The effect of cyclosporine a in pterygium surgery using fibrin glue.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of topical cyclosporine A (CsA) 0.05% in patients with pterygium surgery using fibrin glue (FG). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Patients with primary nasal pterygium were retrospectically analyzed and categorized into two groups: Group 1 with 41 eyes from 38 patients as a control group and group 2 with 39 eyes from 36 patients who received topical CsA twice a day for 6 months. Patients were assessed for recurrence rate, tear film parameters, side effects, and complications at postoperative intervals of 1-7 days; 1st, 3rd, 6th and 12th months. The follow-up period was 1 year. RESULTS: The two groups were age (p = 0.934) and sex (p = 0.996) matched. CsA drop was discontinued in one patient due to burning sensation and conjunctival hyperemia after 1 week. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean preoperative and postoperative 1st year Schirmer I and tear break-up time (TBUT) values in group 1 (p = 0.136; p = 0.069). Although the difference between the mean preoperative and postoperative 1st year TBUT values in group 2 was not statistically different (p = 0.249), Schirmer I results were higher postoperatively (p = 0.003). There was no statistically significant difference between preoperative Schirmer (p = 0.496), postoperative Schirmer (p = 0.661), preoperative TBUT (p = 0.240) and postoperative TBUT (p = 0.238) results of the two groups. Recurrence was observed in only one patient from group 1. CONCLUSION: No recurrent pterygium cases were observed in group 2. Schirmer I values were higher postoperatively in group 2; thus,topical CsA treatment may improve lacrimal secretion and be effective after pterygium surgery with FG.

Z-shaped incision without epithelial resection in pterygium surgery.

AIM: To introduce a novel surgical technique using a Z-shaped incision without epithelial resection in ophthalmic pterygia. METHODS: This was a prospective study. During pterygium surgery, all proliferative tissues were separated from the cornea and conjunctiva without resection of the tissues. The unaffected conjunctiva was incised in a Z-shape. The upper (or lower) conjunctival flap was sutured to the lower (or upper) normal conjunctiva on the limbal sclera, while the proliferative tissue was sutured to the upper conjunctiva (or lower) near the fornix. RESULTS: Ten patients with pterygia were eligible for this study. Eight patients with primary pterygia and 2 with recurrent pterygia were included. The age of patients at surgery ranged from 47 to 90y (average: 71.9y). Five patients each showed right and left-sided pterygia. The postoperative follow-up periods were from 8 to 78mo (average: 25.0mo). The surgery was successfully conducted and wounds were favorably reconstructed in all patients. The proliferative tissues sutured to the normal conjunctiva showed palor and attenuated neovessles, and never showed re-growth after surgery. Nine patients did not show recerrence. Recerrent pterygium was noted in 1 patient, but additional treatments were not required. CONCLUSION: The procedure involves the reconstruction of pterygial tissue and normal conjunctiva using a Z-shaped incision. The scleral limbal wound can be covered with non-affected conjunctiva without any excision of conjunctival epithelia in patients with primary or recurrent pterygia.

Intelligent diagnostic model for pterygium by combining attention mechanism and MobileNetV2.

AIM: To evaluate the application of an intelligent diagnostic model for pterygium. METHODS: For intelligent diagnosis of pterygium, the attention mechanisms-SENet, ECANet, CBAM, and Self-Attention-were fused with the lightweight MobileNetV2 model structure to construct a tri-classification model. The study used 1220 images of three types of anterior ocular segments of the pterygium provided by the Eye Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Conventional classification models-VGG16, ResNet50, MobileNetV2, and EfficientNetB7-were trained on the same dataset for comparison. To evaluate model performance in terms of accuracy, Kappa value, test time, sensitivity, specificity, the area under curve (AUC), and visual heat map, 470 test images of the anterior segment of the pterygium were used. RESULTS: The accuracy of the MobileNetV2+Self-Attention model with 281 MB in model size was 92.77%, and the Kappa value of the model was 88.92%. The testing time using the model was 9ms/image in the server and 138ms/image in the local computer. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC for the diagnosis of pterygium using normal anterior segment images were 99.47%, 100%, and 100%, respectively; using anterior segment images in the observation period were 88.30%, 95.32%, and 96.70%, respectively; and using the anterior segment images in the surgery period were 88.18%, 94.44%, and 97.30%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The developed model is lightweight and can be used not only for detection but also for assessing the severity of pterygium.

