Rotating the Intraocular Lens to Prevent Posterior Capsular Opacification in Cataract Surgeries.

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a common postoperative complication of extracapsular cataract surgery, which is caused by the proliferation and migration of lens epithelial cells and can affect long-term visual outcomes significantly. The most effective treatment for PCO is neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy; however, this treatment is associated with posterior segment complication and can break the stability of capsular bag, affecting the position and function of trifocal or toric intraocular lenses (IOLs). Advances in surgical procedures, IOL design, and pharmacy have reduced the rate of PCO in recent years, concentrating on the inhibition of proliferative lens epithelial cells (LECs). This protocol aimed to clear LECs more thoroughly during phacoemulsification and IOL implantation. The first several steps, including clear corneal incision, continuous circular capsulorhexis, hydrodissection, hydrodelineation, and phacoemulsification, were completed as conventional procedures. After placing the IOL into the capsular bag, rotation of the IOL by at least 360° was performed using an irrigation/aspiration tip or a hook, with slight stress on the posterior capsule. Some residuals occurred in the originally transparent capsular bag after rotation of the IOLs. Then, these materials and the viscoelastic were cleared completely using an irrigation/aspiration system. A clear posterior capsule was observed after the surgery in patients undergoing this method. This method of rotating IOLs is a simple, effective, and safe way to prevent PCO by clearing residual LECs and can be carried out without extra tools or skills.

The effect of implantable collamer Lens V4c on ocular biometric measurements and intraocular lens power calculation based on Pentacam-AXL and IOLMaster 500.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the possible effect of implantable collamer lens (ICL) V4c on ocular biometric measurements by a new biometer Pentacam-AXL and partial coherence interferometry (PCI)-based IOLMaster 500 and intraocular lens power calculation using fourth-generation formula. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled patients who underwent ICL (EVO-V4c, STAAR Surgical Co. Nidau, Switzerland) implantation surgery from September 2020 to November 2021. The Pentacam-AXL and IOLMaster 500 biometers were used to measure axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), keratometry (K), white to white (WTW), and central corneal thickness (CCT) values before and at least 2 months after ICL V4c implantation. The IOL power was calculated using the Barrett Universal II formula. RESULTS: The study included 45 eyes in 28 patients. There was a significant increase in ALs (average 0.03 ± 0.07 mm, p = 0.01) and a significant decrease of ACDs (average 0.19 ± 0.17 mm, p < 0.001) based on Pentacam-AXL. Similar changes in ALs and ACDs were also found in IOLMaster 500. In addition, the difference in WTWs in the two devices and that of CCTs in Pentacam-AXL were statistically significant. However, the preoperative and postoperative K1 and K2 were separately comparable using either device. The IOL power calculated by the Barrett Universal II formula did not change significantly either by the software built in Pentacam-AXL or by manually putting the parameters of the IOLMaster 500 into the formula manually (p = 0.058, p = 0.675, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Ocular parameters including ALs, ACDs, WTWs, and CCTs using a new Pentacam-AXL and standard PCI-based IOLMaster 500 changed significantly before and after the ICL V4c implantation, while IOL power prediction using the Barrett Universal II formula was little affected.

Inhibitory Effect of Short-Term Palpebral Margin Cleaning with Antibiotic Eye Drops on Ocular Surface Flora before Cataract Extraction: A New Preoperative Antibacterial Method.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of the combined application of palpebral margin cleaning and antibiotic eye drops in inhibiting bacterial growth in the palpebral margin and conjunctival sacs before cataract extraction. Methods In this study, 61 patients (97 eyes) with age-related cataract who underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were selected, and randomly grouped. In the experimental group, the combined application of palpebral margin cleaning with cotton pads and levofloxacin eye drops was given for three days before the surgery. In the control group, levofloxacin eye drops alone were applied for three consecutive days. Bacteria samples from the conjunctival sac and eyelid margins were cultivated and identified before and three days after taking antimicrobial measures, respectively. Results In the experimental group, the positive rates of the two bacteria samples were 100% (50/50) and 40% (20/50) before and 10% (5/50) and 0% (0/50) after the treatment. In the control group, the positive rates of the two bacteria samples were 97.9% (46/47) and 29.8% (14/47) before and 40.4% (19/47) and 10.6% (5/47) after the treatment. The positive rates between the two groups were not significantly different before taking antimicrobial measures (P= 0.485 and 0.395), while they were significantly different after taking antimicrobial measures (P = 0.001 and 0.024). Conclusion Combined application of eyelid and palpebral margin cleaning with cotton pads and antibiotic eye drops before cataract extraction imparted excellent antibacterial effects.

Effect of Implantable Collamer Lens on Anterior Segment Measurement and Intraocular Lens Power Calculation Based on IOLMaster 700 and Sirius.

