Clinical Outcomes of a New Hydrophobic Trifocal Intraocular Lens with Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate in Cataract Surgery: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical outcomes of new hydrophobic trifocal intraocular lens with hydroxyethyl methacrylate in the Korean population. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter, and observational study evaluated the clinical outcomes of 80 eyes of 40 patients with age-related cataract underwent cataract surgery using CNWT (Clareon PanOptix). Assessment included monocular and binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (at 60cm), near visual acuity (at 40 and 33 cm), uncorrected defocus curves, questionnaires evaluating photic phenomena, spectacle independence, and spectacle free satisfaction. RESULTS: At postoperative 3 months, mean uncorrected binocular visual acuities were 0.04, 0.04, 0.03 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) at far, intermediate, and near distances, respectively. All patients achieved uncorrected binocular visual acuity of 0.2 logMAR or better. Monocular and binocular defocus curve indicated a mean visual acuity of 0.2 logMAR or better at the defocus range of +1.0 to - 3.0 diopters (100 to 33 cm) and +1.0 to - 3.5 diopters (100 to 28 cm). High spectacle independence was observed at all distances, with 37.5% patients reporting photic phenomena. CONCLUSIONS: The Clareon PanOptix intraocular lens has shown positive clinical outcomes, providing a viable option for cataract surgery. These lenses effectively address patients' visual needs, especially in intermediate and near distance tasks, reducing dependence on glasses.

Etiology and outcome of penetrating keratoplasty in bullous keratopathy post-cataract surgery vs post-glaucoma surgery.

PURPOSE: To investigate the causes of bullous keratopathy (BK) in the Korean population and analyze the results of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in BK eyes associated with the top two causes: pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) and glaucoma surgery-associated BK (GBK). METHODS: Medical records were reviewed of patients diagnosed with BK at a tertiary referral center between 2010 and 2020. The predisposing conditions, clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes after PK were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Of total 340 BK eyes, 70% (238 eyes) were associated with ocular surgery; most commonly, cataract surgery (48%, 162 eyes) and glaucoma surgery/laser (21%, 70 eyes). The BK onset was faster following glaucoma surgery/laser (91.7 ± 94.4 months) than following cataract surgery (160.7 ± 138.0 months, p < 0.001). The median survival time of allografts was shorter in GBK than in PBK (24.0 vs 51.0 months, p = 0.020). Best-corrected logMAR visual acuities were lower in GBK than in PBK after PK (1.4 ± 0.7 vs 0.9 ± 0.6, p = 0.017 at one year; 1.8 ± 0.7 vs 1.1 ± 0.8, p = 0.043 at three years). CONCLUSIONS: Intraocular surgery is the major predisposing condition of BK in Korea. GBK developed earlier and its therapeutic outcome was poorer, compared to PBK.

SS-OCT-based ocular biometry in an adult Korean population with cataract.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristics of ocular biometric parameters in adult Korean patients with cataract. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Ocular biometric values of 5273 eyes of 5273 Korean patients undergoing cataract surgery measured with the IOLMaster 700 at the Seoul National University Hospital between November 2019 and December 2021 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 5273 eyes of 5273 Korean patients were analyzed. The mean ± SD age was 66.1 ± 12.8 years, and 62% were female. Overall, age and ocular biometric parameters were correlated with each other. Particularly, age showed a negative correlation with anterior chamber depth (ACD; r = -0.357), axial length (AL; r = -0.344), and posterior keratometry (PK; r = -0.054) and a positive correlation with lens thickness (LT; r = 0.484), angle α ( r = 0.194), total keratometry (TK; r = 0.137), anterior keratometry (AK; r = 0.129), and angle κ ( r = 0.071). AL showed a positive correlation with ACD ( r = 0.503) and PK ( r = 0.339) and a negative correlation with AK ( r = -0.342), TK ( r = -0.334), LT ( r = -0.288), angle α ( r = -0.220), and angle κ ( r = -0.040). With age, anterior and total corneal astigmatism changed from with-the-rule (WTR) to against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism. Posterior corneal astigmatism was ATR regardless of age; however, the magnitude decreased with age. CONCLUSIONS: Age showed a significant correlation in the order of LT, ACD, and AL. With age, angle α and κ increased, and total corneal astigmatism changes from WTR to ATR, which is mainly affected by changes in anterior corneal astigmatism. AL showed a significant correlation in the order of ACD, AK, PK, and TK. These data are pertinent for improving the result after cataract surgery, especially when using premium intraocular lenses.