Myopia intervention and ultraviolet radiation related eye diseases: A narrative literature review.

There has been an increased understanding of the protective effect of two or more hours in high lux light on the development and progression of myopia. The aim of myopia management is to reduce the incidence of high myopia and sight-threatening myopic complications. Equally important are the sight-threatening complications of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the eye and adnexal structures. This review will analyze the literature for both these epidemics to help guide public health policy. Whilst increasing childhood high lux light exposure is important, consideration of a holistic eye health policy should ensure that UV eye diseases are also prevented. The advent of ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence photography has increased our understanding that significant UV eye damage occurs in childhood, with 81% of children aged 12-15 years having signs of UV eye damage. Hence, the need to reduce myopia and protect from UV-related eye diseases needs simultaneous consideration. Advocating for eye protection is important, particularly as the natural squint reflex is disabled with dark sunglasses lenses. The pathways UV reaches the eye need to be considered and addressed to ensure that sunglasses offer optimum UV eye protection. The design of protective sunglasses that simultaneously allow high lux light exposure and protect from UVR is critical in combating both these epidemics.

Primary Pterygium Excision Surgery: Analysis of Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes.

Purpose To evaluate clinical outcomes of primary pterygium excision surgery and analyze risk factors for pterygium recurrence. Setting Eye Treatment Centre, Cornea and External Diseases Service, Whipps Cross Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Methods Retrospective case series of eyes undergoing primary pterygium excision between August 2017 and July 2022. Patients who underwent "pterygium excision" documented in the electronic patient record system were identified. Patients with recurrent pterygium and those lost-to-follow-up were excluded. The duration of follow-up, type of surgery performed (primary conjunctival closure, conjunctival autograft, and amniotic membrane transplantation), recurrences with respect to the type of surgery performed, and postoperative complications were collected and analyzed. Results In total, 83 eyes (from 79 patients) were included. The mean age of our patient cohort was 59.3 ± 5.9 years. The most common ethnic distribution was Black Caribbean (15.7%). Conjunctival autograft was performed in 76 eyes (91.6%), primary conjunctival closure was performed in five eyes (6%) and amniotic membrane transplantation was performed in two eyes (2.4%). The recurrence rate with conjunctival autograft was 1.3% with a median time to recurrence of 2.98 months. Recurrence was significantly more common in patients below the age of 40 years (p=0.03). Recurrence was not significantly associated with gender (p=0.23), ethnicity (p=0.17), or grade of surgeon (p=0.38).  Conclusion Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of conjunctival autograft with fibrin glue fixation for the surgical management of primary pterygium. Recurrence was found to be significantly more common in patients under the age of 40 years old. However, recurrence was not associated with ethnicity, gender, or surgeon grade.

Comparison of postoperative topical interferon-α2b versus intraoperative mitomycin C for pterygium recurrence prevention: a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of postoperative interferon-alpha 2b (IFN-α2b) ophthalmic drops versus intraoperative mitomycin-c (MMC) on preventing pterygium recurrence. METHODS: This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted on patients who were candidates for pterygium surgery. A total of 75 patients were included in the study from December 2021 to December 2022, of which 64 patients (one eye each) were examined and analyzed based on the inclusion criteria. Then the patients were randomly assigned to control groups, intra-operative MMC (32 patients) and the intervention group, IFN-α2b drops after the operation (32 patients). All patients underwent pterygium surgery using the rotational conjunctival flap method. RESULTS: In terms of pterygium grading, 8 (12.5%), 25 (39.06%), and 31 (48.44%) eyes were in grades 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The average size of the pterygium was 3.6 ± 0.7 mm. The grade and size of pterygium had the same distribution in the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the level of post-operative clinical inflammation. The present study showed no significant difference in complications between the two groups (p = 0.999). The recurrence rate in the control group was 9.4% (3 eyes), and 0% (no recurrence) in the intervention group (p = 0.119). CONCLUSIONS: interferon-alpha 2b group did not show a statistically significant difference in preventing pterygium recurrence compared to the mitomycin C group. The post-surgery administration of IFN-α 2b drops can effectively prevent pterygium recurrence with a comparable and even more compelling effect than MMC during surgery.

Cost-Effective Surgical Management of Pterygium: A Blood-Based Adhesion Technique Substituting Fibrin Glue.

