Therapeutic Advances in Ophthalmology最新文献

Demodex blepharitis is a chronic, progressive condition characterized by inflammation, ocular irritation, and erythema due to an overgrowth of mites in hair follicles and oil glands of the eyelids. AZR-MD-001(AZR) is a selenium sulfide-containing ophthalmic ointment that is a potential treatment option for Demodex blepharitis. We wished to complete a case study to identify the potential of this agent to treat Demodex blepharitis. A patient with chronic Demodex blepharitis applied AZR 0.5% to the right lower eyelid every other day at bedtime for 6 weeks, discontinued treatment for 6 weeks, then treated the left lower eyelid with vehicle only for 6 weeks, followed by use of AZR 0.5% for both lower eyelids twice a week for 6 weeks. Eyelashes were removed and pooled for evidence of mites and collarettes before and after the first treatment, and eyes were inspected for signs of blepharitis before and after each treatment period. After treatment with AZR 0.5%, resolution of blepharitis occurred in the treated eye, with no evidence of Demodex mites. The untreated eye showed no difference from baseline. After discontinuing for 6 weeks, the signs of blepharitis returned, similar to baseline. After 6 weeks of vehicle application to the left eye, no changes in signs were observed. After treatment with AZR 0.5% for 6 weeks to both eyes, complete resolution of blepharitis occurred in both eyes. No adverse events were reported. Treatment with AZR 0.5% was efficacious in eradicating Demodex blepharitis, which was not evidenced when using vehicle or a lack of treatment. This demonstrated a potential new use for AZR to treat Demodex blepharitis. Further studies are required to establish the safety and efficacy of this product.

The purpose of this summary is to explain the findings of a literature review, which is a summary and analysis of scientific discoveries that other researchers have published about a topic. This review looked at treatment approaches in an eye disease that is a common complication of diabetes called diabetic retinopathy (DR). The literature review described how DR can damage the light-sensing area at the back of the eye called the retina. In DR, a damage to blood vessels can impair the normal blood flow to parts of the retina. This condition is what doctors call retinal non-perfusion (RNP). RNP can result in vision loss, seriously affecting people's daily life and activities. Current treatments may help to lessen the severity of DR, but more research is needed to understand how to treat the underlying problem of the reduced blood flow to the retina (RNP) and stop the progression of disease earlier. Current treatments often impose burdens on patients due to side effects, the need for frequent treatment appointments, and pain associated with the administration procedure. New drugs are now being studied to help improve blood flow to the retina and slow or stop sight loss in people with diabetes. Proteins called semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) and neuropilin 1 (Nrp1) regulate blood flow to the retina. New drugs that work against these proteins to help to increase blood flow to the retina are currently being investigated by doctors. Several other drugs that may increase blood flow to the retina are also being studied in animals and humans. Such treatments could protect people's vision and enhance their quality of life over the long term.

Objective: Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of vision loss, with lipid metabolism implicated in its pathogenesis. Our study explores lipid metabolism-derived acylation modifications in POAG using GEO, GWAS, and PubChem databases.

Methods: Integrated multi-omics approaches were employed: Mendelian randomization assessed causal relationships between lipid traits and POAG risk; transcriptomic analysis (gene set variation analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis) identified key acylation-related genes; machine learning selected feature genes; and single-cell sequencing validated mechanisms in human trabecular meshwork samples.

Results: Four lipid metabolism-derived acylations (palmitoylation, myristoylation, succinylation, malonylation) were significantly upregulated in POAG. Core genes 5'-aminolevulinate synthase 2 (ALAS2) and phospholipase C epsilon 1 (PLCE1) were mechanistically linked: ALAS2 catalyzed acyl-CoA accumulation, while myristoylated PLCE1 promoted trabecular fibrosis via collagen type IV alpha 3 chain interaction. External datasets confirmed these findings.

Conclusion: Lipid-derived acylations drive POAG through ALAS2-mediated acyl-CoA production and PLCE1-induced fibrosis, revealing novel targets for intervention. Lipid metabolism-derived acylation modifications, particularly succinylation, propionylation, and myristoylation, may play a crucial role in POAG. These findings highlight the potential role of acylation modifications in POAG and offer new insights into POAG's molecular mechanisms and potential research directions.

