International Ophthalmology最新文献

Purpose: ReLEx (Refractive Lenticule Extraction) Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE), the second generation of ReLEx Femtosecond Lenticule Extraction (FLEx), is a minimally invasive, flapless procedure designed to treat refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the methods for preserving SMILE-derived lenticules and discusses their potential future applications.

Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, focusing on articles published up to January 2024 and available in English. The authors also evaluated the reference lists of the collected papers to identify any additional relevant research.

Results: No standardized protocols currently exist for the storage or clinical application of SMILE-derived lenticules. However, these lenticules present a promising resource for therapeutic uses, particularly in addressing the shortage of donor corneal tissues. Their potential applications include inlay and overlay additive keratoplasty, as well as other ocular surface applications. Further research is needed to establish reliable protocols for their preservation and clinical use.

Conclusion: SMILE-derived lenticules offer significant potential as an alternative to donor corneal tissues. Standardizing their storage and application methods could enhance their use in clinical settings.

Purpose: The study aims to investigate the demographic and neuroophthalmologic features of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: This retrospective study investigated 270 eyes of 135 patients with MS. All subjects underwent a full ophthalmological examination.

Results: The study investigated 270 eyes of 135 patients with MS. The patients included 102 (74.8%) females and 34 (25.2%) males. The mean age at the time of diagnosis of MS was 29.9 ± 9.6 years. The mean follow-up period was 6.7 ± 10.9 months. Initial symptoms of MS at presentation included optic neuritis (ON) in 42 patients (15.6%), numbness of hands and feet in 20 patients (7.4%) and diplopia in 11 patients (4.1%). Additional diseases were observed in 29 patients (21.5%) and autoimmune diseases were observed in 11 patients (8.1%). Thirteen patients (9.62%) had relatives with MS; the relatives of five patients were first-degree relatives and the relatives of the remaining eight patients were second-degree relatives. Table 2 summarizes the additional systemic and ocular diseases and family history data. During MS, 72 patients (53.4%) were diagnosed with ON. ON was bilateral in 49 patients (68%) and unilateral in 23 patients (32%). Retrobulbar ON was observed in 77 eyes (81.6%) and papillitis was observed in 18 eyes (18.4%). Disorders of efferent visual pathway function were found in 43 patients (30.4%).

Conclusion: Visual impairments are significant in patients with MS. Although ON is the most prevalent symptom of MS, it is important to keep in mind that damage to the efferent visual system can be observed.

Purpose: To investigate the association between the time from onset to initial treatment and changes in visual acuity or the number of treatments in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BVO).

Design: Retrospective.

Methods: Thirty-nine eyes of 39 consecutive patients with untreated acute-phase BVO who visited the University of Tokyo Hospital and were followed up for at least one year were included. The patients were initially treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy and additional pro re nata therapy within six months of onset. The patients were classified according to the time from disease onset to the first treatment (group A: 28 days or less, group B: over 28 days).

Results: The mean (SD) age was 73 ± 8 years, and 19 patients were male. The mean (SD) time to the first treatment was 31.6 ± 17.9 days. The mean (SD) logMAR visual acuity at first treatment was 0.37 ± 0.30. After 12 months of treatment, the mean (SD) logMAR change was - 0.15 ± 0.23, and the mean number (SD) of treatments was 3.1 ± 1.7. No significant association was observed between the timing of treatment initiation and changes in logMAR visual acuity. Patients in group A and central macular thickness at the initial visit were independently associated with the greater number of treatments at one year (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions: At one year, the time between onset and the start of anti-VEGF therapy for BVO was not associated with subsequent visual acuity changes. Meanwhile, it may have significant association with the number of treatments.

Purpose: Retinoblastoma (RB) is one of the most common intraocular cancers, with the highest prevalence among infants and young children under the age five. Numerous findings across the literature illustrate the involvement and significance of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in human malignancies, including RB. The current investigation attempted to decipher the exact roles and underlying mechanisms of a novel circRNA, hsa_circ_0078136, in RB progression.