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible effect of an implantable collamer lens (ICL) on ocular biometrics and intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation. METHODS: Ocular measurements were taken preoperatively and at the two-month follow-up using IOLMaster 700 and Sirius in 85 eyes (43 patients) who had previously undergone ICL surgery. IOL power was calculated using either IOLMaster 700 (Barrett Universal II formula) or Sirius (ray-tracing). All data were compared using the paired t-test. RESULTS: The difference between preoperative and postoperative anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), and keratometry on the steep axis (K2) measured by IOLMaster 700 was statistically significant (p < 0.001). In 11 of 85 eyes, IOLMaster misjudged the anterior surface of the ICL as that of the lens, leading to an error in ACD and LT. There were no significant differences between preoperative and postoperative axial length (AL) (p = 0.223), white to white (WTW) (p = 0.100), keratometry on flat axis (K1) (p = 0.117), or central corneal thickness (CCT) (p = 0.648), measured using IOLMaster. The difference in IOL power calculated using the Barrett II formula was significant (p = 0.013). Regression analysis showed that AL and K had the greatest influence on IOL calculation (p < 0.001), and ACD and LT had less influence (p = 0.002, p = 0.218, respectively). K1 and K2 were modified to exclude the influence of K2, and modified IOLs showed no difference between pre and postoperation (p = 0.372). Preoperative and postoperative ACD measured using Sirius were significantly different (p < 0.001); however, the IOL power calculated using ray-tracing technology showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ocular biometric apparatus may misjudge the anterior surface of the lens, resulting in measurement errors of ACD and LT, which has little effect on the calculation of IOL power when using IOLMaster 700 (Barrett Universal II formula) and Sirius (ray-tracing).

Rotational slit-beam marking: an advanced manual corneal astigmatic marking method for toric intraocular lens implantation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of an advanced manual corneal astigmatic marking method for toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. METHODS: From 52 patients, 52 eyes with cataracts and corneal astigmatism were included. The target axis of the toric IOL was marked with the new manual marking method preoperatively and with the Zeiss CALLISTO Eye image-guided system intraoperatively. For the manual method, a slit-lamp with a minimum rotation angle of 5 degrees was used and rotated to the meridian of the toric IOL and incision axes. The relative rotational and vertical deviation of the IOL and incision axes were measured using the digital marker as a reference. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the manually marked IOL axis (100.9° ± 65.62°) and the digital mark (100.8° ± 65.76°; P = 0.771). The absolute values of the relative rotational and vertical deviations of the manually marked IOL axis were small, at 2.03° ± 1.44° and 0.46 ± 0.43 mm, respectively. There was no significant difference between the manually marked corneal incision and the digital meridian (P = 0.179). Then, patients were classified into three groups based on the type of astigmatism they had. There was no significant difference in mean absolute deviation among the groups (P = 0.112). The manual incision mark had a relative rotational deviation of 1.65° ± 1.44°. The vertical misalignment of the manually marked incision axis was 0.27 ± 0.30 mm. CONCLUSION: Rotational slit-beam marking could be an effective and convenient marking method for toric IOL implantation. This method could be a potential alternative in underdeveloped areas where digital image-guided systems are not available.

Macular edema after cataract surgery in diabetic eyes evaluated by optical coherence tomography.

AIM: To assess quantitative changes of the macula in diabetic eyes after cataract surgery using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to estimate the incidence of development or worsening of macular edema (ME) in diabetic eyes with or without pre-existing ME. METHODS: In this prospective, observational study, 92 eyes of 60 diabetic patients who underwent cataract surgery were evaluated before surgery and 1, 3mo after surgery using OCT. Macular thickness was measured with OCT at nine macular subfields defined by the 9 zones early treatment of diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS), as well as total macular volume obtained by OCT at 1, 3mo after surgery were compared with baseline features obtained before surgery. In addition, the incidence of development or worsening of ME was analyzed in diabetic eyes with or without pre-existing ME. RESULTS: The central subfield mean thickness increased 21.0 µm and 25.5 µm at 1, 3mo follow-up, respectively (P<0.01). The average thickness of inner ring and outer ring increased 14.2 µm and 9.5 µm at 1mo, 18.2 µm and 12.9 µm at 3mo. Central-involved ME developed in 12 eyes at 3mo, including 4 eyes with pre-existing central-involved and 8 eyes with pre-existing non-central involved ME. Pre-existing diabetic macular edema (DME) was significantly associated with central-involved ME development (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: A statistically significant increase could be detected in the central subfield as well as perifoveal and parafoveal sectors though the increase was mild. And eyes with pre-operative DME prior to cataract surgery are at higher risk for developing central-involved ME.

Bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells with enhanced rear efficiency and power output.

Pursuing a high power conversion efficiency with no sacrifice of cost-effectiveness has been a persistent objective for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). One promising solution to this impasse is increased light harvesting. Previous efforts in light harvesting have been made on setting blocking layers or reflecting layers, or adding a light harvester, resulting in tedious procedures without reducing the expenses. We present a mild solution strategy for synthesizing transparent Ru-Se alloy counter electrodes (CEs) for bifacial DSSC applications, displaying optimal front and rear efficiencies of 8.76% and 5.90%, respectively. In comparison with pristine Pt-based solar cells, the maximum power output has also been markedly enhanced. Moreover, fast start-up, high multiple start capability, and good stability are observed in the bifacial DSSCs with transparent Ru-Se binary alloy electrodes. The impressive efficiencies along with simple preparation of the cost-effective Ru-Se alloy CEs demonstrates their potential application in robust DSSCs.