Construction of glaucoma model and comparing eyeball enlargement with myopia in Guinea pig.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate a guinea pig model for glaucoma, comparing resultant eyeball enlargement with an existing myopia model. Thirty guinea pigs underwent intracameral injection of magnetic microspheres to induce chronic ocular hypertension (COH). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was systematically monitored, revealing a successful induction of COH in 73.33% of the guinea pigs. The mean IOP increased from a baseline of 18.04 ± 1.33 mmHg, reaching a peak at week 3 (36.31 ± 6.13 mmHg) and remaining elevated for at least 7 weeks. All data are presented as mean ± standard deviation of the mean. Subsequently, detailed assessments were conducted to validate the established glaucoma model. Immunofluorescent staining demonstrated a significant decrease in the density of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in the glaucoma group. Optic disc excavation and notable thinning of the lamina cribrosa (LC) were observed. The quantity of optic nerve ax·ons in glaucoma group gradually decreased from baseline (44553 ± 3608/mm2) to week 4 (28687 ± 2071/mm2) and week 8 (17977 ± 3697/mm2). Moreover, regarding the global enlargement of eyeballs, both the transverse and longitudinal axis in glaucomatous eyes were found to be significantly larger than that in myopic eyes, particularly in the anterior chamber depth (1.758 ± 0.113 mm vs. 1.151 ± 0.046 mm). These findings indicate distinct patterns of structural changes associated with glaucoma and myopia in the guinea pig model. This guinea pig model holds promise for future research aimed at exploring biomechanical mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, and advancing our understanding of the relationship between glaucoma and myopia.

High Myopia Normative Database of Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness to Detect Myopic Glaucoma in a Chinese Population.

PURPOSE: To develop and validate the performance of a high myopia (HM)-specific normative database of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in differentiating HM from highly myopic glaucoma (HMG). DESIGN: Cross-sectional multicenter study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1367 Chinese participants (2325 eyes) with nonpathologic HM or HMG were included from 4 centers. After quality control, 1108 eyes from 694 participants with HM were included in the normative database; 459 eyes from 408 participants (323 eyes with HM and 136 eyes with HMG) and 322 eyes from 197 participants (131 eyes with HM and 191 eyes with HMG) were included in the internal and external validation sets, respectively. Only HMG eyes with an intraocular pressure > 21 mmHg were included. METHODS: The pRNFL thickness was measured with swept-source (SS) OCT. Four strategies of pRNFL-specified values were examined, including global and quadrantic pRNFL thickness below the lowest fifth or the lowest first percentile of the normative database. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the HM-specific normative database for detecting HMG. RESULTS: Setting the fifth percentile of the global pRNFL thickness as the threshold, using the HM-specific normative database, we achieved an accuracy of 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90-0.95) and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.81-0.89), and, using the first percentile as the threshold, we acheived an accuracy of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.81-0.88) and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.65-0.75) in detecting HMG in the internal and external validation sets, respectively. The fifth percentile of the global pRNFL thickness achieved high sensitivities of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.67-0.82) and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.68-0.81) and specificities of 1.00 (95% CI, 0.99-1.00) and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.97-1.00) in the internal and external validation datasets, respectively. Compared with the built-in database of the OCT device, the HM-specific normative database showed a higher sensitivity and specificity than the corresponding pRNFL thickness below the fifth or first percentile (P < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The HM-specific normative database is more capable of detecting HMG eyes than the SS OCT built-in database, which may be an effective tool for differential diagnosis between HMG and HM. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Multimodal Machine Learning Using Visual Fields and Peripapillary Circular OCT Scans in Detection of Glaucomatous Optic Neuropathy.