Multicenter prospective validation study for international chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease consensus diagnostic criteria.

PURPOSE: To validate the international chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) diagnostic criteria (ICCGVHD) compared to the National Institute of Health diagnostic criteria 2014 (NIH2014) for chronic ocular GVHD. METHODS: Between 2013 and 2019, the study enrolled 233 patients with or without chronic ocular GVHD combined with the presence or absence of systemic chronic GVHD in an internationally prospective multicenter and observational cohort from 9 institutions. All patients were evaluated for four clinical parameters of ICCGVHD. RESULTS: The relation between the ICCGVHD score (0-11) and NIH2014 eye score (0-4) was relatively high (r = 0.708, 95% CI: 0.637-0.767, p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of ICCGVHD for NIH 2014 for 233 patients were 94.3% (95% CI: 89.6%-98.1%) and 71.7% (95% CI: 63.0-79.5%), respectively (cutoff value of the ICCGVHD score = 6). The positive predictive value was 77.1% (95% CI: 71.1%-82.1%), and the negative predictive value was 87.0% (95% CI:81.6-92.5%). For the patients with systemic GVHD (n = 171), the sensitivity and specificity were 94.2% and 67.2%, respectively (ICCGVHD-score cutoff value = 6). By receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.903 (95% CI: 0.859-0.948). For patients without systemic GVHD (n = 62), the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 76.7%, respectively (ICCGVHD-score cutoff value = 6). The AUC was 0.891 (95% CI 0.673-1.000). CONCLUSIONS: Good sensitivity, specificity, predictive value and correlation were found between ICCGVHD and NIH2014. ICCGVHD scores ≥6 can be useful to diagnose ocular GVHD with or without systemic GVHD for clinical research.

Clinical outcome of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) with imported donor corneas in eyes of Asian patients; endothelium-in versus endothelium-out method.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether (1) imported pre-cut tissue is feasible for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in eyes of Asian patients, (2) the clinical outcome is comparable between the endothelium-in and endothelium-out methods, and (3) the corneal edema-induced anterior curvature changes may have an effect on the refractive error. METHODS: The medical records of 32 DMEK patients who underwent either the endothelium-out or endothelium-in method using imported pre-cut grafts with a 3-day pre-cut-to-use time were retrospectively analyzed. Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (37.5%) and bullous keratopathy (62.5%) cases were included. The main clinical outcome measures were graft survival, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD), corneal thickness (CT), and complications. Correlation of the anterior curvature changes with refractive error was analyzed in the DMEK with cataract surgery group. RESULTS: The overall survival rate was 71.9%. Final graft failures were caused by rejection, glaucoma, and infection. Visual acuities improved by 89.3%. BCVA better than 20/40 and 20/20 was found in 75% and 28.6% of patients, respectively. The ECDs at 3 months and 1 year were 1400 and 1083 cells/mm2, respectively. The mean survival time, ECD, BCVA, CT, and complication rates were not different between the endothelium-in and endothelium-out methods. A hyperopic shift by +0.42 D was not related to the anterior curvature changes. CONCLUSION: Imported pre-cut tissues with a ≤ 3-day pre-cut-to-use time are feasible for DMEK in the treatment of corneal endothelial edema in eyes of Asian patients, and both endothelium-in and endothelium-out methods appear to be comparatively effective. Edema-induced anterior curvature change may not affect the refractive shift.

Improved accuracy of intraocular lens power calculation by preoperative management of dry eye disease.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effects of pretreatment for dry eye disease (DED) on the accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation. METHODS: Patients who underwent uneventful cataract surgery were included in the study. IOL power was determined using the SRK/T and Barrett Universal II (Barrett) formulas. The patients were divided into non-pretreatment and pretreatment groups, and those in the pretreatment group were treated with topical 0.5% loteprednol etabonate and 0.05% cyclosporin A for 2 weeks prior to cataract surgery. Ocular biometry was performed in all groups within 2 days before surgery. The mean prediction error, mean absolute error (MAE), and proportions of refractive surprise were compared between the non-pretreatment and pretreatment groups at 1 month postoperatively. Refractive surprise was defined as MAE ≥ 0.75D. RESULTS: In a total of 105 patients, 52 (52 eyes) were in the non-pretreatment group and 53 (53 eyes) in the pretreatment group. The MAE was 0.42 ± 0.33, 0.38 ± 0.34 (SRK/T, Barrett) and 0.23 ± 0.19, 0.24 ± 0.19 in the non-pretreatment and pretreatment groups, respectively (p < 0.001/=0.008). The number of refractive surprises was also significantly lower in the pretreatment group. [non-pretreatment/pretreatment: 9/2 (SRK/T); 8/1 (Barrett); p = 0.024/0.016]. Pretreatment of DED was related to a reduction in postoperative refractive surprise. [SRK/T/Barrett: OR = 0.18/0.17 (95% CI: 0.05-0.71/0.05-0.60), p = 0.014/0.006]. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of IOL power prediction can be increased by actively treating DED prior to cataract surgery.