Pterygium is a degenerative eye condition marked by the abnormal growth of conjunctival tissue over the cornea, primarily affecting individuals near the equator. When it reaches the cornea's center, patients may experience obstructed and blurry vision, necessitating pterygium surgery. The standard surgical approach involves excision with a blade, using a conjunctival autograft to address the defect, and securing it with fibrin glue. Recurrence rates exhibit variability, with approximately half occurring within the initial three months. In this case, we present a more cost-effective surgical approach, avoiding the use of a blade to minimize intraoperative complications. Additionally, autologous blood is employed instead of fibrin glue. We evaluate immediate and post-operative complications, as well as the incidence of recurrence rates at the three-month mark.

Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia with Coexistent Pterygia: A Study of 14 Cases and Review of Literature.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical presentation, anterior segment optical coherence tomography features, treatment, and outcomes of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) associated with pterygium. METHODS: Retrospective interventional series of 14 cases in a 28-month study period. RESULTS: OSSN was coexistent with pterygium (n = 14) in < 1% of all pterygia (n = 7384). The mean age at the presentation of OSSN with pterygium was 49 years (median, 49 years; range, 36 to 71 years). Referral diagnosis included pterygium sans OSSN (n = 7, 50%), granuloma (n = 1, 7%), actinic keratosis (n = 1, 7%), and conjunctivitis (n = 1, 7%). All OSSNs were unilateral, and six patients (43%) had bilateral pterygia. Tumors arose from the nasal (n = 8, 57%), or temporal (n = 6, 43%) quadrants. The mean tumor diameter was 4 mm (median, 4 mm; range, 2 to 6 mm), and the mean thickness was 2 mm (median, 1 mm; range, 1 to 3 mm). The delineation between OSSN and pterygium could be identified on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in all (100%) cases. All patients received 1% topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and complete tumor regression was achieved in 13 (93%) cases with a mean number of 2 cycles (median, two cycles; range, 1 to 4 cycles). There were no significant adverse effects. No tumor recurrence was noted over a mean follow-up period of 11 months (median 12 months; range, 1 to 4 months). CONCLUSION: AS-OCT allows accurate detection and mapping of tumor extent in OSSN with coexistent pterygium, and topical 5-FU yields excellent tumor control.

Intermittent sliding-lock-knot suture for limbal conjunctival autograft fixation in pterygium surgery: a technique note.

AIM: To report a technique used with intermittent sliding-lock-knot (ISLK) fixation for limbal conjunctival autografts in pterygium surgery and compared with those of routine intermittent (RI) fixation. METHODS: Consecutive patients with primary pterygium who had undergone pterygium excision combined with limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation between March 2021 and March 2022 at our institute were retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcome measures were mean duration of surgery and suture removal, degree of conjunctival hyperemia on postoperative day 1, pain score at suture removal, postoperative symptoms at 6mo, including conjunctival hyperemia, foreign body sensation, and graft stability. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients underwent monocular surgery and were divided into ISLK (51 eyes) and RI (47 eyes) groups according to the type of conjunctiva autograft fixation method planned. There was no significant difference in mean duration of surgery between the two groups (18.59±2.39min vs 18.15±2.20min, P=0.417); however, compared to the RI group, shorter suture removal times were observed in the ISLK group [0.58min (0.42-0.87) vs 3.00min (2.21-4.15), P<0.001]. The degree of conjunctival hyperemia on postoperative day 1 was milder in the ISLK group (P<0.001). Pain scores at suture removal were lower in the ISLK group than in RI group [1 (0-3) vs 2 (1-4), P<0.001]. Postoperative symptoms at 6mo were comparable between the groups (P=0.487), with no recurrence. CONCLUSION: ISLK is an innovative method for limbal conjunctival autograft fixation after pterygium excision. Compared to RI fixation, ISLK facilitates suture removal and reduces discomfort, with comparable surgery duration and less conjunctival hyperemia.