PURPOSE: To develop and validate a multimodal artificial intelligence algorithm, FusionNet, using the pattern deviation probability plots from visual field (VF) reports and circular peripapillary OCT scans to detect glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: Two thousand four hundred sixty-three pairs of VF and OCT images from 1083 patients. METHODS: FusionNet based on bimodal input of VF and OCT paired data was developed to detect GON. Visual field data were collected using the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA). OCT images were collected from 3 types of devices (DRI-OCT, Cirrus OCT, and Spectralis). Two thousand four hundred sixty-three pairs of VF and OCT images were divided into 4 datasets: 1567 for training (HFA and DRI-OCT), 441 for primary validation (HFA and DRI-OCT), 255 for the internal test (HFA and Cirrus OCT), and 200 for the external test set (HFA and Spectralis). GON was defined as retinal nerve fiber layer thinning with corresponding VF defects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnostic performance of FusionNet compared with that of VFNet (with VF data as input) and OCTNet (with OCT data as input). RESULTS: FusionNet achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.950 (0.931-0.968) and outperformed VFNet (AUC, 0.868 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.834-0.902]), OCTNet (AUC, 0.809 [95% CI, 0.768-0.850]), and 2 glaucoma specialists (glaucoma specialist 1: AUC, 0.882 [95% CI, 0.847-0.917]; glaucoma specialist 2: AUC, 0.883 [95% CI, 0.849-0.918]) in the primary validation set. In the internal and external test sets, the performances of FusionNet were also superior to VFNet and OCTNet (FusionNet vs VFNet vs OCTNet: internal test set 0.917 vs 0.854 vs 0.811; external test set 0.873 vs 0.772 vs 0.785). No significant difference was found between the 2 glaucoma specialists and FusionNet in the internal and external test sets, except for glaucoma specialist 2 (AUC, 0.858 [95% CI, 0.805-0.912]) in the internal test set. CONCLUSIONS: FusionNet, developed using paired VF and OCT data, demonstrated superior performance to both VFNet and OCTNet in detecting GON, suggesting that multimodal machine learning models are valuable in detecting GON.

Classification of Visual Field Abnormalities in Highly Myopic Eyes without Pathologic Change.

PURPOSE: To develop a classification system of visual field (VF) abnormalities in highly myopic eyes with and without glaucoma. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of VF data from a longitudinal cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand eight hundred ninety-three VF tests from 1302 eyes (825 individuals). METHODS: All participants underwent VF testing (Humphrey 24-2 Swedish interactive threshold algorithm standard program; Carl Zeiss Meditec) and detailed ophthalmic examination. A comprehensive set of VF defect patterns was defined via observation of the 1893 VF reports, literature review, and consensus meetings. The classification system comprised 4 major types of VF patterns, including normal type, glaucoma-like defects (paracentral defect, nasal step, partial arcuate defect, arcuate defect), high myopia-related defects (enlarged blind spot, vertical step, partial peripheral rim, nonspecific defect), and combined defects (nasal step with enlarged blind spot). A subset (n = 1000) of the VFs was used to evaluate the interobserver and intraobserver agreement and weighted κ values of the classification system by 2 trained readers. The prevalence of various VF patterns and their associated factors were determined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The classification of VF in highly myopic eyes and its associated risk factors. RESULTS: We found that normal type, glaucoma-like defects, high myopia-related defects, and combined defects accounted for 74.1%, 10.8%, 15.0%, and 0.1% of all unique VF tests, respectively. The interobserver and intraobserver agreements were > 89%, and the corresponding κ values were 0.86 or more between readers. Both glaucoma-like and high myopia-related VF defects were associated with older age (odds ratios [ORs], 1.07 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-1.10; P < 0.001] and 1.06 [95% CI, 1.04-1.10; P < 0.001]) and longer axial length (ORs, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.32-2.07; P < 0.001] and 1.37 [95% CI, 1.11-1.68; P = 0.003]). Longer axial length showed a stronger effect on the prevalence of glaucoma-like VF defects than on the prevalence of high myopia-related VF defects (P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: We propose a new and reproducible classification system of VF abnormalities for nonpathologic high myopia. Applying a comprehensive classification system will facilitate communication and comparison of findings among studies.