Clinical outcomes in post-epikeratophakic eyes after removal of epikeratoplasty lenticule.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of the optical outcome and adverse events in post-epikeratopathic eyes after removal of the epikeratoplasty lenticule (EKPL). METHODS: This was a retrospective case-series study of patients who underwent EKPL removal between 2002 and 2020. Ten eyes were included in the analysis. We compared the clinical characteristics of the patients before surgery, 6 months after surgery, before lenticular removal, and after removal, and reported optical or ocular surface complications. RESULTS: We removed EKPL due to the lenticular opacity in five eyes (50%), intraocular lens (IOL) insertion (n = 4, 40%) after cataract surgery (n = 3) or in aphakic eyes (n = 1), and lenticule-induced irregular astigmatism in one eye (10%). After EKPL removal, the mean refractive power of the cornea (Km) revealed a tendency to increase. Out of nine cases, six cases showed corneal steepening and three cases revealed corneal flattening. When the keratometric readings of pre-epikeratoplasty and post-lenticular removal were compared within the same case, the average difference was 5.1 D ± 4.0 (n = 8). Complications were observed in 3 of 10 cases (excessive corneal flatness, ectatic change, and abnormal epithelial cell ingrowth) after removal. CONCLUSIONS: The surgeon should expect the corneal refractive power to steepen or flatten in some cases with abnormal astigmatism and irregularity. Epikeratophakic eyes may exhibit serious ectatic changes, and abnormal epithelial cell ingrowth after removal of epikeratophakic lenticules.

Time-Dependent Serial Changes of Antigen-Presenting Cell Subsets in the Ocular Surface Are Distinct between Corneal Sterile Inflammation and Allosensitization in a Murine Model.

The kinetics of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) vary depending on their resident tissues and the manner of immunization. We investigated the long-term changes in mature APC and T-cell subsets over 4 weeks in the ocular surface in murine models of corneal quiescent or potent sterile inflammation, and allosensitization using partial (PT), syngeneic (Syn), and allogeneic (Allo) corneal transplantation. In PT, CD11bintCD11chiMHCIIhiCD86hi cells increased until 4 weeks with an increase in IFNγhi T cells. In Syn, both CD11bintCD11chiMHCIIhiCD86hi and CD11bhiCD11chiMHCIIhiCD86hi APC subsets increased until 4 weeks with a brief increase in CD69hi T cells at 2 weeks. In Allo, CD11bintCD11chiMHCIIhiCD86hi and CD11bhiCD11chiMHCIIhiCD86hi APC subsets increased until 4 weeks, and an early increase in CD69hi T cells was observed at 2 weeks followed by a late increase in IFNγhi T cells at 4 weeks. The frequency of the IFNγhi T cell subset was positively correlated with the frequency of the CD11bintCD11chiMHCIIhiCD86hi subset, indicating the existence of APC-T cell interaction in the ocular surface. Together, the results indicate that allosensitization in mature APCs leads to T-cell activation in the ocular surface, whereas sterile inflammation merely induces a brief and non-specific T-cell activation in the ocular surface.

Comparison of therapeutic effects between topical 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine and corticosteroid in ocular alkali burn model.