Background: Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune inflammatory condition affecting the orbit and ocular surface, often leading to proptosis, diplopia, and evaporative dry eye. Tear film instability, eyelid retraction, and lagophthalmos contribute significantly to ocular surface dysfunction in TED. Smoking is a major risk factor that worsens disease severity and reduces treatment response.

Objectives: To evaluate ocular surface changes, treatment responses, and risk factors-including smoking-in patients with TED, and to assess the effects of different therapeutic modalities.

Design: Retrospective observational cohort study.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the records of 365 patients with TED followed between 2014 and 2021. Complete clinical data were available for 362 patients. Ocular parameters, including TBUT, OSDI, Oxford staining score, MRD-1, MRD-2, and Hertel exophthalmometry, were evaluated at baseline and follow-up. Treatment modalities included antithyroid drugs, corticosteroids, selenium supplementation, RAI, and surgery. Data were compared between smokers and nonsmokers.

Results: Among 362 patients (76% female), 105 (29%) were smokers. TED severity and persistent dry eye symptoms were significantly higher among smokers (p < 0.05). Posttreatment, significant improvements were observed in TBUT, OSDI, and Oxford scores (p < 0.05). Selenium supplementation showed potential benefit. CAS decreased significantly over follow-up (from 7.7% to 4.7% active cases, p < 0.05). TED progression was observed in 18.7% of patients receiving RAI therapy. Surgical intervention rates were low.

Conclusion: TED causes notable ocular surface dysfunction and dry eye symptoms, particularly in smokers. Medical and surgical treatments provide effective disease control, while selenium appears promising for disease stabilization. Smoking cessation and early multidisciplinary management are critical to improving outcomes.

Glaucoma, a leading global cause of irreversible blindness, often progresses despite adequate intraocular pressure (IOP) control, highlighting a crucial unmet need for neuroprotective strategies that directly promote retinal ganglion cell survival. In addition, the glaucoma standard of care is often reactive, initiating only on measurable structural or functional loss and lacking in structured, proactive approach to neuroprotection. This review introduces the NP-10 System, a novel conceptual framework designed to systematically address 10 diverse and interrelated neuroprotective mechanisms implicated in glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Broadly, these can be categorized as pressure-related factors (direct IOP and psychological stress), vascular factors (encompassing vascular dysregulation and homocysteine-related endothelial dysfunction), cellular dysfunctions (mitochondrial dysfunction, glycolysis impairment, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation), and functional deficits (macular pigment deficiency and impaired axonal function). Specific nutraceutical interventions, including saffron, French maritime pine, bilberry, palmitoylethanolamide, nicotinamide, methylfolate, methylcobalamin, macular carotenoids, Ginkgo biloba, pyruvate, and citicoline, may target multiple mechanisms to reduce IOP, modulate stress, improve ocular perfusion, enhance cellular bioenergetics, provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, augment macular pigment, and improve visual function in glaucoma. With promising emerging evidence for neuroprotection, the NP-10 System provides a scaffold for future large, randomized trials to establish clinical efficacy, optimize formulations, and clarify safety profiles of these nutraceuticals, paving the way for integrating targeted nutritional support into proactive glaucoma care.

Neonatal retinal hemorrhage (RH) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are significant causes of visual impairment in preterm infants, necessitating effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This review synthesizes current approaches to RH and ROP management, highlighting their limitations and the critical need for standardized diagnostic criteria. Indirect ophthalmoscopy, while accessible, suffers from subjective variability, whereas wide-field digital retinal imaging, despite superior visualization, is limited by cost and training requirements. Vaginal delivery and prematurity-related factors, such as fragile retinal vasculature and neonatal complications (e.g., sepsis and hyperbilirubinemia), significantly increase RH and ROP risk, with severe RH correlating with ROP progression. Advances in digital retinal imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) offer promising solutions for early detection, enabling timely interventions such as anti-VEGF therapy to improve visual outcomes. Future directions include developing universal diagnostic standards, exploring novel treatments such as probiotics, and leveraging technologies such as optical coherence tomography. Enhanced screening programs, collaborative research, and public awareness are essential to optimize RH and ROP management, ultimately improving long-term visual prognosis for affected infants.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of topical losartan 1 mg/mL in reducing corneal fibrosis by inhibiting myofibroblast proliferation and improving corneal transparency, offering a potential therapeutic alternative. A prospective, interventional case series enrolled adults with corneal fibrosis. Participants administered topical losartan 1 mg/mL six times daily for 3 months. Visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, corneal tomography, and densitometry were used to assess outcomes. A Random Forest machine learning model identified key predictors of visual improvement. Nineteen eyes from seventeen patients were analyzed. Mean uncorrected distance visual acuity improved from 1.04 ± 0.62 to 0.74 ± 0.46 LogMAR (p = 0.007). Corneal densitometry significantly decreased, particularly in the midperipheral zone (p = 0.0184). Worse baseline visual acuity and longer leukoma duration correlated with greater improvement. The predictive model achieved an AUROC of 0.76, with 86.67% sensitivity, 75.00% specificity, and 84.21% accuracy, confirming its robustness. These findings suggest that topical losartan improves corneal transparency and functional vision in patients with corneal fibrosis. The predictive model provides a clinically useful scoring system to guide treatment selection. Further validation in larger clinical trials is warranted.