Methods: The hsa_circ_0078136 expression was evaluated in RB tumors and cell lines via qRT-PCR. The significance of hsa_circ_0078136 in RB was examined by performing CCK8 assay, transwell assays, western blotting of apoptotic and IL-17 signaling ligand molecules, and a subcutaneous xenograft tumor model. In addition, the interaction of circRNA and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (EIF4A3) was determined with bioinformatics, western blot, and RIP assay.

Results: The hsa_circ_0078136 expression was reduced in RB tumor samples and cells. Additionally, its overexpression restricted the oncogenic properties of RB cells in vitro. Moreover, hsa_circ_0078136 overexpression lowered the protein levels of cytokine ligand molecules of IL-17 signaling pathway in RB cell lines. In vivo, hsa_circ_0078136 overexpression in subcutaneous tumor xenografts reduced tumor growth. We also observed that EIF4A3 binds to the downstream flanking sequence of hsa_circ_0078136 in the SHRPH pre-mRNA transcript, and EIF4A3 overexpression reduced hsa_circ_0078136 expression, suggesting that EIF4A3 inhibited hsa_circ_0078136 formation.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that hsa_circ_0078136 is regulated by EIF4A3 and functions as a tumor suppressor via the IL-17 signaling pathway in RB.

Due to limited studies, we systematically reviewed evidence on the impact of physical exercise on intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Using MEDLINE/Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus, we selected English, Portuguese, or Spanish studies excluding case reports and yoga-based interventions. From 1001 records, 15 studies were independently evaluated. Evaluated through the MMAT scoring system, two quantitative randomised controlled studies scored 100% while 13 non-randomised studies averaged 84.62%. Our findings indicated that both aerobic and resistance training led to an immediate IOP reduction post-exercise. However, these findings were largely from single-session experiments. In contrast, the effects of longer-term exercise programmes on IOP varied. Although our review underscores the potential utility of exercise in IOP management, the evidence remains inconclusive due to variations in study design, participant demographics, and exercise parameters. This lack of consistency in the research highlights the necessity for larger, standardised, and longer-term studies to robustly corroborate these preliminary findings.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) for postoperative corneal edema in cataract patients.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 144 cataract patients from December 2020 to December 2021 was conducted. Patients were divided into edema eyes (84 cases) and observation (60 cases) group based on postoperative corneal edema occurrence. Relevant indicators were compared between groups. Logistic regression identified risk factors for postoperative corneal edema. Receiver operating characteristic curves evaluated the predictive value.

Results: The edema eyes group had significantly higher postoperative central corneal thickness (CCT) and lower postoperative endothelial cell density (ECD) than the observation group (P < 0.05). The edema eyes group also had significantly lower preoperative ECD, anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber angle (ACA), and preoperative lens position (LP) than the observation group (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative ECD, ACD, ACA, and LP were independent risk factors for postoperative corneal edema (P < 0.05), all of which also showed good predictive value for postoperative corneal edema, with areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.854, 0.812, 0.791, and 0.778, respectively, under the ROC curve analysis.

Conclusion: AS-OCT can provide useful information for predicting postoperative corneal edema in cataract patients. Preoperative ECD, preoperative ACD, preoperative ACA, and preoperative LP are important parameters that can be measured by AS-OCT and used as risk factors for postoperative corneal edema.

Purpose: This retrospective study investigated the impact of corneal parameters on surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) in eyes with prior myopic correction undergoing cataract surgery.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, San Marino Hospital, San Marino, Republic of San Marino.

Design: This case-control study analyzed existing data retrospectively, without randomization or masking.

Methods: Eighty eyes divided in group 1 (40 eyes previous underwent refractive surgery for myopia) and group 2 ( 40 myopic eyes) that underwent cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were included. SIA was calculated using values from the IOL Master Zeiss 700 and mean pupil power (MPP) derived from the CSO Sirius Topographer (based on 3 mm pupil size) with vectorial analysis from doctor Hill software.