We compared the therapeutic effects of topical 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) and corticosteroid in a murine ocular alkali burn model. (n = 128) The corneal alkali burn model was established by applying 0.1 N sodium hydroxide (NaOH), followed by treatment with 8-oxo-dG, 0.1% fluorometholone (FML), 1% prednisolone acetate (PDE), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) twice daily. One week later, the clinical and histological status of the cornea were assessed. Transcript levels of inflammatory cytokines and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase as well as the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in the cornea, were assayed. The 8-oxo-dG and PDE groups showed marked improvements in corneal integrity and clarity when compared with the PBS group (each p < 0.01). The numbers of cells stained for neutrophil elastase and F4/80-positive inflammatory cells were significantly decreased, with levels of interleukin(IL)-1ß, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, and total ROS/RNS amounts markedly reduced in the 8-oxo-dG, FML, and PDE groups (each p < 0.05). Levels of NADPH oxidase type 2 and 4 were substantially more repressed in the 8-oxo-dG-treated group than in the PDE-treated group (each p < 0.05). Topical 8-oxo-dG showed excellent therapeutic effects that were comparable with those treated with topical PDE in a murine ocular alkali burn model.

Effect of IRT5 probiotics on dry eye in the experimental dry eye mouse model.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effects of IRT5 probiotics in the environmental dry eye model. METHODS: Eight week old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups; control group (n = 16) received oral gavage of 300 µL phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) alone once daily, IRT5 group (n = 9) received oral gavage of 1 x 109 CFU IRT5 probiotics powder in 300 µL PBS once daily, both groups for 11 to 12 days. Simultaneously, all mice underwent dry eye induction. Tear secretion, corneal staining and conjunctival goblet cell density were evaluated. Quantative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for inflammation-related markers was performed. 16S ribosomal RNA of fecal microbiome was analyzed and compositional difference, alpha and beta diversities were assessed. RESULTS: There was no difference in NEI score but significant increase in tear secretion was observed in IRT5 group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in goblet cell density between groups. Quantative RT-PCR of cornea and conjunctiva revealed increased TNF-α expression in IRT5 group (p < 0.001) whereas other markers did not significantly differ from control. IRT5 group had significantly increased species diversity by Shannon index (p = 0.041). Beta diversity of genus by UniFrac principle coordinates analysis showed significant distance between groups (p = 0.001). Compositional differences between groups were observed and some were significantly associated with tear secretion. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed Christensenellaceae (p = 0.009), Lactobacillus Helveticus group (p = 0.002) and PAC001797_s (p = 0.011) to strongly influence tear secretion. CONCLUSION: In experimental dry eye model, IRT5 probiotics treatment partially improves experimental dry eye by increasing tear secretion which was associated with and influenced by the change in intestinal microbiome. Also, intestinal microbiome may affect the lacrimal gland through a different mechanism other than regulating inflammation.

Geometric Profiling of Corneal Limbal Dermoids for the Prediction of Surgical Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To search for novel geometric parameters for corneal limbal dermoids that enable the prediction of clinical and surgical outcomes. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records and anterior segment photographs of 85 eyes of 85 patients with corneal limbal dermoids that had been surgically excised. Patients were assigned to the following 4 cohorts (multiple assignments allowed): postoperative visual acuity (cohort 1, n = 65), amblyopia (cohort 2, n = 67), postoperative scar formation (cohort 3, n = 51), and preoperative spontaneous progression of dermoids (cohort 4, n = 39). For geometric profiling, 11 geometric parameters of lesions, including orientation, angular width, and 9 ratio parameters, were preoperatively defined in each patient based on the digital anterior-segment photographs. Each geometric parameter and demographic variable were analyzed for correlation with postoperative outcomes (cohorts 1-3) and preoperative spontaneous dermoid progression (cohort 4). RESULTS: The mean patient age at surgery was 6.0 ± 6.3 years. Among the geometric and demographic parameters analyzed, the invaded angular axis of dermoid to corneal diameter ratio had the highest r coefficient (r = 0.728) in cohort 1 and best stratified patients in cohort 2 (cutoff > 0.48) and cohort 3 (cutoff > 0.56). No parameters were correlated with spontaneous dermoid progression in cohort 4. CONCLUSIONS: We devised geometric parameters to evaluate corneal limbal dermoids before surgery for the prediction of surgical outcomes. The invaded angular axis of dermoid to corneal diameter ratio value was the most significant factor associated with postoperative visual acuity, amblyopia development, and postoperative scarring.

