Cornea

Faculty

Dr. Hall Chew, Clinical Professor (Division Lead)

Dr. Matthew Bujak, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Simon Paul Holland, Clinical Professor

Dr. Alfonso Iovieno, Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. David Lin, Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Martin McCarthy, Clinical Professor

Dr. Gregory Moloney, Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Colin Nelson, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. John Richards, Associate Professor Emeritus

Dr. Patrick Saunders, Clinical Professor

Dr. Zakaria Tadrous, Clinical Instructor

Dr. Christine Tong, Clinical Instructor

Dr. Sonia Yeung, Associate Professor

Overview

The UBC Cornea Division, part of the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, offers comprehensive medical and surgical treatment for a wide range of corneal and external eye diseases. Our expertise includes cataract surgery, treatment of congenital and degenerative corneal conditions, and advanced corneal transplants, such as DALK, DMEK, DSAEK, and full-thickness PKP. We also specialize in managing dry eyes, ocular surface diseases, and trauma of the anterior eye segment.

Our academic mission is to train the next generation of ophthalmologists, including medical students, resident physicians, and fellows specializing in cornea and external diseases. We are also committed to global ophthalmology, focusing on treating blindness in underserved populations. Our research efforts, both clinical and basic science, aim to advance corneal health and improve patient outcomes.

Publications

Zhu M, Wen L, Burgos-Blasco B, Northey LC, Spiteri N, Petsoglou C, Moloney G. Laboratory exploration of the use of ripasudil in descemetorhexis with a human ex vivo model. Exp Eye Res. 245:109977; 2024 Aug. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109977.

Gustavson BP, Kahuam-López N, Yeung SN, Iovieno A. Outcomes of Descemet Stripping Only Without Postoperative Use of Topical Rho-associated Protein Kinase Inhibitors. Cornea. 2024 Jun 28. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003619.

Kahuam-López N, Yeung SN, Iovieno A. Resolution of limbal stem cell deficiency with the use of a topical Rho kinase inhibitor. Can J Ophthalmol. 59(3):e271-e272; 2024 Jun. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2023.11.007.

Khan HM, Wirth MA, Dolman PJ, Yeung SN, Iovieno A. Long-term outcomes of fornix reconstruction and cicatricial entropion repair in ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid and drug-related secondary pemphigoid. Can J Ophthalmol. 59(3):e200-e205; 2024 Jun. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2023.03.009.

Bandara NA, Burgos-Blasco B, Zhou XR, Khaira A, Iovieno A, Matsubara JA, Yeung SN. The Impact of Vaping on the Ocular Surface: A Systematic Review of the Literature. J Clin Med. 13(9):2619; 2024 Apr 29. doi: 10.3390/jcm13092619.

Ling JYM, Yeung SN, Chan CC, Trinh T, Antaki F, Harissi-Dagher M, Sivachandran N, Fava M, Légaré MÈ, Iovieno A. Trends and Clinical Outcomes of Fungal Keratitis in Canada: A 20-year Retrospective Multicentre Study. Am J Ophthalmol. 18;265:147-155; 2024 Apr. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2024.04.009.

Bizrah, M., Shunmugam, M., Ching, G. et al. Transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy for treatment-resistant recurrent corneal erosion syndrome. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-024-06482-1

Alfalah M, Eng KT, Felfeli T, Chew H, Birt C, Maniyali F, Kertes PJ. Assessment of zonular integrity in phakic eyes following pars plana vitrectomy using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM): A prospective paired eye comparative study. American Journal of Ophthalmology. S0002-9394(24)00141-7; 2024 Apr 5. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2024.04.002.

Cohen E, Ong Tone S, Mimouni M, Stein R, Chan CC, Chew HF, Rabinovitch T, Rootman DS, Slomovic AR, Hatch WV, Singal N. Comparison of long-term outcomes of simultaneous accelerated corneal crosslinking combined with intracorneal ring segment or topography-guided PRK. Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.50(4):378-384; 2024 Apr 1. http://doi.org/10.1097/j.jcrs.00000000000001369.

Northey LC, Oliver C, Trinh T, Devasahayam RN, Burgos-Blasco B, Moloney G. In vivo confocal microscopy findings after Descemet stripping only with and without topical ripasudil supplementation in Fuchs endothelial dystrophy. Can J Ophthalmol. S0008-4182(24)00064-4; 2024 Mar 16. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2024.02.016.

