Hyperoside alleviates photoreceptor degeneration by preventing cell senescence through AMPK-ULK1 signaling.

Vision loss and blindness are frequently caused by photoreceptor degeneration, for example in age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. However, there is no effective medicine to treat these photoreceptor degeneration-related diseases. Cell senescence is a common phenotype in many diseases; however, few studies have reported whether it occurs in photoreceptor degeneration diseases. Herein, we identified that cell senescence is associated with photoreceptor degeneration induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU, a commonly used photoreceptor degeneration model), presented as increased senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity, DNA damage, oxidative stress and inflammation-related cytokine Interleukin 6 (IL6), and upregulation of cyclin p21 or p16. These results suggested that visual function might be protected using anti-aging treatment. Furthermore, Hyperoside is reported to help prevent aging in various organs. In this study, we showed that Hyperoside, delivered intravitreally, alleviated photoreceptor cell senescence and ameliorated the functional and morphological degeneration of the retina in vivo and in vitro. Importantly, Hyperoside attenuated the MNU-induced injury and aging of photoreceptors via AMPK-ULK1 signaling inhibition. Taken together, our results demonstrated that Hyperoside can prevent MNU-induced photoreceptor degeneration by inhibiting cell senescence via the AMPK-ULK1 pathway.

Association between choroidopathy and photoreceptors during the early stage of diabetic retinopathy: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: To explore the role of choroidopathy in diabetic retinopathy (DR) by investigating the correlation between alterations of choroidal vessel and photoreceptors during the early stage of DR. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional comparison of diabetic patients without DR (NDR group; n=16) and those with mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR group; n=39). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of choroidal vessel alterations and photoreceptor structures were evaluated using the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and adjusted ellipsoid zone (EZ) reflectivity, respectively. To evaluate the function of cone photoreceptors, the fundamental, harmonic amplitudes, the parameters S and Rmp3 were calculated from the electroretinogram (ERG). These factors were compared between groups. The correlation between the CVI and parameters describing the function and structure of the photoreceptors was evaluated. RESULTS: The significant decrease was observed in the CVI in the NPDR group compared to the NDR group (0.67 ± 0.04 vs. 0.70 ± 0.06; p = 0.028), but not in the adjusted EZ reflectivity or ERG parameters. In NPDR group and merging the 2 groups, CVI was moderately positively correlated with the fundamental amplitude obtained by the flicker ERG (NPDR only: r = 0.506; p = 0.001; merge the 2 groups: r = 0.423; p = 0.001), which was regulated by the response of the cone photoreceptors. The CVI was positively and moderately correlated with the logS (NPDR only: r = 0.462; p = 0.003; merge the 2 groups: r = 0.355; p = 0.008), indicating the sensitivity of cone cell light transduction. CONCLUSION: Compared to eyes without DR, CVI decreased representing choroidal vascular changes in eyes with mild NPDR. These changes may be related to the functional impairment of cone photoreceptors, especially phototransduction sensitivity, as the DR develops.

Long-term follow-up of the cognitive function in children after intravitreal ranibizumab for retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term cognitive function in children treated with intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) for retinopathy of prematurity(ROP), and the impact of IVR on the growth and ocular development. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the premature children aged 4 to 9 years who received monotherapy of IVR (IVR group, n = 25) or monotherapy of laser photocoagulation (LP) (LP group, n = 33) for ROP, and the same age premature children with no ROP (Control group, n = 26) were enrolled from 2020 to 2022 in the pediatric fundus clinic of Shenzhen Eye Hospital. Main outcome measures were full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) and index score using the Chinese version of the Wechsler intelligence scale for children-fourth edition (WISC-IV) and Wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence-fourth edition (WPPSI-IV). All children were examined and analyzed for growth and ocular development by recording the height, weight, head circumference, spherical equivalent (SE), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and axial length (AL). RESULTS: There were 17 children in IVR group, 17 in LP group, and 11 in Control group who received the WISC-IV assessment. There were no significant differences in FSIQ, verbal comprehension index, perceptual reasoning index, working memory index, processing speed index, general ability index and cognitive efficiency index among the three groups. There were 8 children in IVR group, 16 in LP group, and 15 in Control group who received the WPPSI-IV assessment. There were no significant differences in FSIQ, verbal comprehension index, visuospatial index, fluid reasoning index, working memory index, non-verbal index, general ability index and cognitive efficiency index among the three groups. There was no significant difference in BCVA among the three groups (P = 0.74), however, there is an increase for AL in IVR group when compared with LP group (22.60 ± 0.58 vs. 22.13 ± 0.84, P = 0.003), and the ROP patients of IVR group have a significant increase in the AL compared to the Control group(22.60 ± 0.58 vs. 22.03 ± 0.71, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Children with a history of IVR have a similar cognitive function outcomes compared to those with a history of LP or were premature without ROP. ROP children with a history of IVR has longer AL than those treated with LP.

