Clinical features and comprehensive treatment of persistent corneal epithelial dysfunction after cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of clinical efficacy and safety of tobramycin/dexamethasone eye ointment in treating persistent corneal epithelial dysfunction (PED) after cataract surgery. METHODS: 26 cases diagnosed as PED after cataract surgery accept the tobramycin/dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment and intense pulse light treatment in the Xiamen University of Xiamen eye center between September 2016 and April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, mainly including clinical manifestations, characteristics of morphological changes imaged by in vivo confocal microscopy, meibomian glands infrared photography, lipid layer thickness (LLT), management and therapeutic effects. RESULTS: There were 26 eyes, include 8(35%) males and 15(65%) females with an average age of 69.6 ± 5.2 years(50 to 78 years). The mean hospitalization time was (18.4 ± 7.5) days after cataract surgery. Twenty patients had meibomian gland dysfunction. Infrared photography revealed varying loss in the meibomian glands, with a mean score of 3.8 ± 1.2 for gland loss. The mean LLT was 61.6 ± 8.4 nm. After treatment, 20 patients were cured, and 3 received amniotic membrane transplantation. After treatment, the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected vision activity (BCVA) improved (P < 0.001), and there was no significant difference in intraocular pressure (IOP) before and after treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The early manifestation of PED after surgery is punctate staining of the corneal epithelium. Tobramycin and dexamethasone eye ointment bandages have a good repair effect. The meibomian gland massage combined with intense pulse light treatment can effectively shorten the course of the disease.

Evaluation of lymphotoxin-alpha in pterygium and diagnostic value in active and inactive pterygium states.

To explore the correlation between tear LT-a, pterygium status, and dry eye indicators. We established a diagnostic model to evaluate active pterygium. A retrospective study was conducted between June 2021 and June 2023 on 172 patients, comprising 108 men and 64 women. The study analyzed LT-a and various ocular parameters in all participants. The data was collected using Excel software and analyzed using SPSS 25.0 statistical software and Medcalc. We made a nomogram diagnostic model to different diagnosed the state of pterygium. This study found that pterygium has progressive eye surface damage during the active state. There was no significant difference in dry eye indicators between the two groups. However, the concentration of LT-a in the active group was significantly lower than that in the inactive group (P < 0.001). We observed that increased pterygium grade corresponded to a worse ocular surface condition. In addition, LT-a was significantly positively correlated with disease duration, but negatively correlated with age, pterygium size, active pterygium state, and LLT value. The optimal intercept value for evaluating active pterygium in Lt-a was ≤ 0.49 dg/ml. We screened three variables for evaluating active pterygium through Single and Multiple regression analysis: LT-a grading, pterygium size, and congestion score. Finally, we made a reliable diagnostic nomogram model. Pterygium development triggers immune inflammation. Our model based on LT-a identifies active pterygium for personalized treatment options and new research directions.

Clinical and Morphological in Vivo Confocal Microscopy Findings following a Modified Biphasic Higher Fluence Transepithelial Corneal Crosslinking.

Purpose: To compare the refractive efficacy and morphological changes in the cornea following a novel biphasic higher fluence transepithelial corneal crosslinking (BI-TE-CXL) and transepithelial corneal crosslinking (TE-CXL) in adults keratoconus.Methods: Patients with progressive keratoconus who required corneal crosslinking were assigned to the BI-TE-CXL group (32 eyes, phase 1: 7.2 J/cm2 for 5 min and 20 s of pulsed-light exposure, KXL, Glaukos-Avedro; phase 2: 3.6 J/cm2 for 6 min and 40 s of continuous light exposure at the front curvature apex with a 6 mm diameter light spot, UVX-2000, IROC) or the TE-CXL group (32 eyes, uniform 7.2 J/cm2 for 5 min and 20 s of pulsed-light exposure, KXL, Glaukos-Avedro). Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), corneal topography, anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), and in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM) were performed 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery.Results: The CFS scores in the BI-TE-CXL group were significantly higher than those in the TE-CXL group on the first two days after surgery (p < 0.001). The Kmax (at 12 and 24 months) and CDVA (logMAR) were significantly lower in the BI-TE-CXL group than those in the TE-CXL group (p < 0.05). The corneal demarcation line under AS-OCT was visible in 81.3% of patients in the BI-TE-CXL group and 15.6% in the TE-CXL group. The depth of the demarcation line under IVCM was significantly deeper in the BI-TE-CXL group (248.3 ± 25.0 µm) than that of the TE-CXL group (136.5 ± 15.6 µm) in the central cornea (p < 0.001). The cross-linked collagen structures in the central cornea were still present after 12 months in the BI-TE-CXL group. No significant difference in sub-basal nerve density between the two groups (p > 0.05).Conclusions: Following BI-TE-CXL, CDVA was significantly improved, accompanied by deeper demarcation line depth and persistent crosslinked structures in the central corneal stroma.

