Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for Dry Eye Disease: Analyzing Temporal Changes in Tear Film Stability and Ocular Surface between IPL Sessions.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye disease (DED), a prevalent condition with a multifactorial etiology, significantly impacts global health by causing discomfort and visual disturbance. This historical cohort study evaluates the efficacy of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy on meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)-related evaporative DED. METHODS: The study involved 110 patients (220 eyes) who underwent IPL therapy. Ethical approval was secured, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. A Tearcheck® (ESWvision, Houdan, France) device was used for ocular surface evaluation, measuring tear film stability (NIFBUT, NIABUT), tear film quantity (CTMH, TTMH), and inflammation (OSIE). The study assessed tear film and ocular surface health across multiple IPL sessions. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in subjective symptoms (EFT score increased from 29.10 ± 8.87 to 35.91 ± 7.03, p < 0.01), tear film stability (NIFBUT increased from 9.37 ± 6.04 to 10.78 ± 5.83 s, p < 0.01; NIABUT increased from 11.07 ± 4.98 to 12.34 ± 4.66 s, p < 0.01), and tear film surface evaluation (TFSE score decreased from 337.78 ± 414.08 to 206.02 ± 240.44, p < 0.01). Tear film quantity remained unchanged (CTMH and TTMH, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IPL therapy is a promising treatment for DED, improving symptoms and ocular surface health. Further research is warranted to explore long-term efficacy and optimization.

Macular dynamics and visual acuity prognosis in retinal vein occlusions - ways to connect.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to establish possible connections between macular dynamics, various macular features, and visual acuity prognosis among patients with retinal vein occlusions. Materials and Methods: This study included 85 patients with central retinal vein occlusions (CRVO) and 26 with branch retinal vein occlusions (BRVO). We assessed macular features such as central macular thickness (CMT), foveal intraretinal hemorrhage (IRH), the presence and distribution of hyperreflective foci (HF), ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption, inner retinal layer disorganization (DRIL), and posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), as well as their dynamics over one year of observation and their impact on final visual acuity prognosis, depending on the type of occlusion. Results: Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) evolution is statistically significant regarding groups of age and type of occlusion and insignificant regarding gender. The best response to intravitreal treatment, quantified as a decrease in CMT, was registered after the first intravitreal injection. Connecting a decrease in CMT with BCVA improvement, we did not register a statistically significant correlation in the CRVO group, only in BRVO cases. The study results showed that complete PVD plays a significant positive role in decreasing CMT and BCVA improvement in cases of CRVO. Our study revealed that no matter the type of occlusion, the presence of foveal IRH will have a negative impact on the BCVA outcome. Statistically significant differences have been noted only for the evolution of visual acuity in non-ischemic CRVO cases, in correlation with the presence of EZ disruption. Outer retinal layer HF has proved to be a predictive factor for poor visual acuity outcomes. Conclusions: The most important non-imaging predicting factors regarding BCVA after retinal vein occlusions are age and baseline BCVA. CMT's dynamics still establish a weak connection with visual acuity fluctuations. The presence of foveal IRH, outer retinal layer HF, and foveal EZ disruption has a negative impact on visual acuity outcomes. Abbreviations: CRVO = central retinal vein occlusions, BRVO = branch retinal vein occlusions, CMT = central macular thickness, IRH = foveal intraretinal hemorrhage, HF = hyperreflective foci, EZ = ellipsoid zone disruption, DRIL = inner retinal layer disorganization, PVD = posterior vitreous detachment, BCVA = best corrected visual acuity, OCT = optical coherence tomography, BCVA Ti = best corrected visual acuity at first, BCVA Tf = best corrected visual acuity after one year, NR of IVI = number of intravitreal injections, SD = standard deviation, M = male, F = female, CMT Ti = central macular thickness at first, CMT T1 = central macular thickness after first injection, CMT T3 = central macular thickness after 3 injections, CMT Tf = central macular thickness after one year.

Retinal vein occlusions associated or complicated with glaucoma. Aspects of prediction and paths of progression.

