Journal of Ophthalmic & Vision Research最新文献

Purpose: Cataracts are the second leading cause of visual impairment worldwide. This study aimed to examine the impact of occupational exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields on cataract development.

Methods: One hundred employees of Zahedan Electricity Company participated in this study. They were assigned to four groups based on their level of exposure: regular, operational, operator personnel, and non-exposure. Based on LOCS III grading, the risk of developing different types of cataracts (i.e., nuclear, posterior subcapsular, and cortical) was evaluated for all participants.

Results: The frequency of cataracts was 62.2% in the exposure group (which includes three subgroups: the regular, operational, and operator personnel) and 53.8% in the non-exposure group. There was a significant difference between the study groups in terms of nuclear opacity grading (P = 0.003). The correlation between nuclear and posterior subcapsular cataract grading and work experience duration in the exposure group was statistically significant (P $<$ 0.018).

Conclusion: This study's findings indicate that exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields such as power lines, power plants, and power distribution posts may be a risk factor for cataract development, particularly nuclear cataracts.

Purpose: Ophthalmic genetics is vital for diagnosing and managing inherited eye disorders, contributing to personalized treatments.

Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed 131 healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia through an online questionnaire to evaluate clinical practices, referral patterns, and challenges in genetic ophthalmology.

Results: Our study showed that 61.7% of participants reported the availability of ophthalmic genetics services in their hospitals, with an equal percentage referring patients to genetic specialists. However, significant barriers were identified, including limited budgets for genetic testing (69.6%), a lack of trained physicians (70.9%), low community awareness (50.6%), and a perceived lack of treatment options (27.8%). Additionally, concerns about patient access to genetic testing (54.3%) and genetic counseling (50.6%) were highlighted.

Conclusion: This is the first study on ophthalmic genetics in Saudi Arabia, and its findings emphasize the need for policy reforms and targeted interventions. Proposed solutions include innovative financial models for genetic testing, expanded training programs for healthcare providers, and public awareness campaigns to improve access to genetic services. Addressing these challenges can enhance early diagnosis, treatment strategies, and patient outcomes in ophthalmic genetics.

Purpose: To report a case of tubercular choroiditis that was initially treated for multifocal choroiditis.

Case report: A 54-year-old female patient diagnosed with multifocal choroiditis was referred to the clinic while undergoing treatment with systemic prednisone and methotrexate. The presenting visual acuity was 20/100 in the right eye and finger counting at 1 meter in the left eye. Further investigation by repeated tuberculin skin test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold test revealed tuberculosis as the probable cause of choroiditis. The patient was started on a four-drug antituberculosis regimen. Six months later, the vision improved significantly to 20/30 in the right eye and finger counting at 6 meters in the left eye, with no remaining cellular reaction.

Conclusion: Tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of multifocal choroiditis, and it is vital to perform careful history taking and thorough examinations.

Purpose: To assess the efficiency and safety of pilocarpine eye drop 1.25% analogue (IR- Pilo) in comparison with its original brand-name drug (Vuity).

Methods: In this non-randomized comparative study, 75 patients with presbyopia aged 40 to 60 years were enrolled. The right eyes of these patients received either IR-Pilo (n = 45) or Vuity (n = 30) and their contralateral eyes served as controls. Refractive errors, distance best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), near vision, amplitude of accommodation, pupil size, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured before and 1 to 2 hours after instillation of the eye drop.

Results: The mean refractive error was stable, except for a small myopic shift in the Vuity group. There was no significant change in distance BCVA. Near vision improved significantly in both intervention groups (P $<$ 0.001) with preference for IR-Pilo (4 vs 2.3). Furthermore, a higher amplitude of accommodation and pupil constriction occurred after instillation of both drops, with a higher effect associated with IR-Pilo. However, IOP did not change significantly post intervention.

Conclusion: IR-Pilo and Vuity eye drops had comparable results; both were effective and led to stable distance vision and improved near vision. Both ophthalmic drugs were safe and none of them were associated with significant adverse effects.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of topical insulin in patients with persistent corneal epithelial defects that are refractory to the standard treatment.

Methods: A retrospective, hospital-based, clinical study was performed on 17 eyes of 16 patients with different types of refractory persistent epithelial defects who were treated with topical insulin. The treatment was continued until the defect either was resolved or persisted after three months. Patients' demographic information, etiology, comorbidities, and clinical data were reviewed. The rate of epithelial healing was considered as the primary outcome measure.

Results: Neurotrophic keratitis was the most common cause of persistent epithelial defects (58.8%), and within this category, herpetic eye disease was the main comorbidity (44.4%). The mean follow-up time was 17.91 months. Eleven out of fifteen eyes (77.3%) had complete improvement and only one patient did not respond to the treatment. The mean time of reepithelization for the eyes with full recovery was 31.27 days (ranging from 6 to 61 days). The best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly after treatment (P $<$ 0.005), and there were no reports of complications or side effects during the study period.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that topical insulin, due to its good safety profile, availability, and affordability, could be a good therapeutic alternative for persistent epithelial defects.

Purpose: To evaluate the serum levels of oxidative stress-related molecules in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) compared with healthy controls.