Relation Between Corneal Dendritic Cell Density and Tear Film Stability in Patients with Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis Associated Dry Eye.

PURPOSE: To clarify the ocular surface features of patients with recent history of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) and the relation between corneal dendritic cells (DCs) and ocular discomfort. METHODS: Normal controls (NC) and dry eye (DE) patients without EKC were recruited. Patients with recent EKC history (onset >4 weeks, but <20 weeks) were recruited as EKC + DE group (with dry eye) or EKC-DE group (without dry eye). Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear film parameters including lipid layer thickness, first tear break-up time (fBUT), average tear break-up time (aBUT), tear meniscus height and Schirmer I test, meibomian gland parameters, and in vivo corneal confocal microscopy were evaluated. RESULTS: 50 subjects in the NC group, 83 patients in the DE group, 76 patients in the EKC + DE group, and 38 patients in the EKC-DE group were included. Compared with the NC, DE, and EKC-DE groups, the EKC + DE group represented higher OSDI, lid margin, and meibum score (p < 0.05). In the EKC + DE group, the tear volume (10.5 ± 3.7 mm) was significantly higher than in the DE group (8.1 ± 2.8 mm, p < 0.001). The DC density in the EKC + DE group (29.98 ± 15.38 cells/image) was significantly higher than in NC, DE, and EKC-DE groups (4.68 ± 4.05 cells/image) (p < 0.001). The DC density was positively correlated with OSDI, lid margin, and meibum score (all p < 0.01) while inversely correlated with fBUT, aBUT (all p < 0.001) in the EKC + DE group. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal DC density significantly correlates to ocular discomfort and tear film instability in patients with recent EKC history who suffer from DE without aqueous tear deficiency.

Meibomian Glands and Tear Film Findings in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The characteristics of the meibomian gland and tear film in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with different glycemic control levels and diabetic durations remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to identify the association of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in T2D. Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM group), 33 dry eye patients without diabetes mellitus (DE group), and 40 normal subjects (NC group) were recruited for this study. Participants were evaluated with an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear film breakup time (BUT), the Schirmer I test (SIT), corneal fluorescein staining (FL), lipid layer thickness (LLT), and MGD parameters. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c ) and duration of diabetes were recorded. Results: The SIT value in the DM group was higher than that of the DE group (p < 0.05). The BUT and LLT were lower, and MGD parameters were higher in the DM group than those of the DE and NC groups (p < 0.05). In the DM group, 47 patients were diagnosed with dry eye (DM + DE group), whereas 40 patients without dry eye were categorized as the DM - DE group. The SIT, BUT, and LLT values in the DM - DE group were higher (p < 0.01), and MGD parameters were lower (p < 0.01) in the DM - DE group than those of the DM + DE group. The MGD parameters were higher in the DM - DE group than those in the NC group (p < 0.05). The HbA1c levels were correlated with OSDI, BUT, LLT, FL, and MGD parameters (p < 0.001) in the DM group. However, in patients with low HbA1c , normal SIT value, and low OSDI, the MGD parameters were higher than those in the NC group (p < 0.05). The duration of diabetes positively correlated with MGD parameters (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Asymptomatic MGD may be an early sign of dry eye and ocular discomfort in T2D. The MGD parameters were associated with the HbA1c level and diabetic duration.

Safety and efficacy of repeated crosslinking assisted by transepithelial double-cycle iontophoresis in keratoconus progression after primary corneal crosslinking.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of repeated corneal collagen crosslinking assisted by transepithelial double-cycle iontophoresis (DI-CXL) in the management of keratoconus progression after primary CXL. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in the patients who underwent repeated CXL between 2016 and 2018. These patients were treated with DI-CXL if keratoconus progression was confirmed after primary CXL. Scoring of ocular pain and corneal epithelial damage, visual acuity, corneal tomography, in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM) was performed before and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after DI-CXL. RESULTS: Overall, 21 eyes of 12 patients (mean age 17.3 ± 1.9 years) were included in this study. Before DI-CXL, an average increase of 4.26 D in Kmax was detected in these patients with a mean follow-up interval of (23.0 ± 13.7) months. After DI-CXL, corneal epithelial damage rapidly recovered within days. Visual acuity remained unchanged with follow-up of 24 months. When compared to baseline, significant decreases were observed in Kmax (at 3 months) and K2 (at 3 and 6 months) after DI-CXL. Corneal thickness of thinnest point significantly decreased at 3 months postoperatively. When compared to baseline, no significant differences were found in any of the refractive or tomographic parameters at 12 and 24 months. IVCM revealed trabecular patterned hyperdense tissues after DI-CXL in the anterior stroma at the depth of 200 µm or more. No corneal infiltration or persistent epithelial defect was recorded after DI-CXL. CONCLUSION: DI-CXL is safe and effective as a good alternative in stabilizing keratoconus progression after primary CXL.