Clinical Course and Outcomes of Autoimmune Versus Non-Autoimmune Surgically Induced Scleral Necrosis: A Multicentric Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the clinical course and outcomes of autoimmune vs. non-autoimmune surgically induced scleral necrosis (SISN). METHODS: Multicentric, retrospective, comparative cohort study. Eighty-two eyes of 70 patients with SISN were classified according to pathogenic mechanism into autoimmune vs. non-autoimmune. Main outcome measures included necrosis onset, type of surgery, associated systemic disease, visual acuity, and treatment were analysed in patients followed for ≥ 6 months. RESULTS: Forty-six (65.7%) patients were women, and the median age was 66 (range: 24-90) years. Most patients (82.9%) had unilateral disease. The median time between surgery and SISN onset was 58 (1-480) months. Thirty-one (37.8%) eyes were classified as autoimmune, and 51 (62.2%) as non-autoimmune SISN. Autoimmune SISN was associated with a shorter time between the surgical procedure and SISN onset than non-autoimmune cases (median of 26 vs. 60 months, p = 0.024). Also, autoimmune SISN was associated with cataract extraction (93.5% vs. 25.5%, p < 0.001), severe scleral inflammation (58.1% vs. 17.6%, p < 0.001), and higher incidence of ocular complications (67.7% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.002) than non-autoimmune cases. Remission was achieved with medical management alone in 44 (86.3%) eyes from the non-autoimmune and in 27 (87.1%) from the autoimmune group (p = 0.916). Surgical management was required in 11 (13.4%) eyes, including two requiring enucleations due to scleral perforation and phthisis bulbi. CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with autoimmune SISN had a higher rate of cataract surgery, severe scleral inflammation, and ocular complications. Early SISN diagnosis and appropriate management, based on clinical features and pathogenic mechanisms, are critical to avoid sight-threatening complications.

Comparative analysis of surgical treatment modalities for a popliteal pterygium: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Popliteal pterygium syndrome is a rare congenital disorder characterized by orofacial, cutaneous, musculoskeletal, and genital anomalies. The popliteal pterygium (PP) affects ambulation due to severe knee flexion contracture and equinovarus deformities. Surgical treatment aims to correct these deformities while preserving limb sensibility. However, due to its rarity, surgical guidelines are lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A meta-analysis according to PRISMA guidelines was conducted to summarize and compare surgical methods for PP. 183 paper were identified in PubMed and data from 32 articles were analyzed, including patient demographics, treatment modalities (Ilizarov fixator, femoral osteotomy, skin/soft tissue procedures, hamstring release, nerve surgery, and amputation), pre- and post-operative abilities to walk, knee joint parameters, complications, and recurrent contractions. RESULTS: Among 58 patients (87 limbs), Ilizarov fixator demonstrated improved knee and ankle mobility postoperatively, but showed a relatively high surgical session count and complication rates. Femoral osteotomy achieved successful knee posture correction with fewer sessions and no complications. Isolated skin/soft tissue procedures improved flexion contracture and mobility, though they required several procedures. Hamstring release achieved notable contracture reduction but also necessitated multiple interventions. Nerve surgery and amputation had limited data, warranting further investigation. CONCLUSION: The management of PP demands a comprehensive approach, considering individual patient characteristics and treatment outcomes. While different surgical modalities offer distinct benefits, a classification or guideline to treat this deformity is still lacking. Further research is essential to validate findings, refine treatment approaches, and enhance the quality of life for individuals with PP.

Risk factors for pterygium: Latest research progress on major pathogenesis.

A pterygium is a wedge-shaped fibrovascular growth of the conjunctiva membrane that extends onto the cornea, which is the outer layer of the eye. It is also known as surfer's eye. Growth of a pterygium can also occur on the either side of the eye, attaching firmly to the sclera. Pterygia are one of the world's most common ocular diseases. However, the pathogenesis remains unsolved to date. As the pathogenesis of pterygium is closely related to finding the ideal treatment, a clear understanding of the pathogenesis will lead to better treatment and lower the recurrence rate, which is notably high and more difficult to treat than a primary pterygium. Massive studies have recently been conducted to determine the exact causes and mechanism of pterygia. We evaluated the pathogenetic factors ultraviolet radiation, viral infection, tumor suppressor genes p53, growth factors, oxidative stress, apoptosis and neuropeptides in the progression of the disease. The heightened expression of TRPV1 suggests its potential contribution in the occurrence of pterygium, promoting its inflammation and modulating sensory responses in ocular tissues. Subsequently, the developmental mechanism of pterygium, along with its correlation with dry eye disease is proposed to facilitate the identification of pathogenetic factors for pterygia, contributing to the advancement of understanding in this area and may lead to improved surgical outcomes.