Methods: Treatment-naive patients with no known systemic diseases and with OHTand POAG diagnosis were recruited for the study. Also, age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers with no ocular and systemic diseases were included as controls. None of the participants were under any topical or systemic treatment or vitamin/antioxidant supplements. Smokers were excluded from the study. Serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ascorbic acid, protein carbonyls (PCs), advanced glycation end products (AGEs), neuronal pentraxin 2 (NPTX2), and $\beta$ -amyloid precursor protein(A $\beta$ ) were analyzed.

Results: A total of 90 patients (30 in each group) were included in the study. There was no statistically significant difference between the study groups in terms of age and gender distribution. Serum levels of TAC (1.47 $\pm$ 0.11 mmole/L) were significantly higher in patients with OHT compared to controls (1.40 $\pm$ 0.11 mmole/L) and patients with POAG (1.30 $\pm$ 0.08 mmole/L) (P $<$ 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the study groups in terms of serum levels of ascorbic acid, PCs, AGEs, NPTX2, and A $\beta$ .

Conclusion: Serum levels of TAC were significantly higher in patients with OHT. This elevated level might contribute to the protection of the optic nerve even in the presence of increased intraocular pressure.

Purpose: This study aims to assess the incidence of serous choroidal detachment (SCD) in the second eye of patients undergoing bilateral trabeculectomy (BT) and evaluate its impact on the clinical outcomes and failure rate of trabeculectomy in the second-operated eyes.

Methods: This retrospective case-control study analyzed 90 eyes of 45 patients who underwent BT. Surgical success was defined as maintaining intraocular pressure (IOP) between 5 and 21 mmHg, requiring no additional glaucoma surgery, and exhibiting a visual acuity of at least light perception. Relevant patient data, such as age, glaucoma type, systemic diseases, preoperative and postoperative IOP, and complications, were extracted from medical records.

Results: The mean age of patients was 59.8 $\pm$ 11.1 years. The five-year cumulative probability of success in the first- and second-operated eyes was 61.0% and 67.6%, respectively (log rank = 0.085, P = 0.77). Among the participants, 28.9% experienced SCD, and 76.9% of those who had SCD in the first-operated eye developed the same condition in the second eye as well (P $<$ 0.001). In the first-operated eyes, the five-year cumulative probability of survival was 71.7% without SCD and 35.0% with SCD (log rank = 2.59, P = 0.107).

Conclusion: The occurrence of SCD in the first eye following trabeculectomy may indicate a predisposition to its development in the second eye during BT. Furthermore, the surgical success rate of the second-operated eye is comparable to the outcomes of the first eye undergoing BT.

Purpose: To evaluate choroidal structure and vasculature in eyes following scleral buckling (SB) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) compared with fellow eyes and control eyes.

Methods: This retrospective observational study was performed on 84 eyes: 32 eyes in the study group consisting of patients who had undergone SB due to RRD, 32 fellow eyes of the same patients, and 20 normal control eyes. Choroidal structures and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters were measured and compared among the three study groups.

Results: In the study group, the mean total choroidal area (0.6816 $\pm$ 0.03188 mm²) was comparable to the fellow eyes (0.7199 $\pm$ 0.03056 mm²) and the control group (0.7154 $\pm$ 0.17160 mm²). Mean outer luminal area was significantly lower in the study group (0.4089 $\pm$ 0.00442 mm²) than in the fellow eyes (0.4437 $\pm$ 0.00701 mm²) and the control group (0.4475 $\pm$ 0.00442 mm²) (P = 0.042, and 0.047, respectively). The choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and OCTA parameters were not significantly different in eyes with prior SB compared to the fellow eyes and the control group.

Conclusion: SB does not significantly affect CVI, choroidal vasculature, and OCTA parameters.

Purpose: To investigate the surgical outcomes of three different types of inferior oblique muscle weakening procedures in patients with mild hypertropia due to unilateral superior oblique muscle palsy.

Methods: We reviewed surgical data of patients aged $>$ 30 years with unilateral superior oblique palsy. The patients were categorized into three groups in terms of the surgical procedure: inferior oblique myectomy (IOM), inferior oblique recession (IOR), and inferior oblique disinsertion (IOD). Patients with preoperative hypertropia of 6 to 10 prism diopters (PD) were selected as mild cases for further comparison. Demographic data, preoperative and postoperative deviations in the primary position, contralateral gaze, contralateral elevation gaze, and ipsilateral tilt were considered for analysis. Complete success was defined as achieving postoperative orthotropia in addition to the resolution of diplopia and head tilt.

Results: A total of 82 patients with an average age of 11.8 years were included in this study. The male-to-female ratio was 1.27, and the most common cause of palsy was congenital (89%). Fifty-six patients were treated with IOM, thirteen with IOR, and thirteen with IOD. The mean hypertropia correction was significantly better in the IOM group (9.1 PD) than in the IOR (7.1 PD) and IOD (7.5 PD) groups. Complete success was achieved in 80.3% of the IOM group, 69.2% of the IOR group, and 84.6% of the IOD group. The reoperation rate was 1.7% in the IOM group and 7.6% in the IOR group.

Conclusion: Compared to IOR and IOD procedures, IOM was more effective in correcting hypertropia in patients with inferior oblique muscle overaction and mild hypertropia secondary to unilateral superior oblique palsy.