Exposure to mixtures of PM2.5 components and term premature rupture of membranes: a case-crossover study in Shijiazhuang, China.

This study aims to explore the acute effects of short-term exposure to PM2.5 components and their mixture on PROM. Counts of hospital admissions due to PROM were collected at the Fourth Hospital of Shijiazhuang. The associations between the PROM and PM2.5 components was examined using a time-stratified case-crossover approach. The overall effects of components on TPROM were examined using the BKMR. During the study period 30,709 cases of PROMwere identified. The relative risks and the 95% CI of TPROM were 1.013 (1.002, 1.028) and 1.015 (1.003, 1.028) associated with per interquartile range increase in nitrate and ammonium ion on the current day and they were 1.007 (1.001, 1.013) and 1.003 (1.000, 1.005) on the previous day. The results from the BKMR models showed a higher risk of TPROM was associated with exposure to mixtures, in which, nitrate and organic matter were the main contributors to the overall effect.

Slit2 suppresses endotoxin-induced uveitis by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/IKK/NF-κB pathway.

Uveitis is a devastating intraocular inflammatory disease. The secreted leucine-rich repeat protein slit homologue 2 (Slit2) has been found to be an essential regulator of inflammation. This study aimed to analyse the anti-inflammatory effects and the underlying mechanisms of Slit2 in an endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) rat model. In this study, rats with EIU pretreated recombinant human Slit2 (rhSlit2) or a control vehicle by intravitreal injection. The clinical scores were graded under a slit lamp. The protein concentrations and total number of cells in the aqueous humour (AqH) were examined, and the retinal expression of various inflammatory mediators was detected. The levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), phosphorylated NF-κB, IkappaB-a (IκB-a), phosphorylated IκB-a, IKK, phosphorylated IKK, PI3Kp85, phosphorylated PI3Kp85, Akt and phosphorylated Akt were evaluated by western blotting. Treatment with rhSlit2 dramatically diminished the clinical scores of EIU, with significant decreases in inflammatory cell infiltration, protein concentrations, cellulose-like exudates, the production of ICAM-1, MCP-1, TNF-α and IL-6 in the AqH; and adhesion of leucocytes. The PI3K/Akt/IKK/NF-κB pathway was found to be activated in EIU. However, the pre-treatment of rhSlit2 significantly inhibited the production of ICAM-1, MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6, and inhibited leucocyte adhesion by modulating the PI3K/Akt/IKK/NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, the intravitreal injection of rhSlit2 alleviated EIU-related inflammation in Sprague-Dawley rats by reducing the proinflammatory cytokines and leucocyte adhesion; in particular, rhSlit2 may inhibit LPS-induced inflammation by inhibiting the activation of PI3K/Akt/IKK/NF-κB signalling pathway. Therefore, rhSlit2 shows significant potential for effectively alleviating immune inflammatory responses in vivo.