Parvand M, Eslami M, Doughty N, Yeung SN, Kherani F. (2024) Closing the Gender Gap Among Canadian Ophthalmology Societies. Seminars in Ophthalmology. 39(2):150-157; 2024 Feb. Doi: 10.1080/08820538.2023.2253898.

Viola P, Neri E, Occhipinti T, Parekh M, Cian R, Ponzin D, Moramarco A, Iovieno A. Predicting Long-Term Endothelial Cell Loss after Preloaded Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty in Fuchs’ Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy: A Mathematical Model. J Clin Med. 13(3):877; 2024 Feb 2. doi: 10.3390/jcm13030877.

Khoo NT, Burgos-Blasco B, Antoniou A, Jenkins B, Fraser CL, Moloney G. Headache Attributed to Refractive Error: Improvement after Topography-Guided Photorefractive Keratectomy with Corneal Cross-Linking in Patients with Keratoconus. J Clin Med. 13(3):690; 2024 Jan 25. doi: 10.3390/jcm13030690.

Ariño-Gutierrez M, Molero-Senosiain M, Burgos-Blasco B, Vidal-Villegas B, Arriola-Villalobos P, Gegundez-Fernandez JA, Moloney G, Holguín LD. Challenges of DMEK Technique with Young Corneal Donors’ Grafts: Surgical Keys for Success-A Pilot Study. J Clin Med. 12(19):6316; 2023 Sep 30. doi: 10.3390/jcm12196316.

Billig AB, Dengler J, Hardisty M, Chew HF, Kiss A, Fialkov JA. Are we over-operating isolated orbital floor fractures? Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 152(3):629-637; 2023 Sep 1. doi: http://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000010284.

Oliver C, Gupta P, Yeung SN, Iovieno A. Outcomes of XEN Stent in Patients With Glaucoma and Previous Corneal Transplantation. J Glaucoma. 32(9):750-755; 2023 Sep 1. doi: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000002250.

Mousavi M, Kahuam-López N, Iovieno A, Yeung SN. Global impact of COVID-19 on corneal donor tissue harvesting and corneal transplantation. Front Med (Lausanne). 10:1210293; 2023 Aug 7. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1210293.

Northey LC, Moloney G. Role of Descemet’s stripping without keratoplasty in management of endothelial disease. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 34(4):348-353; 2023 Jul 1. doi: 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000963.

Marwaha A, Ling J, Yeung SN, Iovieno A. Culture positivity among donor corneas: a single eye bank series. Can J Ophthalmol. 58(3):e143-e145; 2023 Jun. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2022.10.005.

Ling JYM, Qiao G, Iovieno A, Yeung SN. Visual Outcomes of Cataract Surgery in Patients With Keratoconus Using Toric and Non-toric Lenses. J Refract Surg. 39(5):319-325; 2023 May. doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20230301-01.

He B, Tavakoli H, Etminan M, Shokoohi S, Iovieno A, Yeung SN. Impact of the use of anti-glaucoma medications on the risk of herpetic keratitis recurrence. Int Ophthalmol. 43(5):1559-1564; 2023 May. doi: 10.1007/s10792-022-02552-7.

Lee DH, Margolis MS, Iovieno A, Ling J, Ng T, Djalilian AR, Yeung SN. Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis: Update on pathophysiology and management. Ocul Surf. 28:144-152; 2023 Apr. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2023.03.004.

Bae SS, Iovieno A, Yeung SN. Outcomes of scleral lenses for dry eye disease in chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 46(1):101721; 2023 Feb. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2022.101721.

Sekhon AS, He B, Iovieno A, Yeung SN. Pathophysiology of Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss in Dry Eye Disease and Other Inflammatory Ocular Disorders. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 31(1):21-31; 2023 Jan. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2021.1980808.

Sorkin N, Hatch W, Mimouni M, Chew HF, Rootman DS, Slomovic AR, Bujak MC, Chan CC, Thorpe KE, Perez M, Stiuso V, Singal N. A randomized controlled trial comparing femtosecond-enabled deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty and standard deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (FEDS Study). Eye. 2023 Jan 24. doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02387-1.