RIPK3 and RIPK1 gene expression in pterygium: unveiling molecular insights into pathogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Pterygium, characterized by the abnormal proliferation of epithelial cells, matrix remodeling, vascularization, and lesion migration, is a prevalent ocular surface disease involving the growth of fibrovascular tissue on the cornea. Despite the unclear underlying causes of pterygium, numerous investigations have indicated the involvement of cell death pathways in the regulation of cell cycle dynamics. Consequently, the objective of this study was to assess the expression levels of necroptosis markers in individuals diagnosed with pterygium, aiming to shed light on the potential role of necroptosis in the pathogenesis of this condition. METHODS: This study aimed to investigate the expression patterns of receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase 3 (RIPK3) and receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase 1 (RIPK1) genes in pterygium tissues. 41 patients undergoing pterygium excision surgery were recruited. Resected pterygium samples and normal conjunctival tissues were collected, and RIPK3 and RIPK1 mRNA levels were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: Our findings reveal that the expression of RIPK3 is significantly increased in samples obtained from individuals with pterygium. However, no significant alterations were observed in the expression of RIPK1 in these samples. Results showed significantly higher RIPK3 expression in pterygium tissues compared to controls. Moreover, increased RIPK3 levels correlated negatively with pterygium recurrence rates. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest RIPK3 may play a protective role against pterygium recurrence through necroptosis.

Low Rate of Postoperative Pterygium Recurrence in Patients under Treatment with Low-Dose Oral Doxycycline for Chronic Blepharitis: A First Report.

PURPOSE: Low doses of systemic doxycycline (LD-SD) inhibit angiogenesis and the expression of matrix metalloproteases, which are determinants of pterygium progression. This study aimed to compare the recurrence rate and visual outcome of pterygium excision in patients undergoing chronic treatment with LD-SD for chronic refractory blepharitis and LD-SD-naive patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients that underwent surgical excision and conjunctival graft apposition was conducted. Patients were divided in a TETRA group (under LD-SD treatment at the moment of surgery) and a control group. The main outcome was the rate of recurrence at 1 year postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were the comparisons of surface regularity, visual quality, and dry-eye symptoms at 6-week, 6-month, and 1-year follow-up in the two groups. RESULTS: The TETRA group showed a significantly lower rate of 1-year recurrence both in primary (p = 0.034) and recurrent (p < 0.001) pterygia. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), astigmatic error, corneal total root mean square (RMS), and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) significantly reduced during the follow-up in both groups. The surface asymmetry index and high-order aberrations (HOAs) significantly reduced only in the TETRA group. The final BCVA was significantly higher, while the OSDI score and total RMS and HOAs were significantly lower in the TETRA group compared to the control. CONCLUSIONS: Patients under treatment with LD-SD showed a lower rate of recurrence at 1-year follow-up compared to controls. These patients also experienced higher BCVA and surface regularity and less dry-eye symptoms.

Timing optimization for primary pterygium excision with conjunctival-limbal autograft to restore the corneal optical properties.

PURPOSE: To propose the optimal value of baseline corneal astigmatism and pterygial morphological profiles for primary pterygium surgery to restore the corneal optical properties. METHODS: We analysed 93 eyes from 84 subjects with nasal-only primary pterygium who underwent pterygium excision with conjunctival-limbal autograft and were assessed perioperatively using anterior segment swept-source optical coherence tomography (AS SS-OCT). We collected data on anterior corneal astigmatism (ACA) and root mean square (RMS) values for anterior corneal lower- (LoA) and higher-order aberrations (HoA) as corneal optical properties using AS SS-OCT. Using preoperative ACA and four pterygial morphological profiles (horizontal invasion length [HIL], height, thickness and the ratio of residual corneal thickness [RCT] to central corneal thickness [CCT]) measured in AS SS-OCT, we plotted receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. These curves aimed to determine cut-off values predicting a perioperative decrease exceeding 50% in ACA, RMS LoA and RMS HoA, as well as postoperative residual ACA higher than 1.25D. RESULTS: Preoperative ACA > 1.42D (AUC = 0.934) and >3.60D (AUC = 0.946) proved most effective in identifying subjects with perioperative decrease exceeding in ACA and RMS LoA, respectively. HIL > 3.34 mm (AUC = 0.941) was most effective in distinguishing subjects with perioperative reduction exceeding 50% in RMS HoA. Preoperative ACA > 5.78D (AUC = 0.776) and HIL > 5.03 mm (AUC = 0.700) significantly distinguished subjects with postoperative residual ACA higher than 1.25D. CONCLUSION: Optimizing the restoration of corneal astigmatism and aberrations after pterygium surgery may be facilitated by determining the optimal surgical timing based on preoperative ACA and HIL values.