Two-year outcomes of anterior versus posterior scleral application of mitomycin C-soaked sponge in trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare the safety and efficacy of two different application methods of mitomycin C (MMC)-soaked sponge in trabeculectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: We included 71 eyes of 71 patients that had undergone trabeculectomy. In the anterior scleral application group, 36 eyes were treated using the long side of the MMC-soaked sponge placed parallel to the limbus. The efficacy and safety in these eyes were compared with eyes treated with the posterior scleral application group, consisting of 35 eyes treated with the long side of the MMC-soaked sponge placed perpendicular to the limbus. The follow-up period was 2 years. The safety of the procedure, including bleb morphology and complications, was the primary outcome, while the success rate was the secondary outcome. RESULTS: The cumulative success rate at 2 years postoperatively was 94.4% in the anterior and and 94.3% in the posterior scleral application group (P = 1.000). However, with the posterior scleral application of the MMC-soaked sponge, blebs were more low-lying (P = 0.048), less in extent (P < 0.001), more normally vascularized (P = 0.027) and more posteriorly directed (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the incidence of thin-walled cystic bleb (P = 0.028) and bleb leakage (P = 0.025) was significantly lower in the posterior scleral application group than in the anterior group. CONCLUSION: Although there were similar success rates, the posterior scleral application of MMC-soaked sponge with trabeculectomy was safer with a better bleb morphology than the anterior scleral application.

Peripheral Ganglion Cell Complex Thickness and Retinal Microvasculature in Myopia Using Wide-Field Swept-Source OCT.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of axial elongation on ganglion cell complex thickness (GCCT) and retinal capillary density (CD) using wide-field swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted involving 506 eyes. Fovea-centered scans were obtained to assess the subregional GCCT and capillary density across the whole retina, the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), and deep capillary plexus (DCP) among three groups: normal control, high myopia (HM) eyes with axial length < 28 mm, and HM eyes with axial length > 28 mm. Regional variations (central vs. peripheral, quadrants difference [superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal]) were analyzed. Results: In HM eyes with axial length > 28 mm, GCCT and retinal CD exhibit a general decline in most regions (P < 0.05). In HM eyes with axial length < 28 mm, significant reductions were observed specifically in peripheral regions, as in the GCCT beyond the 3 × 3 mm2 area and CD in the 9-12 mm whole retina, 9-12 mm superior SCP, and 6-12 mm DCP (P < 0.05). Maximum GCCT and retinal CD reduction with axial elongation was observed in subregions beyond 6 × 6  mm2. Conclusions: GCCT beyond the 3 × 3 mm2 area and peripheral retinal CD beyond the 6 × 6  mm2 area were more susceptible to axial elongation and are thereby deserving of particular attention. Translational Relevance: It is necessary to evaluate different regions during the clinical assessment of the effect of myopia on the fundus and pay close attention to the peripheral retina.

Diagnostic performance of wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography in detecting open-angle glaucoma in high myopia.

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic performance of the capillary density (CD) of the central 1-6 mm and peripheral 6-12 mm annular regions in detecting open-angle glaucoma in high myopia (HM) using 15 × 12 mm wide-field swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (WF SS-OCTA). METHODS: The study enrolled 206 and 103 eyes with HM and highly myopic open-angle glaucoma (HM-OAG), respectively. WF SS-OCTA images centred on the fovea were obtained to analyse the changes in the CD in the 1-3 mm, 3-6 mm, 6-9 mm, and 9-12 mm annular regions. CD of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) was measured with the built-in software. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of each region was compared. RESULTS: The diagnostic performance of the SCP CD in the central 1-6 mm annular region (AUROC = 0.849) was better than that in the peripheral 6-12 mm annular region (AUROC = 0.756, p = 0.001). The annular AUROCs of SCP CD peaked in the 3-6 mm annular region (AUROC = 0.858) and gradually decreased with increasing diameter and were lower than the corresponding AUROCs of the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). SCP CD of the inferior quadrant in the 3-6 mm annular region had the best diagnostic performance (AUROC = 0.859). CONCLUSION: The SCP CD in the central 1-6 mm annular region exhibited better diagnostic performance for the detection of HM-OAG in HM. The assessment of more peripheral regions has no added value in detecting glaucoma in HM.

Progression Patterns and Risk Factors of Axial Elongation in Young Adults with Non-Pathologic High Myopia: Three-year Large Longitudinal Cohort Follow-up.