Genetic landscape and autoimmunity of monocytes in developing Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is a systemic autoimmune disorder affecting multiple organs, including eyes, skin, and central nervous system. It is known that monocytes significantly contribute to the development of autoimmune disease. However, the subset heterogeneity with unique functions and signatures in human circulating monocytes and the identity of disease-specific monocytic populations remain largely unknown. Here, we employed an advanced single-cell RNA sequencing technology to systematically analyze 11,259 human circulating monocytes and genetically defined their subpopulations. We constructed a precise atlas of human blood monocytes, identified six subpopulations-including S100A12, HLA, CD16, proinflammatory, megakaryocyte-like, and NK-like monocyte subsets-and uncovered two previously unidentified subsets: HLA and megakaryocyte-like monocyte subsets. Relative to healthy individuals, cellular composition, gene expression signatures, and activation states were markedly alternated in VKH patients utilizing cell type-specific programs, especially the CD16 and proinflammatory monocyte subpopulations. Notably, we discovered a disease-relevant subgroup, proinflammatory monocytes, which showed a discriminative gene expression signature indicative of inflammation, antiviral activity, and pathologic activation, and converted into a pathologic activation state implicating the active inflammation during VKH disease. Additionally, we found the cell type-specific transcriptional signature of proinflammatory monocytes, ISG15, whose production might reflect the treatment response. Taken together, in this study, we present discoveries on accurate classification, molecular markers, and signaling pathways for VKH disease-associated monocytes. Therapeutically targeting this proinflammatory monocyte subpopulation would provide an attractive approach for treating VKH, as well as other autoimmune diseases.

Prevalence Patterns and Onset Prediction of High Myopia for Children and Adolescents in Southern China via Real-World Screening Data: Retrospective School-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with high myopia have an increased lifetime risk of complications. The prevalence patterns of high myopia in children and adolescents in southern China are unclear. Early identification of high-risk individuals is critical for reducing the occurrence and development of high myopia and avoiding the resulting complications. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of high myopia in children and adolescents in southern China via real-world screening data and to predict its onset by studying the risk factors for high myopia based on machine learning. METHODS: This retrospective school-based study was conducted in 13 cities with different gross domestic products in southern China. Through data acquisition and filtering, we analyzed the prevalence of high myopia and its association with age, school stage, gross domestic product, and risk factors. A random forest algorithm was used to predict high myopia among schoolchildren and then assessed in an independent hold-out group. RESULTS: There were 1,285,609 participants (mean age 11.80, SD 3.07, range 6-20 years), of whom 658,516 (51.2%) were male. The overall prevalence of high myopia was 4.48% (2019), 4.88% (2020), and 3.17% (2021), with an increasing trend from the age of 11 to 17 years. The rates of high myopia increased from elementary schools to high schools but decreased at all school stages from 2019 to 2021. The coastal and southern cities had a higher proportion of high myopia, with an overall prevalence between 2.60% and 5.83%. Age, uncorrected distance visual acuity, and spherical equivalents were predictive factors for high myopia onset in schoolchildren. The random forest algorithm achieved a high accuracy of 0.948. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.975. Both indicated sufficient model efficacy. The performance of the model was validated in an external test with high accuracy (0.971) and a high AUC (0.957). CONCLUSIONS: High myopia had a high incidence in Guangdong Province. Its onset in children and adolescents was well predicted with the random forest algorithm. Efficient use of real-world data can contribute to the prevention and early diagnosis of high myopia.

Awareness, Prevalence, and Knowledge of Dry Eye Among Internet Professionals: A Cross-sectional Study in China.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate awareness, prevalence, and knowledge of dry eye among Internet professionals in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,265 randomly selected Internet professionals aged ≥18 years. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess dry eye awareness, dry eye symptoms, and knowledge about dry eye risk factors. Data on demographics and complete medical history were also collected. The primary outcome was the rate of dry eye awareness determined by the answer to the question "Have you seen or heard anything about dry eye recently?" RESULTS: Of the 1,265 included individuals aged 20 to 49 years, 519 (41.0%) were women. 54.4% (688 of 1,265) of participants had seen or heard something about dry eye recently and most had obtained information through Internet. 50.8% (643 of 1,265) of participants were identified as subjects with symptoms of dry eye. Dry eye awareness was greater in contact lens wearers (odds ratio [OR], 6.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.70-11.38; P <0.001), those with a refractive surgical history (OR, 5.09; 95% CI, 2.34-11.08; P <0.001), relatives and/or friends of ophthalmologists (OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.39-5.49; P =0.004), those with symptoms of dry eye (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.47-2.38; P <0.001) and female subjects (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.13-1.86; P =0.004). Knowledge of nonmodifiable and modifiable risk factors for dry eye was poor in substantial numbers of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: The level of dry eye awareness and knowledge of its risk factors is suboptimal in Internet professionals, although the Internet professionals are at high risk of the disease.