[Modified mini-SLET for treatment of complex cases in pterygium surgery]. / Modifizierte Mini-SLET zur Behandlung von komplexen Fällen in der Pterygiumchirurgie.

BACKGROUND: The major problem associated with the benign but destructive growing pterygium is the high recurrence rate. A new surgical technique to lower recurrence rates is minor ipsilateral simple limbal epithelial transplantation (mini-SLET), where the regeneration potential of limbal stem cells is used in combination with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for surgical reconstruction. The aim of this study is to assess the surgical outcome of the mini-SLET technique with tenonectomy, mitomycin C, and AMT as used in the authors' hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 16 eyes from 15 patients undergoing mini-SLET after surgical pterygium removal with tenonectomy, mitomycin C, and AMT were analyzed retrospectively. Two different groups of pterygia were enrolled: group 1 included recurrent pterygia (n = 10) and group 2 comprised primary large pterygia such as double-head pterygia (n = 6). In addition to assessment of best corrected visual acuity and compete ophthalmological examination, preoperative slip-lamp examination with photo documentation served to calculate the corneal size of the pterygium head using VISUPAC software (Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany). Postoperatively, best corrected visual acuity and slit-lamp examination were routinely evaluated. The surgical outcome was defined by the postoperatively achieved best corrected visual acuity, restoration of the ocular surface, recurrence rate, and rate of postoperative complications. RESULTS: Median follow-up in all patients was 27 months; in groups 1 and 2 it was 30.7 and 25.3 months, respectively. No recurrence developed in 15 eyes (93.75%). Only one group 1 patient (6.25%) suffered a recurrent lesion after 10 months. Postoperatively, logMAR visual acuity did not change significantly. During follow-up, complications were limited to one case of early wound dehiscence. CONCLUSION: Mini-SLET in combination with tenonectomy, mitomycin C, and AMT enables good surgical reconstruction of the ocular surface, and almost complete healing in the sense of restitutio ad integrum is possible. The results of the present study have shown the technique's effectiveness for recurrence prevention.

Elevated KDM4D Expression in Pterygium: Impact and Potential Inhibition by Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects of elevated KDM4D expression and potential therapeutic effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on pterygium. Methods: The expression levels of KDM4D in the primary pterygium (n = 29) and normal conjunctiva (n = 14) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The effects of KDM4D on pterygium fibroblasts were detected by the CCK-8 assay, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay, flow cytometry, and scratch wound healing assay. The relative expression of KDM4D in pterygium fibroblasts stimulated by interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and LBP was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. The effects of LBP on pterygium fibroblasts were detected using flow cytometry and scratch wound healing assays. Results: The expression level of KDM4D in pterygium was higher than that in normal conjunctiva. KDM4D increased the cell viability of pterygium fibroblasts. The differentially expressed genes identified in the LM-MS assay enriched in "actin filament organization" and "apoptosis." KDM4D promoted migration and inhibited apoptosis of pterygium fibroblasts in vitro. Inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8, enhanced the expression of KDM4D in pterygium fibroblasts. LBP inhibited the expression of KDM4D in pterygium fibroblasts and decreased their cell viability. Moreover, LBP attenuated the KDM4D effects on migration and apoptosis of pterygium fibroblasts. Conclusions: Elevated KDM4D expression is a risk factor for pterygium formation. LBP inhibits the expression of KDM4D in pterygium fibroblasts and may be a potential drug for delaying pterygium development.

Epibulbar simple cartilaginous choristoma associated with unique pigmented multicystic component.

