A randomised, placebo controlled clinical trial of the aldose reductase inhibitor CT-112 as management of corneal epithelial disorders in diabetic patients.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of topical aldose reductase inhibitor CT-112 (5-[3-ethoxy-4-pentyloxyphenyl]-2,4-thiazolidinedione) on corneal epithelial barrier function in diabetic patients. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomised, double masked placebo controlled study. 34 eyes of 34 diabetic patients were randomly assigned treatment with 0.25% eye drops of CT-112 (n = 22) or a placebo (n = 12) four times a day for 8 weeks. Corneal fluorescein staining and corneal sensation were examined before treatment as well as 4 and 8 weeks after administration. Corneal epithelial permeability to fluorescence was measured with an anterior fluorophotometer. RESULTS: Average scores of superficial punctate keratopathy and corneal sensitivity did not differ significantly between the two groups at any time. Whereas average fluorescein concentrations did not differ significantly for the CT-112 and placebo groups before treatment, they did differ significantly 4 and 8 weeks after treatment (4 weeks, p = 0.0327; 8 weeks, p = 0.0143). CONCLUSION: The topical aldose reductase inhibitor, CT-112 improves the corneal epithelial barrier function in diabetic patients.

A prospective, randomised comparison of single and three piece acrylic foldable intraocular lenses.

AIMS: To compare the postoperative performance of single and three piece acrylic foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs). METHODS: 20 patients underwent bilateral cataract surgery with a single piece SA30AL IOL in one eye and a three piece MA30BA IOL in the other eye. The eyes were randomly assigned to either a single or three piece lens. The amount of IOL decentration and tilt, area of anterior capsule opening, and degree of posterior capsule opacification were measured using the Scheimpflug anterior segment analysis system (Nidek EAS-1000). Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were examined. Measurements were performed by masked examiners before and 1 day, 1 week, 1, 3, 6, and 18 months after surgery. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups (p>0.05, paired t test) in the amount of IOL decentration, IOL tilt, area of anterior capsule opening, degree of posterior capsule opacification, best corrected visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity throughout the 18 month follow up period. CONCLUSION: The single and three piece acrylic foldable IOLs are equally stable in the eye after surgery.

Comparison of postoperative surface light scattering of different intraocular lenses.

AIMS: This retrospective study was conducted to compare postoperative surface scattering of four kinds of intraocular lens (IOL). METHODS: Sixty-seven eyes of 67 patients who had undergone cataract surgery were enrolled in this study. One of four IOLs was used in the patients; MA60BM in 17 patients (MA group), SA60AT in 17 patients (SA group), AR40 in 16 patents (AR group) and ClariFlex in 17 patients (CL group). Measurement of scattering from the anterior surface of the IOL was measured with area densitometry using a Scheimpflug camera (EAS-1000, Nidek, Aichi) for 3 years after the surgery. RESULTS: The density of IOL surface scattering increased starting 1 year after surgery and throughout the 3-year period in the MA group and starting at 6 months through 3 years in the SA group, whereas the density was stable in the AR and CL groups. The density of surface scattering in the MA and SA groups at 3 years after surgery was significantly higher than in the AR and CL groups. CONCLUSION: The surface scattering of MA60BM and SA60AT is higher than that of AR40 and ClariFlex. The grades of surface scattering differ among the manufacturers, even with the same acrylic material.