Standard ophthalmology residency training in China: an evaluation of resident satisfaction on training program in Guangdong Province.

BACKGROUND: National standardized training for resident doctors (STRD) in mainland China has been formally established since 2014 as a kind of postgraduate education. The purpose of this survey was to assess the satisfaction of the training residents in Guangdong Province on the ophthalmology STRD program after a duration of 5 years. METHOD: A 48-item survey was sent to all postgraduate ophthalmology residents from bases in Guangdong Province to inquire about their attitude towards the program. The survey contained questions about demographic and work-related information, job satisfaction, psychological resilience, and job performance. All responses were verified, and invalid questionnaires were excluded. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 22.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors (demographic information, working environment, clinical exposure, supervision and hands-on training opportunities, and involvement in academic activities) impacting the overall satisfaction. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 471/635 (74.17%) valid questionnaires were returned from all the STRD bases of Guangdong Province, which included 38 hospitals. 60.3% of the respondents reported overall satisfaction with their training. The satisfaction with operative teaching (60.7%) was slightly lower than the other settings of teaching experience (above 65%). Meanwhile, the satisfaction on different secessions of operative experience was all below 70%, of which in the areas of cornea and orbit were 55.42% and 57.53%, respectively. Some potential factors were found to affect general satisfaction, including the training grade, marriage, working time, income level, the doctor-patient relationship, family members working as doctors, the time proportion spent on writing medical documents during clinical work, and the frequency of attending academic meetings. Improvement was observed in both performing and reporting clinical examinations in the last year of training in comparison to the first year. Finally, 82.8% of the residents acknowledged this training was helpful for future clinical work. The first five career preferences for residents were cataract (67.1%), refractive surgery (42.3%), vitreo-retina (36.5%), optometry (28.7%), and oculoplastic (27.2%). CONCLUSION: Ophthalmology residents in Guangdong Province expressed comparable satisfaction with the STRD program. To further improve satisfaction, factors such as resident subsidy, harmonious marriage, the patient-doctor relationship, and chances of attending academic conferences should be emphasized.

Spatial epidemiological characteristics and driving factors of myopia among school-age children based on geographical detector: a national study.

The present study aimed to examine the spatial characteristics of myopia and identify the socioeconomic and environmental factors influencing its prevalence. Myopia prevalence among children of school age of Han ethnicity in China was 56.6% in 2019, with the highest and lowest prevalence's in Shandong (66.8%) and Guizhou (47.3%), respectively. There was a spatial aggregation of myopia prevalence in China. Environmental factors (atmospheric PM2.5 concentration and forest coverage) and socioeconomic factors (gross domestic product per capita, per capita disposable income, hospital beds per thousand people, and Engel coefficient) have significant influences on myopia prevalence. The interaction of each factor on myopia showed nonlinear enhancement. Myopia prevalence among children of school age was spatially clustered, and environmental and socioeconomic conditions are associated with myopia prevalence. Our findings provide novel perspectives for the comprehensive prevention and control of myopia.

Idelalisib inhibits experimental proliferative vitroretinopathy.

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a fibrotic eye disease that develops after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery and open-globe traumatic injury. Idelalisib is a specific inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) δ. While PI3Kδ is primarily expressed in leukocytes, its expression is also considerably high in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, which play a crucial part in the PVR pathogenesis. Herein we show that GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiling uncovered strong expression of fibronectin in RPE cells within epiretinal membranes from patients with PVR, and that idelalisib (10 µM) inhibited Akt activation, fibronectin expression and collagen gel contraction induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß2 in human RPE cells. Furthermore, we discovered that idelalisib at a vitreal concentration of 10 µM, a non-toxic dose to the retina, prevented experimental PVR induced by intravitreally injected RPE cells in rabbits assessed by experienced ophthalmologists using an indirect ophthalmoscope plus a + 30 D fundus lens, electroretinography, optical coherence tomography and histological analysis. These data suggested idelalisib could be harnessed for preventing patients from PVR.

Alleviation of neurological disease by RNA editing.