PURPOSE: To investigate the progression patterns and risk factors of axial elongation in young adults with non-pathologic high myopia. DESIGN: Prospective, clinical observational cohort study with 2- to 4-year follow-up. METHODS: A total of 1043 eyes of 563 participants (3515 medical records) aged 18 to 50 years with non-pathologic high myopia (axial length [AL] ≥ 26 mm; myopic maculopathy < diffuse chorioretinal atrophy; without posterior staphyloma) were included from 1546 participants (6318 medical records). Annual axial elongation was calculated via linear mixed-effect models. The associated risk factors of axial elongation were determined by ordinal logistic regression analysis, with generalized estimate equations for eliminating an interocular correlation bias. RESULTS: Based on 5359 times of AL measurements, the annual axial elongation of participants (mean [SD] age 31.39 [9.22] years) was 0.03 mm/year (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03-0.04, P < 0.001) during a 30.23 (6.06) months' follow-up. Severe (> 0.1 mm/year), moderate (0.05-0.09 mm/year), mild (0-0.049 mm/year), and nil (≤ 0 mm/year) elongation was observed in 122 (11.7%), 211 (20.2%), 417 (40.0%), and 293 (28.1%) eyes. The following risk factors were significantly associated with axial elongation: baseline AL≥ 28 mm (odds ratio [OR], 4.23; 95%CI, 2.95-6.06; P < 0.001); age < 40 years (OR, 1.64; 95%CI, 1.18-2.28; P = 0.003); axial asymmetry (OR, 2.04; 95%CI, 1.26-3.29; P = 0.003), and women (OR, 1.52; 95%CI, 1.13-2.2.05; P = 0.006). Using anti-glaucoma medications was a protective factor (OR, 0.46; 95%CI, 0.27-0.79; P = 0.005), which slowed 75% of axial elongation from 0.04 (0.06) to 0.01 (0.06) mm/y (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Axial elongation continued in young adults with non-pathologic myopia. Risk factors included longer baseline AL and axial asymmetry, younger age, and woman. Topical use of anti-glaucoma medications may be useful to reduce ongoing axial elongation.

Effect of intraocular pressure reduction on progressive high myopia (PHM study): study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In adult patients with high myopia (HM), progressive axial elongation poses a significant risk for the development of subsequent ocular complications that may lead to visual impairment. Effective strategies to reduce or prevent further axial elongation in highly myopic adult patients have not been available so far. Recent studies suggested that medically lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) may reduce axial elongation. OBJECTIVE: This clinical randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the efficacy of medical IOP reduction in adult patients with progressive HM (PHM). TRIAL DESIGN: Single-centre, open-label, prospective RCT. METHODS: This RCT will recruit 152 participants with PHM at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC). Randomised in a ratio of 1:1, participants will receive IOP-lowering eyedrops (intervention group) or will be followed without treatment (control group) for 12 months. Follow-up visits will be conducted at 1, 6 and 12 months after baseline. Only one eye per eligible participant will be included for analysis. The primary outcome is the change in axial length (AL) within the study period of 12 months. Secondary outcomes include the incidence and progression of visual field (VF) defects, changes in optic disc morphology and incidence and progression of myopic maculopathy. Difference in AL changes between the two groups will be analysed using linear regression analysis. For the secondary outcomes, a multifactor Poisson regression within a generalised linear model will be used to estimate the relative risk of progression in VF defects and myopic maculopathy, and the rate of thinning in retinal nerve fibre layer and ganglion cell-inner plexiform will be assessed through Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Full ethics approval for this trial has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of ZOC, Sun Yat-sen University, China (ID: 2023KYPJ110). Results of this trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05850936.

Optic neuropathy in high myopia: Glaucoma or high myopia or both?