Humphreys C, Maru K, Yeung SN, Rocha G, Chan CC. (2022) Canadian demand and access to corneal transplantation – A provincial comparison. Cell and Tissue Banking. (4):685-693; 2022 Dec. DOI: 10.1007/s10561-021-09968-y

Iovieno A, Fontana L, Coassin M, Bovio D, Salito C. Ex Vivo Evaluation of a Pressure-Sensitive Device to Aid Big Bubble Intrastromal Dissection in Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 11(12):17; 2022 Dec 1. doi: 10.1167/tvst.11.12.17.

Iovieno A, Moramarco A, Fontana L. Descemet stripping only in Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy without use of topical Rho-kinase inhibitors: 5-year follow-up. Can J Ophthalmol. 57(6):402-407; 2022 Dec. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2021.06.010.

He B, Iovieno A, Yeung SN. Efficacy of oral doxycycline in the treatment of recurrent corneal erosion syndrome. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 50(9):1110-1112; 2022 Dec. doi: 10.1111/ceo.14143. Epub 2022 Aug 23. PMID: 35962555.

Marwaha AS, Iovieno A, Yeung SN. An eye exam leads to the diagnosis of a rare lysosomal storage disorder: Fabry disease. Can J Ophthalmol. 57(5):e161; 2022 Oct. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2021.11.010. Epub 2021 Dec 22. PMID: 34953747.

Suna J, Moloney G, Marathe SP, Bierbach B, Roberts JA, Parker S, Ungerer JPJ, McWhinney B, Dorofaeff T, Venugopal P, Alphonso N. Perioperative Cefazolin Prophylaxis in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective, Cohort Study. Ann Thorac Surg. 114(4):1434-1440; 2022 Oct. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2022.02.047. Epub 2022 Mar 12.PMID: 35292260

Ariño-Gutierrez M, Moloney G, Burgos-Blasco B, Arriola-Villalobos P, Cuiña-Sardiña R, Diaz-Valle D. Long-Term Results of Postoperative Rescuing of Inverted DMEK Grafts: Two Case Reports. Cornea. 41(10):1295-1298; 2022 Oct 1. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003011. Epub 2022 Mar 4.PMID: 35249982

Dubchak E, Obasanmi G, Zeglinski MR, Granville DJ, Yeung SN, Matsubara JA. (2022) Potential role of extracellular granzyme B in wet age-related macular degeneration and Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 13:980742; Sept 20

Sodhi M, Yeung SN, Maberley D, Mikelberg F, Etminan M. (2022) Risk of adverse ocular events with taxane based chemotherapy. JAMA Ophthalmology. 140(9)880-884; Sept 1.

Marwaha AS, Iovieno A, Yeung SN. Pain and Acute Vision Loss Secondary to Microbial Keratitis: A Contact Lens-Related Complication. J Emerg Med. 63(3):417-419; 2022 Sep. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2022.05.016. Epub 2022 Oct 8. PMID: 36220673.

Arsiwalla T, Trinh T, Goolam S, Benito-Pascual B, Devasahayam RN, Moloney G. Medium-Term Failure of Descemet’s Stripping Only and Fuchs’ Dystrophy With Pancorneal Guttae. Cornea. 41(8):1064-1067; 2022 Aug 1. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000002873. Epub 2021 Oct 20.PMID: 35830584

Bizrah M, Ching G, Yusuf AM, Din N, Yeung SN, McCarthy JM, Iovieno A, Holland SP. Local Anaesthesia as a Standard of Care for Penetrating Keratoplasty? Eye. 36, 1486-1493 (July, 2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-021-01618-7

Mandal N, Yeung SN, Tadrous C, Iovieno A. Thygeson’s superficial punctate keratitis. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 260(6):1837-1841; 2022 Jun. doi: 10.1007/s00417-022-05617-6. Epub 2022 Mar 12. PMID: 35286434.

Bae SS, Iovieno A, Yeung SN. Long-term Outcomes of Cataract Surgery in Patients With Chronic Ocular Graft-Versus-Host Disease. Cornea. 41(5):587-592; 2022 May 1. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000002779. PMID: 34050071.

Farahvash A, Wang AMQ, Cardemil F, Chew HF, Gill HS, Antonyshyn OM. A computed tomography scan near miss of an intraorbital wooden foreign body. Plastic Surgery. 2022 May. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/22925503221101954.

Iovieno A, Mammo ZN, Yeung SN. Neurotrophic keratopathy as a complication of scleral fixated intraocular lens implantation. Int Ophthalmol. 42(4):1259-1262; 2022 Apr. doi: 10.1007/s10792-021-02112-5. Epub 2021 Nov 1. PMID: 34719758.