PURPOSE: To report an atypical presentation of an epibulbar simple cartilaginous choristoma with a unique pigmented multicystic component. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 69-year-old African American female presented for evaluation of a right nasal epibulbar lesion that had progressed over the prior year. Slit-lamp evaluation revealed an immobile, mildly pigmented multicystic lesion measuring 6.0 × 4.5 mm that involved the nasal bulbar conjunctiva and the plica semilunaris. The lesion appeared benign, without feeder vessels or features of epithelial dysplasia. Given its recent growth and the patient's cosmetic concerns, the lesion was excised with ocular surface reconstruction. Histopathological evaluation disclosed a well-circumscribed nodule of well-differentiated cartilage in the substantia propria, consistent with a simple cartilaginous choristoma. The overlying conjunctival stroma contained multiple cysts lined by focally pigment epithelium. The patient recovered well from surgery, with satisfactory cosmetic results. CONCLUSIONS: Our case of epibulbar simple cartilaginous choristoma includes a prominent superficial component of pigmented epithelial cysts, which has not been previously reported in the literature. This augments our knowledge on the spectrum of presentations of cartilaginous choristomas and underscores the importance of histopathological evaluation for definitive diagnosis.

Effects of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) on pterygium surgery with conjunctival autograft.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of subconjunctival injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) injection on healing and complication rates after pterygium surgery with conjunctival autograft. METHODS: This retrospective and comparative study evaluated 31 eyes that received i-PRF injections under the donor and graft conjunctiva following pterygium surgery, while 34 eyes did not receive i-PRF after the pterygium surgery. The patients' follow-up period was for 12 months. Postoperative recurrence, epithelial healing time, postoperative pain score, graft edema, and sliding of the graft (need for re-suturation) data were evaluated. RESULTS: For the 12 months after surgery, one eye (3.2%) in the i-PRF group had developed corneal recurrence, and five eyes (14.7%) in the non-i-PRF group had developed recurrence. The mean corneal epithelial healing time was 2.96 ± 0.70 days in the i-PRF group and 3.58 ± 0.70 days in the non-i-PRF group (p = 0.001). The mean healing time of the donor conjunctiva epithelium was 3.84 ± 0.70 days in the i-PRF group, whereas it was 4.44 ± 0.74 days in the non-i-PRF group (p = 0.006). The mean postoperative pain score was 4.45 ± 1.52 in the i-PRF group and 5.08 ± 1.40 in the non-i-PRF group. In the non-i-PRF group, three cases (8.8%) required re-suturation, whereas, in the i-PRF group, no one required re-suturation. CONCLUSIONS: Thanks to its platelets-derived growth factors, i-PRF can be a safe and effective adjuvant therapy for faster healing of conjunctival autograft and in the prevention of recurrence.

Variable presentations of six conjunctival/limbal ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) cases: How good is our clinical judgment evidenced by the correlation to the histopathological findings and diagnosis?

INTRODUCTION: Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) may have atypical or unusual presentations and may attain large sizes especially in cases of delayed presentation resulting in late diagnosis, treatment, and eventual guarded visual prognosis. We are reporting an interesting cases series of OSSN with variable clinical presentations to highlight the importance of the pre-operative clinical judgment and tissue diagnosis. PRESENTATION OF CASES: Six patients (4 females and 2 males; mean age 59 years; range 42-79 years) were included with suspicious conjunctival lesions. The maximum dimension of the lesions was 17 mm. The initial suspected pre-operative clinical diagnosis -other than OSSN- included pterygium/pinguecula (n = 2), benign squamous papilloma (n = 1), cyst versus pyogenic granuloma (n = 1), and lymphoma (n = 1). This work has been reported in line with the PROCESS criteria. DISCUSSION: The final histopathological diagnosis was unexpectedly invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in 4, one SCC in-situ, and squamous dysplasia in one. The primary treatment included MMC 0.02 % for 2 cycles for chemo-reduction in one of the cases where OSSN was suspected. Excisional biopsy was performed eventually for all lesions with application of one or more of the following modalities: MMC 0.02 %, absolute alcohol 99 %, and cryotherapy to the conjunctival margin. No tumor recurrence was noted in any of the patients after an average period of follow-up of 26 months. Even though the outcome was good, tumor-related morbidity and delay in the referral by general ophthalmologists are to be considered. CONCLUSION: Conjunctival OSSN has wide presentation clinically and can be challenging in terms of diagnosis. Histopathological evaluation is essential for a definitive diagnosis and treatment. Accurate clinical diagnosis might affect the management plan with consideration for topical therapeutic modalities, however, these cases are best managed by wide excision using the no-touch technique and double-freeze-thaw cryotherapy to the conjunctiva with consideration of topical chemotherapy.