Purpose: Corneal high-order aberrations due to pterygium have a significant impact on patients' visual quality. This study aims to assess changes in corneal high-order aberrations following pterygium surgery.

Methods: This hospital-based prospective study included 51 eyes of 51 patients with primary pterygium who underwent pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft. Corneal topography and ocular high-order aberrations (HOA) were measured using corneal topography and aberrometry scans with a Sirius Scheimpflug-Placido topographer, both preoperatively and 6 weeks postoperatively. These values were derived for both 3 and 5 mm pupillary diameters using Zernike polynomial expansion. The relative risk of residual postoperative aberrations was assessed in relation to increasing pterygium size.

Results: The mean age of patients enrolled in the study was 40.3 ± 7.4 years. The root mean square value of total HOA significantly decreased at 6 weeks after uneventful pterygium surgery. Excision of pterygium significantly reduced all parameters (coma: 95% CI, p < 0.05; trefoil: 95% CI, p < 0.05; quadrafoil: 95% CI, p < 0.05), with trefoil being the main contributor. Astigmatism values also showed a significant postoperative reduction. In 15.9% of patients, preoperative "with-the-rule astigmatism" changed to postoperative "against-the-rule astigmatism." A notable increase in the relative risk of residual postoperative HOA was observed when the pterygium length exceeded 4 mm.

Conclusion: Pterygia are associated with corneal higher-order aberrations, particularly trefoil, which were largely eliminated by surgery. Earlier excision of pterygia reduces the likelihood of significant residual aberrations.

Background: Retinal implants have emerged as interventions to partially restore functional vision such as light perception, motion detection or object localisation in patients with severe vision loss from degenerative retinal conditions, including retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term efficacy, safety and quality of life (QoL) impact of retinal implants with ⩾1 year of follow-up.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted (31st July to 31st August 2024) in Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Embase, using the terms: ('retinal implant' OR 'retinal prosthesis') AND ('long-term' OR 'follow-up') AND ('efficacy' OR 'safety' OR 'quality of life'). No publication date restrictions were applied. Eligible studies were in English, involved human subjects with retinal degenerations, and reported ⩾1 year follow-up. Risk of bias was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) cohort study checklist for most studies, as they involved prospective follow-up without randomisation or control groups. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist for case series was applied to studies with a case series design. Narrative synthesis was applied.

Results: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria: 53.85% assessed epiretinal implants (Argus II), 30.77% subretinal (Alpha AMS and PRIMA), and 15.38% suprachoroidal (44 and 49-channel STS). Epiretinal implants improved visual function, with up to 89% better in SLT, 50%-56% in DOM, and 30%-40% reaching ⩾2.9 logMAR when activated. Subretinal implants enhanced light perception, localisation, and grating acuity (to 3.33 cycles/degree), with acuity of 20/460 and 20/550 in some cases. Suprachoroidal devices improved SLT, DOM and GVA. Adverse events were more frequent with epiretinal than other implant types. QoL outcomes improved, particularly in mobility, orientation, and daily tasks.

Conclusion: Retinal implants confer functional vision, but acuities remain below 20/200, and recipients continue to meet criteria for legal blindness. Given the high risk of bias, lack of controls and potential placebo effects, further high-quality evidence is needed to confirm their efficacy, safety and QoL impact.