Due to the increasing prevalence of high myopia around the world, structural and functional damages to the optic nerve in high myopia has recently attracted much attention. Evidence has shown that high myopia is related to the development of glaucomatous or glaucoma-like optic neuropathy, and that both have many common features. These similarities often pose a diagnostic challenge that will affect the future management of glaucoma suspects in high myopia. In this review, we summarize similarities and differences in optic neuropathy arising from non-pathologic high myopia and glaucoma by considering their respective structural and functional characteristics on fundus photography, optical coherence tomography scanning, and visual field tests. These features may also help to distinguish the underlying mechanisms of the optic neuropathies and to determine management strategies for patients with high myopia and glaucoma.

Efficacy and Safety of Surgical Peripheral Iridectomy, Goniosynechialysis, and Goniotomy for Advanced Primary Angle-closure Glaucoma without Cataract: One-year Results of a Multicenter Study.

PRCIS: The combination of surgical peripheral iridectomy, goniosynechialysis, and goniotomy is a safe and effective surgical approach for advanced primary angle-closure glaucoma without cataract. PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of surgical peripheral iridectomy (SPI), goniosynechialysis (GSL), and goniotomy (GT) in advanced primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) eyes without cataract. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective multicenter observational study was performed for patients who underwent combined SPI, GSL, and GT for advanced PACG without cataract. Patients were assessed before and after the operation. Complete success was defined as achieving intraocular pressure (IOP) between 6-18 mm Hg with at least a 20% reduction compared to baseline, without the use of ocular hypotensive medications or reoperation. Qualified success adopted the same criteria but allowed medication use. Factors associated with surgical success were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 61 eyes of 50 advanced PACG were included. All participants completed 12 months of follow-up. Thirty-six eyes (59.0%) achieved complete success, and 56 eyes (91.8%) achieved qualified success. Preoperative and postsurgical at 12 months mean IOPs were 29.7±7.7 and 16.1±4.8 mm Hg, respectively. The average number of ocular hypotensive medications decreased from 1.9 to 0.9 over 12 months. The primary complications included IOP spike (n=9), hyphema (n=7), and shallow anterior chamber (n=3). Regression analysis indicated that older age (odds ratio [OR]=1.09; P=0.043) was positively associated with complete success, while a mixed angle closure mechanism (OR=0.17; P=0.036) reduced success rate. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of SPI, GSL, and GT is a safe and effective surgical approach for advanced PACG without cataract. It has great potential as a first-line treatment option for these patients.

Impact of Peripheral Anterior Synechiae on the Outcome of Combined Phacoemulsification, Goniosynechialysis, and Goniotomy for Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma and Cataract: A Multicenter Observational Study.

PRCIS: The combination of phacoemulsification, goniosynechialysis and goniotomy is an effective treatment for primary angle closure glaucoma patients with cataract, and this is not linked to the extent of preoperative peripheral anterior synechiae. PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of the extent of peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS) on the effectiveness and safety of combined phacoemulsification (PEI), goniosynechialysis (GSL), and goniotomy (GT) in eyes with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) and cataract. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included patients diagnosed with PACG and cataracts who underwent combined PEI and 120 degrees GSL plus GT (PEI+GSL+GT) between April 2020 and October 2022 at 10 ophthalmic institutes. Eligible patients were divided into 3 groups based on the extent of PAS: 180°≤PAS<270°, 270°≤PAS<360°, and PAS=360°. Data on intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of ocular hypotensive medications, and complications were collected and compared. The study defined complete success as postoperative IOP within the 6-18 mm Hg range and a 20% reduction from baseline without the use of topical medications. Qualified success was defined in the same way as complete success, but it allowed for the use of ocular hypotensive medications. RESULTS: Three hundred four eyes of 283 patients were included. The mean follow-up was 12.50±1.24 months. All groups experienced a significant reduction in IOP after the surgery ( P <0.05). There were no significant differences in final IOP, number of medications, and cumulative complete and qualified success rates among the 3 groups ( P >0.05). The groups with 270°≤PAS<360°had a higher frequency of hyphema compared with 180°≤PAS<270° ( P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: PEI+GSL+GT has proven to be an effective treatment for PACG with cataracts over a 1 year period. However, the outcome was not correlated with the preoperative extent of PAS.