The development of CRISPR/Cas genome editing tools has revolutionized the life sciences by providing transformative applications in many biological fields, including the field of neurological disorders. Compared with previous CRISPR-Cas systems targeting DNA, a new field of RNA editing using CRISPR-Cas13 systems is gaining immense popularity. CRISPR-Cas13 is a robust, precise, versatile and safe RNA guided RNA-targeting system, which uniquely targets single-strand RNA. Recently, RNA-targeted gene editing tools have been refined by the introduction of an AAV (adeno-associated virus)-based CRISPR-Cas13 system for in vivo therapeutic cell fate conversion, which has been used to treat animal models of Parkinson's disease. This flavor of gene editing showed promising effects on glia-to-neuron conversion in both intact and damaged mature retinas in a mouse model. Herein, we summarize the CRISPR-Cas13 system and its potential for applications in neurological diseases, focusing on the method of applying the AAV-mediated CRISPR-Cas13 system to the conversion of glia-to-neuron.

Latest progress in the study of nanoparticle-based delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 system.

The CRISPR/Cas9 system has been harnessed to cleave a targeted DNA fragment via its Cas nuclease activity under the direction of guide RNA for rendering gene insertions, deletions, and point mutations in basic research and clinical applications. There are a number of vehicles, including lipofectamine, viruses, and nanoparticles, that can deliver the CRISPR/Cas9 system, but all these methods face numerous challenges during their application in life science contexts. Here, we focus on the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 via nanoparticles because this method has shown great advantages in terms of safety, simplicity and flexibility.

AAV-mediated in vivo genome editing in vascular endothelial cells.

In vivo genome editing meets numerous challenges including efficiency and safety. Here we describe an efficient in vivo genome editing method of delivering CRISPR-Cas9 into vascular endothelial cells with adeno-associated viruses (AAVs). In this system, expression of SpCas9 is driven by a specific endothelial promoter of intercellular adhesion molecule 2 (pICAM2) to restrict this foreign enzyme in vascular endothelial cells, which can be efficiently infected by AAV1. We exemplify this approach by editing VEGFR2 in retinal vascular endothelial cells in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy, and expect that this simplified protocol can be expanded to other researches on editing endothelial genome in vivo.

Refractive and biometrical characteristics of children with retinopathy of prematurity who received laser photocoagulation or intravitreal ranibizumab injection.

PURPOSE: To investigate the refractive and biometrical developments of children with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) who received laser photocoagulation (LP) or intravitreal ranibizumab injection as treatment. METHODS: This case-control study involved cases with Zone II Stage 3 ROP. Fourteen children (28 eyes) who received single LP were included in the laser group, and 14 children (27 eyes) who received single intravitreal ranibizumab injection were included in the injection group. The mean age at operation was 37.00±1.72 and 36.36±1.66 weeks for the laser and injection groups, respectively (P=0.161), and refraction measurements and biometry were performed at the mean age of 5.00±1.63 and 5.00±0.94 years for the laser and injection groups, respectively (P=1.000). Spherical equivalent (SE) after mydriatic refraction and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured by refraction test. Central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior corneal surface curvature and curvature radius, anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT) and axial length (AL) were measured by biometry using the IOL Master700 biometric instrument (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG). The biometrical images were reanalysed using a self-developed program in MATLAB (R2016a, MathWorks, Inc.) to obtain additional eye parameters, including the curvatures of the posterior cornea and the anterior and posterior surfaces of the lens. SPSS (V.23.0) was used for statistical analysis. Independent sample t test was used to compare the eyeball biological and refractive state measures of the two groups, and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between SE and the biological parameters. RESULTS: 1. (1) Cornea-related parameters: CCT (0.54±0.04mm vs 0.55±0.02mm, P>0.05), anterior corneal surface curvature radius (7.56±0.26 mm vs 7.67±0.43mm, P>0.05) and posterior corneal surface curvature radius (6.82±0.27mm vs 6.79±0.42mm, P>0.05). (2) ACD (3.21 ± 0.25mm vs 3.22 ± 0.19mm, P>0.05). (3) Lens-related parameters: anterior lens surface curvature radius (10.04±0.89mm vs 9.82±1.08mm, P>0.05), posterior lens surface curvature radius (5.49±0.55mm vs 5.92±0.73mm, P<0.05) and LT (3.80±0.14mm vs 3.59±0.16mm, P<0.05). (4) AL (21.82±1.07 vs 22.68±1.61, P<0.05). (5) Parameters related to refractive state: SE (-2.43±3.56 vs -0.53±3.12, P<0.05) and BCVA (log MAR, 0.17±0.14 vs 0.21±0.18, P>0.05). 2. (1) The SE of children in the laser group was positively correlated with LT (r=0.438, P<0.05), negatively correlated with ACD (r=-0.437, P<0.05) and had no significant correlation with other eyeball biological indicators (P>0.05). (2) The SE of children in the injection group was negatively correlated with AL (r=-0.537, P<0.05), positively correlated with CCT (r=0.455, P<0.05) and had no significant correlation with other eyeball biological indicators (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: LP and intravitreal ranibizumab injection as ROP treatments produce myopic refraction with increased degree of myopia in children who received LP than in children who received ranibizumab injection. The increased myopia after LP is due to the increases in LT and posterior lens curvature and a shallow ACD.

