). No complications occurred after surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: Although CXL is considered a safe procedure, in rare cases it can lead to serious complications, such as corneal haze, infectious and non-infectious keratitis, stromal melting and perforation. Corneal melting and perforation are usually managed by emergency PK. Herein we suggest a staged approach involving an emergency conjunctival flap followed by DALK at a later time that allowed us to avoid PK à chaud.

UNASSIGNED: To report the efficacy of systemic anti-TNF agents in Mooren\'s ulcer.
UNASSIGNED: Retrospective, consecutive case series.
UNASSIGNED: We report on clinical characteristics and outcome of five patients with Mooren\'s ulcer with anti-TNF treatment.
UNASSIGNED: During a mean follow-up of 30 months, relief of symptoms and arrest of corneal melting were observed in all eyes. Systemic corticosteroid treatment could be discontinued or reduced to threshold levels. No patient experienced adverse effects on bDMARDs.
UNASSIGNED: Our results suggest that bDMARDs are effective in Mooren\'s ulcer unresponsive to conventional treatment. This is in line with accumulating evidence in the current literature. Therefore, more targeted immunomodulatory approaches might be an effective first-line therapy in the future.

OBJECTIVE: To report the case of a 50-year-old woman with diabetes that presented with corneal melting and perforation 6 weeks after collagen cross-linking (CxL) for keratoconus (KC) and postoperative use of nepafenac eye drops, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
METHODS: This is a case report of a patient with diabetes, KC and a thin cornea that had undergone left eye corneal CxL at a different hospital followed by postoperative use of nepafenac eye drops for 6 weeks.
RESULTS: The patient presented for the first time to our clinic with left corneal melting, perforation and iris prolapse 6 weeks after corneal CxL and topical nepafenac use. She was treated with a left eye tectonic penetrating keratoplasty, extracapsular cataract extraction, intraocular lens implantation and pupilloplasty.
CONCLUSIONS: The corneal melting and perforation in this patient was associated with multiple risk factors: (1) nepafenac eye drop use, (2) CxL in a cornea thinner than 400 µm and (3) diabetes. The recommended corneal thickness limits should be respected. Topical NSAIDs should be used with caution if used as postoperative treatment after corneal CxL and in patients with diabetes, epithelial defect or delayed healing, because of the possible increased risk for corneal melting when multiple risk factors are observed.