Phacogoniotomy versus phacotrabeculectomy for advanced primary angle-closure glaucoma with cataract: A randomized non-inferiority trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of phacogoniotomy versus phacotrabeculectomy (PVP) among patients with advanced primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and cataracts. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized controlled, non-inferiority trial. METHODS: A total of 124 patients (124 eyes) with advanced PACG and cataracts were enrolled, with 65 in the phacogoniotomy group and 59 in the phacotrabeculectomy group. Patients were followed up for 12 months with standardized evaluations. The primary outcome was the reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) from baseline to 12 months postoperatively, of which a non-inferiority margin of 4 mmHg was evaluated. Secondary outcomes included the cumulative surgical success rate, postoperative complications, and changes in the number of glaucoma medications. RESULTS: After 12 months, phacogoniotomy demonstrated non-inferiority to phacotrabeculectomy in terms of IOP reduction, with mean IOP reductions of - 26.1 mmHg and - 25.7 mmHg (P = 0.383), respectively, from baseline values of around 40 mmHg. Both groups experienced a significant reduction in the mean number of medications used postoperatively (P < 0.001). The cumulative success rate was comparable between the groups (P = 0.890). However, phacogoniotomy had a lower rate of postoperative complications and interventions (12.3% and 4.6%) compared to phacotrabeculectomy (23.7% and 20.3% respectively). The phacogoniotomy group reported shorter surgery time (22.1 ± 6.5 vs. 38.8 ± 11.1 min; P = 0.030) and higher quality of life (EQ-5D-5 L) improvement at 12 months (7.0 ± 11.5 vs. 3.0 ± 12.9, P = 0.010) than the phacotrabeculectomy group. CONCLUSIONS: Phacogoniotomy was non-inferior to phacotrabeculectomy in terms of IOP reduction for advanced PACG and cataracts. Additionally, phacogoniotomy provided a shorter surgical time, lower postoperative complication rate, fewer postoperative interventions, and better postoperative quality of life.

A Comprehensive Review of Pediatric Glaucoma Following Cataract Surgery and Progress in Treatment.

Glaucoma following cataract surgery (GFCS) remains a serious postoperative complication of pediatric cataract surgery. Various risk factors, including age at lensectomy, intraocular lens implantation, posterior capsule status, associated ocular/systemic anomaly, additional intraocular surgery, and a family history of congenital cataract and GFCS, have been reported. However, the optimal surgical approach remains unclear. This review evaluates the diagnostic criteria, classification, risk factors, mechanism, and surgical management, especially the efficacy of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, in GFCS, and aims to propose an optimal clinical management strategy for GFCS. The results of our review indicate that ab interno trabeculotomy (goniotomy) may be the most appropriate first-line treatment for GFCS.

The Relationships between the Structure and Properties of PA56 and PA66 and Their Fibers.

Bio-based polymers can reduce dependence on nonrenewable petrochemical resources and will be beneficial for future sustainable developments due to their low carbon footprint. In this work, the feasibility of bio-based polyamide 56 (PA56) substituting petroleum-based PA66 is systematically investigated. The crystallization, melting, and decomposition temperature of PA56 were all lower than that of PA66. PA56 formed a γ crystal type with larger grain size and took a longer amount of time to complete the crystallization process since its crystallization rate was lower than that of PA66. Compared with PA66, PA56 exhibited a higher tensile strength of 71.3 ± 1.9 MPa and specific strength of 64.8 ± 2.0 MPa but lower notched impact strength. More importantly, the limited oxygen index and vertical combustion measurement results indicated that the flame retardancy of PA56 was better than PA66, and the LOI values and the UL94 result of PA56 were 27.6% ± 0.9% and V-2. It is worth noting that the PA56 fiber had superior biodegradability compared to the PA66 fiber. PA56 showed significant biodegradation from the eighth week, whereas PA66 remained clean until the sixteenth week (without obvious biodegradation taking place). Eventually, PA56 did not show significant differences compared to PA66 in terms of thermal and mechanical properties. However, PA56 had great advantages in flame retardancy and biodegradability, indicating that the bio-based PA56 could potentially replace petroleum-based PA66 in many fields.