Pars plana subcapsulotomy to remove condense subcapsular opacification in combined surgery of silicone oil removal and phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: Because of the direct contact of intravitreal silicone oil (SO) with the subcapsular membrane, cataract is one of the main SO-related complications. In a group of patients, condense subcapsular opacification occurs, which adds difficulty and risk when having sequential treatment of it. The aim of the current study is to assess the long-term outcomes of pars plana subcapsulotomy to remove condense subcapsular opacification in combined surgery of SO removal and phacoemulsification. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Consecutive patients who were scheduled to have combined surgery of SO removal and phacoemulsification, and with condense subcapsular opacification were included. After phacoemulsification and SO removal, circular subcapsulotomy (diameter = 3-5 mm) was performed with a 23-/25-gauge vitrectomy probe on each subject during the combined surgery. Main outcomes were pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intra- and postoperative complications. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty patients (120 eyes) were included. Postoperative logMAR BCVA at day 1, week 1, month 1, and final follow-up examinations was 1.0 ± 0.5, 0.7 ± 0.4, 0.6 ± 0.4, and 0.6 ± 0.3, respectively. Statistically significant median differences of logMAR BCVA occurred between the preoperative examination and each postoperative follow-up examination (all p < 0.001). The sharpest median increase in logMAR BCVA occurred between the day 1 and week 1 postoperative examinations (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For condense subcapsular opacification caused by SO tamponade, pars plana subcapsulotomy with a 23-/25-gauge vitrectomy probe during combined surgery of SO removal and phacoemulsification is effective and safe to have surgical management of it. The systemic approach enables patients to experience rapid and long-lasting vision rehabilitation in a single procedure.

Quantitative Analysis of Retinal Microvascular Changes after Conbercept Therapy in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

PURPOSE: To quantitatively evaluate microvascular changes in eyes with macular oedema due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) before and after intravitreal conbercept injection and the correlation of such changes with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and retinal thickness. METHODS: Twenty-eight eyes of 28 patients treated with a single intravitreal injection of conbercept for macular oedema due to BRVO were included in this study. The automatically measured values of the vessel density in the superficial (SCP) and deep retinal capillary plexus (DCP), the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, the FAZ perimeter, the vessel density within a 300 µm wide ring surrounding the FAZ (FD-300), the acircularity index (AI), the choriocapillaris flow area and the retinal thickness were obtained via OCTA before and at 1 month after initial injection and compared with those of age- and sex- matched healthy subjects. RESULTS: In BRVO eyes, the vascular density in the SCP and DCP, the FD-300 and the flow area of choriocapillaris were significantly lower than those in healthy eyes, while the AI and the retinal thickness were significantly increased. After treatment, the retinal thickness in eyes with BRVO was significantly decreased in all quadrants, and the mean BCVA dramatically increased from 20/162 to 20/78 (p = 0.0017). The mean flow area of choriocapillaris significantly improved after treatment. Moreover, negative correlations between the logMAR BCVA and the whole vascular density in the SCP and DCP as well as the flow area of choriocapillaris were observed. CONCLUSION: OCTA enables non-invasive, layer-specific and quantitative assessment of microvascular changes in eyes with BRVO before and after treatment, and it can be used as a valuable imaging tool for the evaluation of the follow-up in BRVO patients.