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study is to evaluate prediction factors and progression paths when retinal vein occlusions are associated with preexisting glaucoma or complicated with neovascular glaucoma. Materials and Methods: The study included 111 patients diagnosed with retinal vein occlusions, of whom 21 with preexisting open angle glaucoma and 12 with neovascular glaucoma as complication. The study was conducted from September 2020 to September 2022 in Timisoara, Romania. We assessed intraocular pressure, cup-disc ratio and retinal nerve fiber layer from the moment of retinal vein occlusion diagnosis until at least one year of follow-up, considering these aspects as values of prediction concerning the paths of progression when glaucoma and retinal vein occlusions come together. Results: The mean initial IOP for the affected eyes was higher (15.89 ± 2.73) than for fellow eyes (15.20 ± 3.11), with an increase of the IOP after one year, but with no statistically significant differences for the affected eyes (p=0.116) or for the other eyes (p=0.684), neither for the affected eyes associated with glaucoma in comparison with affected eyes without glaucoma association. The mean cup-disc ratio was higher for the affected eyes in comparison with the fellow eyes (0.4812 ± 0.219 for the affected eyes and 0.4738 ± 0.229 for the fellow ones in cases without associated glaucoma and 0.681 ± 0.157 for the affected eyes and 0.600 ± 0.241 for the fellow eyes in cases with associated glaucoma), with statistical significant differences in the evolution for both groups in comparison with the unaffected eyes (p=0.0056 for the first group and p=0.0003 for the second group). Comparing the evolution of the affected eyes with the preexisting glaucoma and the affected eyes without preexisting glaucoma, no statistical difference has been found (p=0.1104). The mean retinal nerve fiber layer decreased significantly in affected eyes without glaucoma (from 96 ± 14.71 to 89.16 ± 13.07) and in affected eyes with associated glaucoma (from 78.50 ± 4.23 to 75.50 ± 5.83), but with no significant differences (p=0.182). The level of decreasing was significantly more consistent in association with a venous occlusion (p= 0.0001). Conclusions: The findings of the current study fortify the correlation between glaucoma as a risk factor for retinal venous occlusion development, the intraocular pressure and optic nerve cupping as prediction factors in retinal venous occlusions, the association of a well-controlled preexisting glaucoma with no effect on the progression of the retinal venous occlusions and the development of a neovascular glaucoma with a much aggressive and different path of disease progression.

Treatment Experience and Predictive Factors Associated with Response in Platinum-Resistant Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: A Retrospective Single-Institution Study.

Ovarian cancer (OC) represents the most common and lethal gynecologic malignancy, due to its increased incidence and mortality rate. It is usually diagnosed in advanced stages and, even though surgery and platinum-based treatments are initially efficient, recurrences emerge in over 70% of cases. Although there are multiple options of chemotherapy drugs from which to choose, little is known regarding the best strategy for prolonged survival. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect that most frequently used chemotherapeutic regimens have upon time-to-treatment-failure (TTF) from the first line and beyond, considering clinical and biological factors which influence the treatment outcome of platinum-resistant recurrent OC. We retrospectively analyzed data from 78 patients diagnosed with platinum-resistant OC, who underwent chemotherapy-based treatment with or without anti-angiogenic therapy at OncoHelp Oncology Center, Romania (January 2016-February 2021). Our study identified positive predictive factors for TTF related to histology (serous carcinoma subtype), anthropometry (age over 60 for patients treated with topotecan with or without bevacizumab), renal function (creatinine levels between 0.65 and 1 mg/dL for patients treated with regimens containing bevacizumab and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) and treatment choice (bevacizumab in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or topotecan used from the first line and beyond).

High-resolution images in macular disorders.

Objective: This study analyzed and compared the results of adaptive optics (AO) and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in various maculopathies. Methods: The study included four different types of maculopathy: central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Stargardt disease (STGD) and phototoxic retinopathy. In all four cases, cone mosaic and cone density were obtained using AO fundus camera. Further, the high-resolution images were compared with the FAF and optical coherence tomography (OCT) results. Results: In CSC, FAF and AO, changes could be shown in the macula even two years after the subretinal fluid resorption, as opposed to a normal OCT. The improvement of FAF and cone mosaic appearance was concomitant with the visual acuity growth. Several cone mosaic phenotypes were observed in RP and STGD. In RP, the cone density was 24.240 cones /mm2 in the center, and decreased to 8.163 cones/ mm2 in the parafoveal area. In STGD, the cone density was lower in the center, 9.219 cones/ mm2, and higher at the periphery, 12.594 cones/ mm2. In the case of phototoxic retinopathy, AO and OCT were more effective than FAF in highlighting the photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium lesions. Conclusions: FAF and AO are very useful tools in macular pathologies examination. FAF can offer a true picture of the metabolic changes in the macula, while AO allows the view of changes up to the cellular level. Abbreviations: STGD = Stargardt disease, CSC = central serous chorioretinopathy, RP = retinitis pigmentosa, AO = adaptive optics, FAF = fundus autofluorescence.