Longitudinal Choriocapillaris Vascular Density Changes in Different Types of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

Purpose: To evaluate longitudinal changes in choriocapillaris perfusion in patients with glaucoma with four phenotypes of optic disc damage and to explore associated factors with decreased choriocapillaris vessel density (CVD). Methods: This prospective longitudinal study included 96 eyes of 96 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Patients with POAG was differentiated into the optic disc phenotypes of focal ischemic type (FI), myopic type (MY), senile sclerotic type (SS), and generalized enlargement type (GE). Patients were followed up every three months. Simple linear regression was used to investigate the factors associated with a reduction in CVD. Results: The median follow-up time was 2.5 years (range, 2.0-3.0 years). Choriocapillaris perfusion tended to decrease over time, with CVD decreasing significantly faster in the FI type than in the other three types (P < 0.001). The percentage decrease in the FI type was 7.85%, 10.89%, and 8.88% faster than MY, SS and GE, respectively, after correcting for age, gender, axial length, intraocular pressure, mean deviation, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and image quality score. In multivariate regression, decreased CVD was independently associated with the rate of RNFL thinning. Conclusions: FI type had the fastest rate of CVD decline in the four phenotypes of optic disc damage, and decreased CVD was positively correlated with the rate of RNFL thinning. Translational Relevance: The role of the choriocapillaris in the pathogenesis and therapeutic potential of glaucoma require further attention to facilitate better management of glaucoma patients.

Analysis of living habit risk factors for esophageal cancer in central China: A bi-center case-control study.

Background: Esophageal cancer remains a public health problem in many countries, especially developing countries. The early lifestyle preventive measures mentioned in the treatment guidelines for esophageal cancer are very limited. We aimed to evaluate the risk factors for esophageal cancer in a high-incidence area in China and to provide evidence for clinical intervention in esophageal cancer prevention. Methods: Symptom and lifestyle/habit questionnaires including 19 items were designed. The correlation between the occurrence of esophageal cancer and living habits was analyzed retrospectively through questionnaire survey. A total of 708 subjects (365 esophageal cancer, 343 non-esophageal cancer) enrolled from two hospitals in central China (Linzhou Esophageal Cancer Hospital and The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University) completed symptom and lifestyle/habit questionnaires. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with consideration of 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The composition ratio analysis showed that the top five lifestyle factors related to esophageal cancer were eating too fast, drinking, hot drinks, smoking and overeating. Univariate analysis showed that 15 factors, including male sex, smoking, drinking, eating too fast, overeating, hot drinks, greasy food, acidic food, hard food, strong tea, coffee, bedtime immediately after meals, eating food before bedtime, difficult defecation, and an overtight belt, were associated with esophageal cancer (all P <0.05). Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed, drinking (OR 3.609, 95%CI 2.223-5.859; P=0.000); hot drinks (OR 2.672, 95%CI 1.786-3.997; P=0.000); overeating (OR 2.110, 95%CI 1.411-3.154; P=0.000); eating too fast (OR 1.879, 95%CI 1.274-2.772; P=0.001); strong tea (OR 1.882, 95%CI 1.171~3.023; P=0.009); hard food (OR 1.723, 95%CI 1.113-2.667; P=0.015); smoking (OR 1.686, 95%CI 1.045-2.720; P=0.032), which were significantly associated with the development of esophageal cancer. Conclusion: The unhealthy lifestyles of patients in high-incidence areas of esophageal cancer in central China are significantly associated with the incidence of esophageal cancer. Lifestyle changes that address these factors, especially overeating and eating too fast, which are rarely studied or discussed despite being common, may improve esophageal cancer management and treatment outcomes. The present results may be used as a reference for preventive education and treatment.

Choriocapillaris and progressive ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer loss in non-glaucomatous eyes.