Preserved Corneal Lamellar Grafting Reduces Inflammation and Promotes Wound Healing in a Scleral Defect Rabbit Model.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of preserved corneal lamellar grafting on inflammation and wound healing and to compare its effect with that of preserved scleral grafting in a scleral defect rabbit model. Methods: New Zealand White rabbits were assigned to a corneal lamellar grafting group (n = 5) or a scleral grafting group (n = 5). After lamellar dissection of superotemporal sclera using 6.0-mm trephine, the same sizes of preserved human corneal or scleral grafts were transplanted with 10-0 nylon interrupted sutures. The grafted areas were photodocumented at 3 to 21 days after surgery to evaluate epithelial wound healing index (%), neovascularization and presence of filaments. The existence of CD3+ T cells and CD34+ cells at the grafted areas was analyzed at 21 days. Results: Epithelial wound healing index was significantly higher in the corneal grafting group at 9 days (P < 0.05). Scleral grafts showed copious formation of filaments adherent to the engrafted area from 9 to 14 days, whereas the corneal grafts were free of filaments. The numbers of inflammatory cells were significantly higher in the scleral grafts (P < 0.05), and CD3+ T cells and CD34+ cells were populated within inflammatory cells at graft-recipient junctions in both groups. The mean areas of the estimated perigraft and intragraft neovascularization tended to be higher in scleral grafts. Conclusions: Preserved corneal lamellar grafting enhances epithelial wound healing and alleviates inflammation in a scleral defect rabbit model. Translational Relevance: This work suggests that the preserved corneal graft may be considered as a favorable alternative option for repairing scleral defects.

Comparative effects of various types of toric intraocular lenses on astigmatism correction.

BACKGROUND: Currently, various types of toric intraocular lenses (IOL) have been manufactured and can be divided into three types according to the location of correction component; front-toric IOL (correction on anterior IOL surface), back-toric IOL (correction on posterior IOL surface), and bi-toric IOL (correction on both anterior and posterior IOL surfaces). In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of reducing corneal astigmatism of either normal or post-penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) corneas according to the type of implanted toric IOLs. METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed in 370 patients who had undergone phacoemulsification with posterior chamber toric IOL insertion (front-toric IOL, back-toric IOL or bi-toric IOL). Subjects were divided into 2 groups; subjects who had no history of corneal disease with corneal astigmatism more than 1.00 diopters (D) (G1) and subjects who received previous PKP with all corneal sutures removed and had corneal astigmatism more than 1.25 D (G2). Preoperatively intended target from SRK/T was evaluated. Refractive astigmatism and its vector analysis (J0, J45), mean numerical error (MNE) and mean absolute error (MAE) were assessed at least a month after cataract surgery. RESULTS: Mean preoperative corneal astigmatisms were 2.2 D and 4.0 D in G1 and G2, respectively. There was significant reduction of mean postoperative refractive astigmatism to 0.89 D in G1 and to 2.33 D in G2. In G1, bi-toric IOL showed significantly more improved refractive astigmatism than back-toric IOL. In G2, no difference in refractive astigmatism according to toric IOL type was observed. While G2 showed no difference in MNE among toric IOLs, in G1, bi-toric IOL showed significant hyperopic shift compared to back-toric IOL. In both groups, there was no significant difference in MAE according to type of IOL. No postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that all types of toric IOL are beneficial in correcting astigmatism of normal and post-PKP corneas. Noticeably, bi-toric IOL showed significantly better results in refractive astigmatism than back-toric IOL in normal cornea. However, bi-toric IOL showed a more hyperopic shift compared to back-toric IOL. Among post-PKP corneas, all types of toric IOL showed similar results.

Spontaneous regression of congenital corneal opacity.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of spontaneous regression of congenital corneal opacity (CCO) and identify clinical factors associated with the regression. METHODS: Medical records and anterior segment photographs were reviewed of 57 eyes in 35 patients with CCO that were not related to congenital glaucoma, tumors, infection, trauma, or metabolic disorders and were followed up without corneal transplantation for longer than one year at Seoul National University Hospital. Spontaneous regression of corneal opacity was defined as a decrease in corneal opacity significant enough for visual axis clearance. Data on demographics, systemic, and ocular characteristics were collected and compared between patients who had spontaneous regression of CCO and those who did not. RESULTS: Spontaneous regression of corneal opacity developed in 32 eyes (22 patients, 56.1%) out of 57 CCO eyes (35 patients) at the mean 8.2 ± 5.4 months of age (the median 6.7 months). Absence of combined ocular anomalies such as iris anomaly, lens opacity, and peripheral corneal vascularization was significantly associated with the regression of opacity. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal opacity can spontaneously regress in 56.1% of eyes with CCO during the first year of life. Careful follow-up with amblyopia management can be one of treatment options for CCO.