Transepithelial corneal cross-linking assisted by two continuous cycles of iontophoresis for progressive keratoconus in adults: retrospective 5-year analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to compare the long-term effects of transepithelial corneal crosslinking with two continuous cycles of iontophoresis (EI-CXL) and conventional corneal crosslinking (C-CXL) in adults with progressive keratoconus. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in adults who underwent C-CXL or EI-CXL between 2013 and 2015. Visual acuity, corneal tomography, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM), and endothelial cell count (ECC) were performed preoperatively and 5 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients with a mean age of (24.3 ± 3.8) years were included, 34 for each group. After CXL, UCVA or BCVA remained stable, while the spherical diopter, cylinder diopter, spherical equivalent, and Kmax significantly decreased at 1, 2, and 3 years in both groups than baseline (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in any refractive or tomographic parameters as well as the minimal corneal thickness between groups during follow-up. At 5 years, Kmax was slightly higher in EI-CXL group (58.16 ± 6.28) than that of C-CXL group (57.46 ± 4.98). At 3 and 5 years, the minimal corneal thickness in C-CXL group was still significantly lower than baseline (P < 0.05). IVCM demonstrated the demarcation zone at a mean depth of (302.0 ± 41.7) µm after C-CXL, and at (251.2 ± 28.1) µm after EI-CXL (P < 0.001). Keratocyte repopulation was detectable at all follow-up timepoint in both groups. Postoperative complications including progression were recorded in 6 patients (11.7%) after C-CXL and 3 patients (8.8%) after EI-CXL. ECC remained stable in both groups. CONCLUSION: EI-CXL showed approximate efficacy with C-CXL in stabilizing progressive keratoconus in adults. EI-CXL has the potential to be a preferable transepithelial protocol.

PPAR-α Agonist Fenofibrate Suppressed the Formation of Ocular Surface Squamous Metaplasia Induced by Topical Benzalkonium Chloride.

Purpose: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) agonist fenofibrate on the formation of ocular surface squamous metaplasia induced by topical benzalkonium chloride (BAC) in a mouse model. Methods: Ocular surface squamous metaplasia was induced in 16 days by topical BAC application in mice. During the period of induction, mice were divided into four groups: no additional treatment (BAC+UT), topical vehicle (BAC+Vehicle), topical fenofibrate (BAC+Feno), or topical fenofibrate plus intraperitoneal injection of MK886 (BAC+Feno+MK886). The parameters of tear film were evaluated on day 16, and eye specimens were collected. Histologic investigation; PAS assays; immunostaining for cytokeratin 10 (K10), Ki67, and F4/80; and PCR assays for TNF-α and IL-6 were performed. Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) assays were performed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of fenofibrate on RAW264.7 cells. Results: Fenofibrate suppressed the formation of BAC-induced instable tear film. In the BAC+Feno group, the expression of K10 and Ki67 was lower than in the other three groups. The number of goblet cells was reduced in eyes of the BAC+UT and BAC+Vehicle groups but was maintained in eyes of the BAC+Feno group. The number of F4/80-positive cells and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA were significantly reduced in the cornea of the BAC+Feno group. These effects of fenofibrate could be attenuated by MK886. The cell viability of RAW264.7 cells could be significantly inhibited by fenofibrate in a dose-dependent pattern. Conclusions: Topical application of fenofibrate suppressed the formation of ocular surface squamous metaplasia, which might be mediated through the PPAR-α signaling pathway.