AIMS: To explore the relationship between choriocapillaris (CC) flow deficit percentage (FD%) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness in a population-based sample of non-glaucomatous eyes. METHODS: This is a longitudinal cohort study and prospective cross-sectional study. Non-glaucoma Chinese subjects aged 18 years or older were enrolled. All participants underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination, including swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and SS-OCT angiography. Average, inner average, outer average and nine Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study sub-regions of GCIPL thickness and CC FD% were measured. The correlation between CC FD% and GCIPL was assessed using a linear regression model, and the relationship between the rate of change of GCIPL thickness and CC FD% was further validated in a 2year longitudinal study. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional study including 3514 participants (3514 non-glaucoma eyes), a higher CC FD% was significantly associated with a thinner GCIPL (ß=-0.32; 95% CI -0.43 to -0.21; p<0.001). Further, in a longitudinal study (453 eyes of 453 participants), a faster increase in CC FD% was found to be significantly associated with a faster decrease in GCIPL thickness (ß=-0.10; 95% CI -0.17 to -0.03; p=0.004) after adjusting for age, sex, axial length and image quality score. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first time to show that CC FD% and GCIPL thickness were correlated in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of non-glaucomatous individuals, which may potentially provide further insights on the role of CC perfusion in glaucoma development and progression.

Posterior scleral application of a mitomycin C-soaked sponge during trabeculectomy.

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of posterior scleral application (a modified technique) of an antimetabolite mitomycin C-soaked sponge in trabeculectomy for patients with glaucoma. METHODS: This retrospective study included 101 patients (115 eyes) with glaucoma (aged 12-83y) who underwent trabeculectomy using a modified mitomycin C-soaked sponge placement method. A piece of 3.5×10 mm2 sponge was placed vertically and posteriorly with the long side perpendicular to the limbus. The mitomycin C concentration and exposure time were 0.2-0.5 mg/mL and 1-5min, respectively. Intraocular pressure, best-corrected visual acuity, and hypotensive medications were recorded at baseline and at the final visit. Complications, interventions required, and bleb morphology were recorded postoperatively. The primary outcome was trabeculectomy safety, including complications and bleb morphology; the secondary outcome was the trabeculectomy success rate. RESULTS: At the final follow-up [median 28mo, range 7-67mo and interquartile range (IQR) 13mo], the qualified (cumulative) success rate was 93.0% and the complete success rate was 60.0%. No bleb-related complications were observed. The mean height, extent, and vascularity grades were 0.6±0.9, 1.1±0.4, and 2.4±0.9, respectively. All Seidel tests were negative. The mean posteriority grade was 0.8±0.4. CONCLUSION: Trabeculectomy with the long side of a mitomycin C-soaked sponge placed perpendicular to the corneal limbus is safe and effective.

Optic Nerve Head Abnormalities in Nonpathologic High Myopia and the Relationship With Visual Field.

PURPOSE: To describe the optic nerve head (ONH) abnormalities in nonpathologic highly myopic eyes based on swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the relationship with visual field (VF). DESIGN: Secondary analysis from a longitudinal cohort study. METHODS: Highly myopic patients without myopic maculopathy of category 2 or higher were enrolled. All participants underwent a swept-source OCT examination focused on ONH. We differentiated between 3 major types (optic disc morphologic abnormality, papillary/peripapillary tissue defect, and papillary/peripapillary schisis) and 12 subtypes of ONH abnormalities. The prevalence and characteristics of ONH abnormalities and the relationship with VF were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 857 participants (1389 eyes) were included. Among the 1389 eyes, 91.86%, 68.61%, and 34.92% of them had at least 1, 2, or 3 ONH abnormalities, respectively, which corresponded to 29.55%, 31.79%, and 35.67% of VF defects, respectively. Among the 12 subtypes of the 3 major types, peripapillary hyperreflective ovoid mass-like structure, visible retrobulbar subarachnoid space, and prelaminar schisis were the most common, respectively. Perimetric defects corresponding to OCT abnormalities were more commonly found in eyes with peripapillary retinal detachment, peripapillary retinoschisis, and peripapillary hyperreflective ovoid mass-like structure. Glaucoma-like VF defects were more common in eyes with deep optic cups (28.17%) and with optic disc pit/pit-like change (18.92%). CONCLUSIONS: We observed and clarified the ONH structural abnormalities in eyes with nonpathologic high myopia. These descriptions may be helpful to differentiate changes in pathologic high myopia or glaucoma.