Eslami M, Ghaseminejad F, Dubord PJ, Yeung SN, Iovieno A. Delayed Topographical and Refractive Changes Following Corneal Cross-Linking for Keratoconus. J Clin Med. 11(7):1950; 2022 Mar 31. doi: 10.3390/jcm11071950. PMID: 35407560; PMCID: PMC8999946.

Din N, Chan CC, Cohen E, Iovieno A, Dahan A, Rootman DS, Litvin G. Remote Surgeon Virtual Presence: A Novel Telementoring Method for Live Surgical Training. Cornea. 41(3):385-389; 2022 Mar 1. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000002921. PMID: 34759203; PMCID: PMC8820774.

He B, Iovieno A, Etminan M, Kezouh A, Yeung SN. Effects of hormonal contraceptives on dry eye disease: a population-based study. Eye (Lond). 36(3):634-638; 2022 Mar. doi: 10.1038/s41433-021-01517-x. Epub 2021 Apr 6. PMID: 33824509; PMCID: PMC8873413.

Iovieno A, Yeung SN. Comment on: A randomized masked pilot clinical trial to compare the efficacy of topical 1% voriconazole ophthalmic solution as monotherapy with combination therapy of topical 0.02% polyhexamethylene biguanide and 0.02% chlorhexidine in the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis. Eye (Lond). 36(2):475-476; 2022 Feb. doi: 10.1038/s41433-021-01400-9. Epub 2021 Jan 29. PMID: 33514894; PMCID: PMC8807596.

Iovieno A, Coassin M, Viscogliosi F, Adani C, Cimino L, Fontana L. Delayed-onset Bilateral Peripheral Posterior Interstitial Keratitis Associated with Epstein-Barr Virus-Induced Infectious Mononucleosis. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 30(2):290-293; 2022 Feb 17. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2020.1811351. Epub 2020 Sep 18. PMID: 32946296.

Alsarhani W, Lam PW, Kus JV, Rowsell C, Tsui GK, Tadros M, Fattouh R, Yucel Y, Kertes PJ, Chew HF. Post-traumatic fungal keratitis and endophthalmitis caused by Coniochaeta hoffmannii with late recurrence following therapeutic full-thickness penetrating keratoplasty. Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. 2022 Apr 11:1-4. (Online ahead of print). doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/09273948.2022.2048028. PMID: 35404731.

Din N, Mimouni M, Slomovic J, Aldrees S, Trinh T, Cohen E, Gouvea L, Alshaker S, Chan CC, Chew HF, Singal N, Rootman DS, Slomovic AR. Comparative evaluation of four Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty graft preparation techniques. Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2022 Feb 11 (Online ahead of print). doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjo.2022.01.017 . PMID: 35151620.

Bizrah M, Yuan PH, Ching G, Holland SP. P-13 Trans-epithelial Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK) for Recurrent Corneal Erosion Syndrome (RCES). BMJ Open Ophthalmology 2022: 7: doi: 10.1136/bmjophth-2022-BCM.10

Ching G, Shunmugam M, Mandal N, Ismail A, Lin DTC, Moloney G, Holland SP. A Rescue Technique for Vertical Diplopia After Toric Lens Use in Patients With Keratoconus. Journal of Refractive Surgery Case Reports, 2022;2(3):e60-362. https://doi.org/10.3928/jrscr-20220701-01

Northey LC, Holland SP, Lin DTC, Moloney G. New treatment algorithm for keratoconus and cataract: small-aperture IOL insertion with sequential topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy and simultaneous accelerated corneal crosslinking. J Cataract Refract Surg. 47(11):1411-1416; 2021 Nov 1. doi: 10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000000642.PMID: 34675148

Spiteri N, Hirnschall N, van Bysterveldt K, Hou AL, Moloney G, Ball M, Vincent AL. Impact of TCF4 Repeat Number on Resolution of Corneal Edema after Descemet’s Stripping Only in Fuchs Dystrophy: A Pilot Study. Vision (Basel). 5(4):47; 2021 Oct 9. doi: 10.3390/vision5040047.PMID: 34698281 Free PMC article.

