Effect of corneal incision features on anterior and posterior corneal astigmatism and higher-order aberrations after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of 2.2 mm clear corneal incision (CCI) features in surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) and higher-order aberrations (HOAs) after cataract surgery. METHODS: Right eyes of 92 subjects receiving 2.2 mm incision cataract surgery were involved. A total of 38 eyes were categorized as the intact incision group, and 54 eyes were the defective incision group. Pre- and postoperative (1 month and 6 months) corneal astigmatism and HOAs on anterior and posterior corneal surfaces, corneal volume, and corneal thickness (CT) were measured using Pentacam. The CCI features including incision length (IL), incision angles, distance from incision to central cornea (Dis-En/Ex), and CT at incision site were quantified using AS-OCT. RESULTS: The defective incision group showed shorter IL and larger incision angles [false discovery rate (FDR) - p < 0.05]. Changes in CT at incision site were more pronounced for the defective incision group (FDR - p < 0.05). Some SIA parameters were related to the certain specific CCI features, especially IL (FDR - p < 0.05). Both groups exhibited significant increased 6 mm posterior corneal tHOAs at 1 month (Bonferroni corrected - p < 0.01) and the defective incision group showed increased 6 mm posterior tHOAs at 6 months (Bonferroni corrected - p = 0.023). There were characteristic correlations between Zernike terms and CCI features including IL, CT, Dis-En/Ex, and incision angles at 1 month, especially over 6 mm zone. CONCLUSION: The CCI deformities can affect corneal recovery and induce more HOAs at 1 month postoperatively. Such effects became minor, but could persist until 6 months. The IL combined with Angle-En/Ex was important factor influencing CCI integrity and corneal optical quality.

Growth, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, and metabolomic responses of juvenile Oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense) to chronic lead exposure.

Understanding the mechanisms of metal toxicity to organisms farmed for food may suggest mitigation strategies. We determined the 24-, 48-, 72-, and 96-h median lethal concentrations of lead in juvenile oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense). The prawns were then exposed to sub-lethal concentrations (13.13 and 26.26 µg/L) of lead for 60 days and growth, antioxidant enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, and metabolite profiles were assessed. Prawns exposed to 26.26 µg/L but not to 13.13 µg/L lead exhibited lower weight gain than controls. The lead burden in muscle was 0.067 and 0.25 µg/g of dry weight exposed to 13.13 and 26.26 µg/L, respectively. Levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase were not altered following exposure. Exposure increased malondialdehyde activity in the hepatopancreas and decreased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Catalase activity first increased and then decreased as lead concentrations increased. Some intestinal epithelial cells disassociated from the basement membrane in prawns exposed to 13.13 µg/L lead. Intestinal epithelial cells in prawns exposed to 26.26 µg/L lead separated completely from the basement membrane. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics assays showed the 13.13-µg/L exposure did not elicit significant metabolic alterations. Exposure to 26.26 µg/L lead differentially up-regulated 58 metabolites and down-regulated 21 metabolites. The metabolites identified were involved in galactose, purine, glutathione, and carbon metabolism, biosynthesis of amino acids and steroids, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. These data indicate that chronic lead exposure can adversely affect growth, increase accumulation in muscle, impair intestinal morphology, and induce oxidant stress or neurotoxicity-related effects in M. nipponense.

Evaluation of dry eye after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare dry-eye signs and symptoms after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and conventional phacoemulsification. SETTING: Eye Center of the 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. DESIGN: Prospective consecutive nonrandomized comparative cohort study. METHODS: Consecutive patients who had femtosecond laser-assisted or phacoemulsification cataract surgery were assessed. Dry-eye markers including the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and subjective symptom questionnaire, tear-film assessment using Keratograph 4 corneal topography, Schirmer testing I, and fluorescein staining were sequentially evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month. RESULTS: The study recruited 137 eyes (137 patients) with similar baseline characteristics. Most patients developed dry eye postoperatively. Subjective symptoms and fluorescein staining scores elevated from baseline, tear breakup time and Schirmer testing I values decreased postoperatively, which peaked at 1 week and did not return to baseline within 1 month. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups (all P > .05) except for a higher fluorescein staining score in the femtosecond group at 1 day (P = .001), 1 week (P = .047), and 1 month (P = .025). OSDI score and subjective symptoms were greater in the laser group at 1 week (P = .014 and P = .016, respectively). Subgroup analysis showed obvious worsening by fluorescein staining at 1 day (P = .016) and 1 month (P = .009) in preoperative dry-eye patients. CONCLUSIONS: Both methods worsened dry eye postoperatively. Femtosecond-assisted surgery had a higher risk for staining and dry-eye symptoms. Patients with preexisting dry eye who had femtosecond-assisted surgery had more severe ocular surface staining than those having conventional surgery. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.