Results: No significant difference in SIA was observed between eyes with prior myopic photorefractive keratectomy and the control group (p > 0.05). SIA calculations using the IOL Master and CSO Sirius Tomographer yielded similar results. There was no significant correlation between SIA and axial length, corneal curvature, peripheral corneal thickness, or anterior chamber depth (p > 0.05). However, an inverse correlation was found between SIA and horizontal corneal diameter (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Corneal parameters, such as axial length, corneal curvature, peripheral corneal thickness, and anterior chamber depth, showed no significant influence on SIA. The inverse correlation between SIA and horizontal corneal diameter in study group suggests potential influence of white-to-white distance on SIA. These findings highlight the importance of considering corneal parameters for optimizing surgical outcomes.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association between the CC-cytokine ligand-2 (CCL2) 2518A/G (rs1024611) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and other databases were searched for articles published before August 24, 2023. After searching, data extraction, and quality assessment, meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis were conducted using RevMan 5.4, Stata 17.0, and TSA 0.9.5.10 Beta software. Combined OR, P values, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis and publication bias assessment were also performed.

Results: Six articles, comprising 1186 cases and 1124 controls, were included. No significant statistical difference was found in six main outcomes. However, due to observed heterogeneity and high sensitivity, subgroup analysis was performed, revealing statistically significant differences across different regions. No significant publication bias was observed. Trial sequential analysis suggested the need for additional follow-up case-control studies to further validate the findings.

Conclusion: The CCL2 gene 2518A/G (rs1024611) polymorphism is associated with AMD susceptibility. Among Caucasian populations in West Asia and Europe, the G allele is protective against AMD, whereas in East and South Asia, it poses a risk factor.

Purpose: Altered corneal biomechanics in patients with diabetes may affect intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements. Although a relationship between IOP and glucose levels has been reported in diabetic and nondiabetic patients, the mechanism by which hyperglycemia influences IOP is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of hyperglycemia on IOP, corneal biomechanics, and anterior segment parameters during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in nondiabetic patients.

Methods: Twenty-one patients without DM who underwent OGTT were included in this study. A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed before the test. Blood glucose, insulin level, IOP (iCare rebound tonometer), Ocular Response Analyzer, and corneal topography (Pentacam) measurements were obtained at 0, 1, and 2 h during the OGTT. Data from the patients' right eyes were included in the analysis.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 46.9 ± 11.0 years. There was a statistically significant difference in IOP between 1 and 2 h (p = 0.03) and a clinically significant difference between 0 and 1 h (p = 0.06). Corneal resistance factor was lower at 2 h than 1 h (p = 0.03), while central cornea thickness was increased at 1 h (p = 0.01) and 2 h (p = 0.05) compared to 0 h. There was positive partial correlation between hyperglycemia and IOP at 1 h (p = 0.049, r = 0.67).

Conclusion: The positive partial correlation between IOP and glucose level suggests that acute hyperglycemia may lead to increased IOP. However, further research is needed to explain the mechanism of IOP elevation in the hyperglycemic phase during OGTT.

Purpose: We explored the associations between socioeconomic status, as evaluated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), and characteristics of open globe injury (OGI) in a Level I trauma center during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Retrospective review of electronic medical records of patients who underwent OGI evaluation and repair at Harborview Medical Center between March/2017 and March/2021. Demographic data and patient characteristics were recorded. The SVI was obtained based on the patient's home address. Patients were grouped into the "historical" (pre-COVID) cohort, including dates from March 2017 - March 2020, and the "COVID" cohort, including dates from March 2020 - March 2021.

Results: 318 patients (77.4% male) were included. Average ± S.D. age (years) and SVI scores were 44.7 ± 22.7 and 0.413 ± 0.195, respectively. SVI scores were significantly higher (more vulnerable) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to years prior (p = 0.017), however when compared to scores for the same patients prior to the pandemic, no difference was found (p = 0.609). There was no significant difference between intentional and non-intentional trauma, work-related injuries, OGI type, presence of endophthalmitis, or ocular trauma score (p ≥ 0.293). Still, significantly fewer motor vehicle-associated (MVA) OGIs occurred during the pandemic (p = 0.041).

Conclusions: Patients with OGI during the COVID-19 pandemic had higher SVI scores, however when considering the overall effect of the pandemic, our findings are likely reflective of the societal changes at large. There was no identifiable impact on the mechanisms or characteristics of ocular injuries, except for fewer MVA injuries.