Gohil H, Miskovic M, Buxton J, Holland SP, Strike C. Smoke Gets in the Eye: A Systematic Review of Case Reports of Ocular Complications of Crack Cocaine Use. August 1st, 2021; Drug Alcohol Rev., 41:347-355 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13366

Schlenker A, Tadrous C, Ching G, Iovieno A, Nathoo N, Liu T, Yeung SN. (2021) Retrospective analysis of ophthalmology consults to a tertiary academic centre during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison to the pre-COVID-19 era. Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 56(4):217-222; 2021 Aug.

Liu J, Freiberg FJ, Yeung SN, Iovieno A. (2021) Recurrent Acremonium fungal Keratitis after Therapeutic Penetrating Keratoplasty. Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 56(4):e135-137; 2021 Aug.

Noureddin G, Iovieno A, Eslami M, Weaver T, Meadows M, Yeung SN. (2021) Quantification of aerosol generation during cataract surgery. Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 47(8):1071-1074; 2021 Aug 1.

Shokoohi S, Iovieno A, Yeung SN. (2021) Effect of bevacizumab on the viability and metabolism of human corneal cells. Translational vision science and technology. 10(8):32; July 1.

Tong CM, He B, Iovieno A, Yeung SN. (2021) Diagnosis of limbal stem cell deficiency, challenges and future prospects. Expert Review of Ophthalmology. 16(4):305-318; 2021 June.

Bae SS, Chan CC, Rocha G, Yeung SN. (2021) A National Consensus Forum on improving corneal donation and transplantation access in Canada. BMC Proceedings. 15(Suppl 5):10; 2021 May 11.

Ching G, Covello AT, Bae SS, Holland S, McCarthy M, Ritenour RJ, Iovieno A, Yeung SN. (2021) Incidence and Outcomes of Cystoid Macular Edema after Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) and DMEK Combined with Cataract Surgery. Current Eye Research. 46(5):678-682; 2021 May.

Moloney G, Garcerant Congote D, Hirnschall N, Arsiwalla T, Luiza Mylla Boso A, Toalster N, D’Souza M, Devasahayam RN. Descemet Stripping Only Supplemented With Topical Ripasudil for Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy 12-Month Outcomes of the Sydney Eye Hospital Study. Cornea. 40(3):320-326; 2021 Mar 1. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000002437.PMID: 32740006

Vrouwe SQ, Zuo KJ, Grotski CH, Tredget EE, Chew HF, Cartotto R. Orbital compartment syndrome following major burn resuscitation: a case series and survey of practice patterns. Journal of Burn Care & Research. 42(2):193-199; 2021 March. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jbcr/iraa126. PMID: 32818243.

Bizrah M, Lin DTC, Babili A, Wirth MA, Arba-Mosquera A, Holland SP. Topography-Guided Photorefractive Keratectomy for Postkeratoplasty Astigmatism: Long-Term Outcomes. Cornea. 40(1):78-87; 2021 Jan.

Mimouni M, Sorkin N, Trinh T, KEI CXL Study Group, Hatch W, Singal N. Central versus paracentral cone location and outcomes of accelerated cross-linking in keratoconus patients. Eye. Online ahead of print 2021 Jan 29. doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-021-01404-5. PMID: 33514906.

Kisilevsky E, Srikumaran D, Chew HF. Surgeon preferences for endothelial keratoplasty in Canada. Cornea.40(11):1420-1425; 2021. doi: http://doi.org/10.1097/ICO.0000000000002639. PMID: 33470682.

Mimouni M, Sorkin N, Hatch W, Slomovic AR, KEI CXL Study Group, Singal N. Fellow eye as a predictor for keratoconus progression following accelerated corneal cross-linking. Journal of Refractive Surgery. 37(3):186-191: 2021. doi: http://doi.org/10.3928/1081597X-20201229-02 . PMID: 34038299.

Sorkin N, Ohri A, Jung H, Haines L, Sorbara L, Mimouni M, Singal N, Hatch W, KEI CXL Working Group. Factors affecting central corneal thickness measurement agreement between Scheimpflug imaging and ultrasound pachymetry in keratoconus. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 105(10):1371-1375; 2021. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-317111. PMID: 32972916.

Yang Y, Fung SSM, Chew H, Mireskandari K, Ali A. Amniotic membrane transplantation for Stevens-Johnson syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis: the Toronto experience. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 105(9):1238-1243; 2021. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-316056. PMID: 32830126.