Therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of pterostilbene nano drugs in dry eye models.

Dry eye disease is a multifactorial dysfunction of the tear film and ocular surface, with etiology involving inflammation and oxidative stress on the ocular surface. Pterostilbene (PS) is a secondary metabolite extracted from plants, which possesses remarkable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, its application is limited by light instability and very poor water solubility. We modified fat-soluble PS into a biparental pterostilbene-glutaric anhydride-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (PS-GA-RGD) nanomedicine by prodrug ligation of functional peptides. The aim of this study was to explore the protective effect and potential mechanism of PS-GA-RGD on dry eye disease in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated good long-term biocompatibility of PS-GA-RGD through rabbit eye stimulation test. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce murine macrophages RAW 264.7 to establish an inflammation and oxidative stress model. In this model, PS-GA-RGD effectively reduced the production of ROS and 8-OHdG, enhancing the expression of antioxidant factor Nrf2 and antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1. In addition, the expression of NF-κB inflammatory pathway significantly increased in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, while PS-GA-RGD could significantly reduce this pathway. Hypertonic saline was utilized to establish a hypertonic model of human corneal epithelial cells. PS-GA-RGD was found to significantly reduce the production of ROS and NLRP3 inflammasomes in this model, exhibiting superior efficacy compared to PS. Experimental dry eye animal models were co-induced with subcutaneous injection of scopolamine and an intelligently controlled environmental system. We demonstrated that PS-GA-RGD nano drugs can prevent and reduce corneal epithelial cell defects and apoptosis, protect conjunctival goblet cells, and have an excellent anti-inflammatory effect. Finally, we demonstrated that RGD sequence in PS-GA-RGD can enhance cellular uptake, corneal retention, and penetration, thereby increasing their bioavailability and efficacy by a cell uptake assay and rabbit corneal drug retention experiment. Overall, this study highlights the potential of PS-GA-RGD nanomedicines in the treatment of dry eyes.

The effects of eyelash extensions on the ocular surface.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of eyelash extensions on the ocular surface. METHODS: This prospective study included 32 participants with eyelash extensions in both eyes. Symptoms and clinical parameters such as conjunctival vascular density, tear meniscus height (TMH), noninvasive tear break-up time, bulbar redness, meibography, lipid layer thickness, and corneal staining were assessed in the right eyes. These measurements were taken at baseline and 1 h, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after eyelash extensions were applied. RESULTS: At 1 h after eyelash extensions, ocular symptoms were reported by 27 participants (84.44 %), the most common being foreign body sensation (59.38 %). However, the Ocular Surface Disease Index scores were not statistically different between baseline, 1 week, and 1 month after eyelash extension (P > 0.05). TMH increased significantly at 1 h after eyelash extensions, from 0.27 ± 0.08 mm (baseline) to 0.29 ± 0.07 mm (P = 0.02). Subsequently, TMH decreased and was the lowest at 1 week at 0.24 ± 0.08 mm. First tear break-up time and average tear break-up time decreased to the lowest at 1 week after eyelash extension, with 8.36 ± 4.6 s and 10.71 ± 4.99 s, respectively, both of which were statistically different from baseline (P < 0.05). Corneal staining score was highest at 1 h after eyelash extensions at 0.78 ± 1.34. However, there were no significant differences in the conjunctival vascular density, bulbar redness, meiboscore, or lipid layer thickness. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that eyelash extensions can lead to an imbalance in ocular surface homeostasis, resulting in corneal epithelial defects and short-term decreased tear film stability.

The influence of eyelid pressure and eye contour factors on rigid corneal contact lens fitting.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of eyelid pressure (ELP) and eye contour factors on rigid corneal contact lens fitting. METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study involved 20 participants (one eye per person). Rigid corneal contact lenses with three different base curves were selected for each participant. The base curves were calculated according to the average keratometry value. The original value and its variations (+0.1 mm and - 0.1 mm) were considered. Eye contour factors, lens decentration under natural eye position (LD I) and full eyelid exposure (LD II), and lens vertical movement were taken by a Canon camera mounted on a digital slit lamp biomicroscope. Upper and lower ELPs were measured by a novel blepharo-tensiometer. RESULTS: The mean values of LD I, LD II, and lens vertical movement significantly increased as the base curve increased (P＜0.001, ＜0.001, and = 0.005). Upper ELP was positively correlated with lens vertical movement of the three base curves (P = 0.047, 0.001, and 0.004). Furthermore, upper ELP (odds ratio [OR]: 1.039; 95 % confidence [CI]: 1.009-1.069; P = 0.009) and flat keratometry values (OR: 0.873; 95 % CI: 0.786-0.969; P = 0.011) independently influenced lens vertical movement. CONCLUSIONS: ELP and base curve independently influenced rigid corneal contact lens fitting. Thus, ELP should be considered during rigid corneal contact lens fitting in clinical practice.