Novel and easy techniques for 27-gauge silicone oil infusion and removal.

PURPOSE: To introduce novel and easy techniques for 27-gauge silicone oil (SO) infusion and removal. METHODS: Consecutive patients treated with 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) plus SO infusion (Infusion Group) and scheduled to have SO removal (Removal Group) were prospectively included, respectively. Patients in Infusion Group underwent 27-gauge PPV plus SO infusion. SO infusion was performed with a 24-gauge intravenous catheter connected with the SO syringe. Patients in Removal Group underwent machine-independent SO removal using a short section of infusion tube connected with a 10-mL syringe. Main outcomes were best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, surgical time and intra- and postoperative complications. RESULTS: There were thirty-five eyes (35 patients) and forty eyes (40 patients) included in Infusion and Removal Groups, respectively. Mean surgical time of complete SO infusion and removal was 5.5 ± 0.9 and 9.6 ± 2.1 min, respectively. In both groups, no patient experienced postoperative vision deterioration or hypotony. No obvious intra- and postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the use of the 24-gauge catheter method for 27-gauge silicone oil infusion when commercial infusion cannula is unavailable. The machine-independent method using easily available plastic infusion tube and syringe would be an ideal option when 27-gauge surgery is anticipated.

Combined 23-G Pars Plana Vitrectomy and Lensectomy in the Management of Glaucoma Associated with Nanophthalmos.

PURPOSE: To investigate the surgical results of 23-G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with lensectomy (PPL) in nanophthalmic patients with angle closure glaucoma. METHODS: This prospective nonrandomized study included consecutive patients with nanophthalmic glaucoma recruited for 23-G PPV combined with PPL. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of antiglaucoma medications, and surgery-associated complications were recorded. Surgical success rates were evaluated at each follow-up. Prognostic factors for success were also assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: This study enrolled 21 eyes of 21 patients. The mean follow-up was 18.6 ± 7.0 months. At the final follow-up visit, the mean IOP was significantly reduced (from 47.4 ± 5.7 to 18.6 ± 3.6 mm Hg). The mean number of antiglaucoma medications dropped from 5 to 0. BCVA improved in 3 (14.3%) eyes. The complete success rate (IOP >6 and <21 mm Hg without antiglaucoma medication) was 71.4, 66.7, and 71.4% at the 6-month, 12-month, and final follow-up visit, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Nanophthalmic glaucoma can be effectively managed with the combined surgery of 23-G PPV and PPL. IOP control was achieved with elimination of pupillary block and deepening of the anterior chamber. This surgical procedure proved to be safe in eyes with a potential risk of vision-threatening complications.

Surgical outcomes of 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with short-term postoperative tamponade of perfluorocarbon liquid for repair of giant retinal tears.

PURPOSE: To investigate the use of 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with short-term tamponade of perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) for repair of giant retinal tears (GRT). METHODS: Retrospective case series study. Consecutive patients with GRT were treated with 27-gauge PPV and short-term tamponade of PFCL for 7-10 days. PFCL was completely removed with a secondary surgery. RESULTS: Twenty-three eyes of 23 patients were included. All the patients achieved primary anatomic success. Preoperative logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA was 1.59 ± 0.58 (Snellen 20/778). Five (21.7%), nine (39.1%), eleven (47.8%) and fifteen (65.2%) eyes experienced vision improvement at the Month-1, Month-3, Month-6 and final follow-ups, respectively. The final logMAR BCVA was 0.84 ± 0.51 (Snellen 20/138), being statistically better than the preoperative one (P < 0.001). Surgical complications included foreign body response (n = 7), transient elevated intraocular pressure (n = 5), cataract formation/deterioration (n = 11) and posterior capsule opacity (n = 16). CONCLUSIONS: 27-Gauge PPV with short-term tamponade of PFCL is safe and effective for the repair of GRT. Side effects of the surgery mainly included foreign body response, transient elevated intraocular pressure, cataract formation/deterioration and posterior capsule opacity.