[Clinical study of optical quality after implantation of aspheric toric intraocular lens in cataract surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the optical quality after two different types (aspheric and spheric) of toric intraocular lens implantation. METHODS: The study was a prospective study. One hundred eyes of 89 patients with regular corneal astigmatism (range 1.00 D to 3.00 D) underwent implantation of toric intraocular lens in the Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital from May 2012 to June 2013, including 50 eyes of 44 patients implanted Acrysof IQ Toric IOL (SN6AT) (aspheric group) and 50 eyes of 45 patients implanted Acrysof Toric IOL (SN60TT) (spheric group). Mean age was 73.7 years±6.6 and mean astigmatism was 1.68±0.51D. Main outcomes of two groups evaluated at 3-months of follow-up, included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), residual refractive cylinder and IOL rotation. Contrast sensitivity testing was performed under photopic, mesopic and mesopic with glare conditions using the CSV-1000E charts. Ocular higher order aberrations, including total higher order aberrations and spherical aberration, were measured at optical zone of 3.0 and 5.0 mm using iTrace aberrometer. Objective optical quality was measured using optical quality analysis system (OQAS), included MTF cutoff, OSI, Strehl ratio, OV100%, OV20% and OV9%. The Student t test was performed for data with normal distribution. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed for data with no normal distribution. RESULTS: Postoperatively, the mean UDVA of aspheric and spheric group were 0.19±0.11 and 0.21±0.11 LogMAR respectively; the mean CDVA were 0.08±0.09 and 0.10±0.10 LogMAR respectively; the mean residual refractive cylinder were 0.50±0.30D and 0.59±0.32D respectively; the mean absolute misalignment were 3.74±1.88 degrees and 3.84±1.68 degrees respectively. No statistically significant differences were noted between groups in mean UDVA, CDVA, residual refractive cylinder and absolute misalignment (U=1135.50, P=0.414; U=1118.52, P=0.342; U=1035, P=0.128 and t=0.28, P=0.780, respectively). Aspheric group performed better than spheric group under mesopic and mesopic glare conditions at moderate and high spatial frequency. Mean ocular spherical aberration of aspheric group at 3.0 mm pupil was significantly less than spheric group and mean total higher order aberrations and spherical aberration of aspheric group at 5.0 mm pupil were less than spheric group (t=3.49, P=0.003; t=6.46, P<0.001 and U=0.00, P<0.001, respectively). The mean MTFcutoff of aspheric and spheric group were (23.207±5.409) cpd and (25.01±5.46) cpd, the mean OSI were 1.69±0.7 and 1.65±0.77, the mean Strehl ratio were 0.14±0.04 and 0.16±0.04, the mean OV100% were 0.77±0.18 and 0.83±0.18, the mean OV20% were 0.77±0.18 and 0.79±0.21, and the mean OV9% were 0.75±0.20 and 0.78±0.17. No statistically significant differences were noted between groups in mean MTFcutoff, OSI, Strehl ratio, OV100%, OV20% and OV9% (t=0.26, P=0.795; t=1.66, P=0.100; t=1.92, P=0.057; t=1.72, P=0.089; t=0.39, P=0.693 and t=0.98, P=0.328, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Both aspheric and spheric toric IOL implantation were an effective and safe method to correct corneal astigmatism during cataract surgery. Moreover, aspheric toric IOL performed better optical quality than spheric toric IOL.

Optical quality of toric intraocular lens implantation in cataract surgery.

AIM: To analyze the optical quality after implantation of toric intraocular lens with optical quality analysis system. METHODS: Fifty-two eyes of forty-four patients with regular corneal astigmatism of at least 1.00 D underwent implantation of AcrySof toric intraocular lens, including T3 group 19 eyes, T4 group 18 eyes, T5 group 10 eyes, T6 group 5 eyes. Main outcomes evaluated at 3mo of follow-up, included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), residual refractive cylinder and intraocular lens (IOL) axis rotation. Objective optical quality were measured using optical quality analysis system (OQAS II(®), Visiometrics, Spain), included the cutoff frequency of modulation transfer function (MTFcutoff), objective scattering index (OSI), Strehl ratio, optical quality analysis system value (OV) 100%, OV 20% and OV 9% [the optical quality analysis system (OQAS) values at contrasts of 100%, 20%, and 9%]. RESULTS: At 3mo postoperative, the mean UDVA and CDVA was 0.18±0.11 and 0.07±0.08 logMAR; the mean residual refractive cylinder was 0.50±0.29 D; the mean toric IOL axis rotation was 3.62±1.76 degrees, the mean MTFcutoff, OSI, Strehl ratio, OV 100%, OV 20% and OV 9% were 22.862±5.584, 1.80±0.84, 0.155±0.038, 0.76±0.18, 0.77±0.19 and 0.78±0.21. The values of UDVA, CDVA, IOL axis rotation, MTFcutoff, OSI, Strehl ratio, OV100%, OV20% and OV9% depending on the power of the cylinder of the implantation were not significantly different (P>0.05), except the residual refractive cylinder (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The optical quality analysis system was useful for characterizing the optical quality of AcrySof toric IOL implantation. Implantation of an AcrySof toric IOL is an effective and safe method to correct corneal astigmatism during cataract surgery.