Effect of Sequential Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segment Implantation and Corneal Collagen Crosslinking in Corneal Ectasia.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical efficacy of sequential intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation and corneal crosslinking (CXL) in corneal ectasia. METHODS: This retrospective case series included eight eyes in which both ICRS implantation and CXL had been performed. CXL was performed within 1 month after ICRS implantation. The clinical outcomes (visual acuity, refractive errors, keratometry, and topographic indices) of these patients were compared with those of patients who had undergone only ICRS implantation (eight eyes) or CXL (20 eyes). RESULTS: Greater improvement in uncorrected visual acuity was observed in the ICRS + CXL group than in the ICRS or CXL alone groups at both 6 (p = 0.008) and 12 months (p = 0.028). Refractive errors of sphere and spherical equivalent were significantly reduced in both the ICRS (p = 0.002 at 6 months, p = 0.004 at 12 months) and ICRS + CXL groups (p < 0.001 at both 6 and 12 months). Keratometric values including the maximum, minimum, and average were significantly reduced in all 3 groups at postoperative 6 and 12 months; however, the greatest reductions were observed in the ICRS + CXL group (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: ICRS implantation followed by CXL within 1 month seems to be effective, and may be superior to ICRS or CXL alone in improving visual acuity and reducing refractive errors and keratometric values.

Conjunctival pigmented lesion: Clinicopathological analysis of 85 cases in Korean population.

To evaluate histopathological characteristics of conjunctival pigmented lesions and analyze clinical features related to histologic classification in Asian population, we analyzed medical records, anterior segment photographs, and histological specimen of 85 eyes who had undergone biopsy for pigmented conjunctival lesions at Seoul National University Hospital between 1999 and 2018. Compound nevus was the most common type of conjunctival pigmented lesions (67.1%), followed by conjunctival melanocytic intraepithelial neoplasia (primary acquired melanosis)(11.8%), subepithelial nevus (8.2%), and malignant melanoma (MM)(7.1%). Patients with compound nevus were younger than those with non-compound nevus (22.1 ± 17.0 vs 39.9 ± 18.8 years, p < 0.001), while patients with MM were older than those without melanoma (55.7 ± 18.2 vs 25.8 ± 18.0 years, p = 0.001). The lesion in compound nevus tended to be more frequently located on the temporal conjunctiva than that in the non-compound nevus group (54.4% vs 32.1%, p = 0.053), and feeder vessels were associated with most of compound nevus (98.2% vs 78.6% of non-compound nevus, p = 0.005). The lesion in MM was larger, involved multiple quadrants, and had extrabulbar location than lesions without melanoma (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.002, respectively). Together, the results would help clinicians to distinguish benign conjunctival pigmentations from malignant counterparts in clinical practice without biopsy.

Cataract Surgery Practices in the Republic of Korea: A Survey of the Korean Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 2018.

PURPOSE: To describe current cataract surgery practice patterns and changing trends among Korean ophthalmologists. METHODS: A survey of members of the Korean Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery was performed in July 2018. One hundred and two (12.7%) of 801 questionnaires were returned for analysis. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and compared with previous surveys. RESULTS: Most of the respondents (75%) had been in practice for 6 or more years and performed an average of 31 cataract surgeries per month. The preferred method for cataract surgery was phacoemulsification (95%); 5% used a femtosecond laser. The use of topical anesthesia markedly increased from 69% (2012) to 80% (2018). The use of optical biometry exceeded that of ultrasound A-scan biometry. A multifocal intraocular lens was used by 76% of the respondents compared with 44% of the respondents in 2012. Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were used by 70% of the respondents postoperatively. Most (59%) of these anti-inflammatory drugs were prescribed for 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This survey provided a comprehensive update of the present cataract surgery practices in the Republic of Korea. The results emphasized the increasing use of premium intraocular lenses, optical biometry, and topical anesthesia.

Effects of Bifocal versus Trifocal Diffractive Intraocular Lens Implantation on Visual Quality after Cataract Surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of bifocal versus trifocal diffractive intraocular lens (IOL) implantation on visual quality after phacoemulsification in patients with cataracts. METHODS: Eighty-eight eyes from 63 patients were analyzed. Trifocal (AT LISA tri 839MP), bifocal (AcrySof IQ ReSTOR) and bifocal (Tecnis MF ZLB00) IOLs were implanted into 53, 18, and 17 eyes, respectively. Uncorrected distance, intermediate and near visual acuity, refractive errors, contrast sensitivity, and patient satisfaction were measured at 1 week and 1 month after surgery. Refractive error was converted to a spherical equivalent and compared to predicted refraction calculated by IOL calculation formulas. RESULTS: Uncorrected distance, intermediate, and near visual acuity did not differ significantly between groups. One month after surgery, the mean refractive errors were -0.07 diopters (D) in the AT LISA tri 839MP group, +0.18 D in the AcrySof IQ ReSTOR group, and +0.31 D in the Tecnis MF ZLB00 group (p < 0.001). The predictive accuracy of IOL calculation formulas did not differ between groups. Contrast sensitivity, satisfaction, and spectacle independence in the trifocal group were comparable with those of the two bifocal groups. CONCLUSIONS: Trifocal IOL and two different types of bifocal IOL implantation were all effective for improving visual quality, although refractive error in patients with trifocal IOL shows myopic tendencies.

Efficacy of Topical Cyclosporine Nanoemulsion 0.05% Compared with Topical Cyclosporine Emulsion 0.05% and Diquafosol 3% in Dry Eye.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cyclosporine nanoemulsion 0.05% compared to cyclosporine emulsion 0.05% and diquafosol sodium 3%. METHODS: This was a multicenter, randomized, evaluator-masked, active control, parallel, phase IV study. A total of 227 patients were randomly allocated to instill cyclosporine nanoemulsion 0.05% (CN) twice daily, cyclosporine emulsion 0.05% (CE) twice daily, or diquafosol sodium 3% (DQ) six times daily. Non-inferiority of CN was analyzed by primary endpoint (cornea and conjunctival staining scores at week 12). The secondary endpoints were scores of corneal staining, conjunctival staining, tear break-up time, Schirmer test, and Ocular Surface Disease Index at weeks 4 and 12. RESULTS: Primary endpoints showed statistically significant improvements in all groups. Primary endpoints were -6.60 for the CN group, -5.28 for the CE group, and -6.63 for the DQ group (National Eye Institute scale from 0 to 33), verifying the non-inferiority of CN compared to CE (95% confidence interval, -0.15 to 2.80, Δ>-2.88). In intergroup comparison between CN and CE groups, the CN group had significantly more decreased conjunctival staining score at week 12. Intergroup comparison between CN and DQ groups showed consistent statistically significant improvements in TBUT and Schirmer test in the CN group. In the DQ group, TBUT showed late statistically significant improvement at week 12 and Schirmer test showed relatively short-term statistically significant improvement at week 4. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclosporine nanoemulsion 0.05% was equivalently efficient compared to cyclosporine emulsion 0.05% and diquafosol sodium 3%. In addition, CN showed significant improvements in several parameters for treatment of dry eyes.

Short-Term Effects of Ground-Level Ozone in Patients With Dry Eye Disease: A Prospective Clinical Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate changes in the clinical features of patients with dry eye disease (DED) according to short-term outdoor ground-level ozone exposure. METHODS: This prospective observational study included patients with DED who were treated with the same topical drugs (0.05% cyclosporine or 3% diquafosol) and visited the hospital twice at 2-month intervals. Patients who showed a short tear film breakup time and positive ocular surface staining were assigned to the diquafosol and cyclosporine groups, respectively. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, tear secretion, tear film breakup time, and corneal fluorescein staining score were measured at each visit. The mean ground-level ozone concentration for 1 week before the ocular examinations was used as the ozone exposure level. Changes in dry eye parameters according to changes in ozone concentration were analyzed using univariate and multivariate linear analyses. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 55.2 ± 10.5 years. Ozone concentrations were significantly associated with increased OSDI scores (R = 0.304, P = 0.0006) and a decreased tear secretion (R = -0.355, P = 0.0012) in univariate models. In multivariate models, the results were consistent; the OSDI score increased by 3.43 points (ß = 3.43, P = 0.002), and tear secretion decreased by 1.43 mm (ß = -1.43, P = 0.015) per 0.01 ppm increase in ozone concentrations over a 2-month interval. Notably, the cyclosporine group showed more prominent changes in the OSDI score and tear secretion with changes in the ozone concentration (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term exposure to increased ground-level ozone concentration led to increased ocular discomfort and decreased tear secretion in patients with DED.