ABSTRACT
AIM:To investigate the efficacy of domestic cyclosporine A(CsA)in dry eye and its effect on sub-basal nerves(SBN)by observing quantitative and morphological changes in corneal SBN of patients with moderate to severe dry eye before and after the treatment with 0.05% CsA eye drops(Ⅱ).METHODS: In this prospective study, a total of 20 patients(20 eyes)with moderate to severe dry eye who admitted to the ophthalmology department of the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University from December 2020 to January 2022 were selected. They were treated with domestic CsA and followed up for 3mo. Clinical evaluation was carried out at baseline and at 3mo after treatment. The changes in clinical symptoms, signs and morphology and quantity of SBN were observed.RESULTS: The ocular surface disease index(OSDI)score, the tear break-up time(TBUT), Schirmer Ⅰ, corneal fluorescein staining(CFS)score were significantly improved at 3mo after treatment. Confocal microscopy data analysis showed that SBN density increased from 13.49±5.43 mm/mm2 to 14.93±5.34 mm/mm2(P<0.001), nerve curvature scores decreased from 2.86±0.92 to 2.31±0.75(P<0.001), number of beaded structure decreased from 1.45±0.67/100μm to 1.07±0.45/100μm(P<0.001), and the number of dendritic cell(DC)decreased from 5.83±3.28 per frame to 3.67±2.24 per frame at 3mo after treatment(P<0.001). The number of DC was positively correlated with the number of branch nerves, the grade of nerve curvature and the number of nerve bead.(rs=0.27, P=0.045; rs=0.407, P<0.01; rs=0.486, P<0.01).CONCLUSIONS: Nerve injury was positively correlated with corneal inflammation caused by dry eye, and 0.05%CsA eye drops(II)could effectively inhibit inflammation and improve the morphology and quantity of corneal SBN. Observation of corneal SBN via in vivo confocal microscopy can be used as an effective method to evaluate the therapeutic effect of dry eye patients.
ABSTRACT
@#AIM: To analyze the effectiveness and safety of different concentrations of tea tree essential oil in the treatment of Demodex blepharitis. <p>METHODS: The clinical data of 120 patients(240 eyes)with blepharitis caused by Demodex infection in our hospital from June 2017 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the use of tea tree essential oil concentrations of 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%, patients were divided into 4 groups(group A, group B, group C, group D), each group with 30 people. All patients were given meibomian gland massage, eyelid margin cleaning, and then scrubbed with different concentrations of tea tree oil to clean the eyelid margin. The number of demodex mites, clinical symptom score, clinical sign score, tear film break-up time(BUT), corneal fluorescein staining(FL)and SchirmerⅠtest(SⅠt)were compared before and 2, 4wk after treatment.<p>RESULTS: The number of Demodex mites, clinical symptom score, clinical sign score, BUT, FL and SⅠt were not statistically significant in the four groups before treatment(<i>P</i>>0.05). After treatment, the number of Dmodex mites, clinical symptom score, and clinical sign score in each group were lower than those before treatment, and the number of Demodex mites, clinical symptom score, and clinical sign score after 4wk of treatment in each group were lower than those after 2wk of treatment(all <i>P</i><0.008). After 2 and 4wk of treatment, the number, clinical symptom score and clinical signs score of Demodex mites in group A were the highest, while those in group D were the lowest(all <i>P</i><0.008). After treatment, the BUT of each group was higher than before treatment, and reached the peak in the 4wk. After 2 and 4wk of treatment, BUT among groups was highest in group D and lowest in group A(all <i>P</i><0.008). After treatment, FL and S I t of each group were lower than before treatment, and reached the lowest value in the 4wk. After 2 and 4wk of treatment, FL among the groups was the lowest in group D and the highest in group A(all <i>P</i><0.008). <p>CONCLUSION: Compared with 10% tea tree essential oil, 15% tea tree essential oil can effectively repel mites, relieve clinical symptoms and eye signs in patients with Demodex blepharitis, and is safer than 20% and 25% tea tree essential oils. As the preferred concentration of tea tree essential oil against Demodex blepharitis.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To analyze the stability of different concentrations of fluorescein sodium solution on the detection of tear break-up time(TBUT).METHODS:A retrospective study. A total of 150 cases(150 eyes)who came to our dry eye clinic with good cooperation from August 2019 to September 2021 were selected for the study, and the subjects were randomly divided into five groups, which were fluorescein sodium(FLS, 0.5%), FLS(1.0%), FLS(1.5%), FLS(2.0%)and fluorescein sodium parallel(FLSP), with 30 patients in each group(all the right eyes were the subject eyes). Each group was dripped with the corresponding fluorescein sodium. The FLSP group was the fluorescent test strip detection group. The slit lamp image scores of different concentration groups were compared, the survival time of sodium fluorescein at the instant, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 30min points was observed in each group, and the mean value of TBUT in each group was recorded.RESULTS: The image score of FLS(0.5%)group was significantly higher than that of the other four groups(t=7.746, 21.483, 116.190, 38.730, all P<0.01). The image score of FLS(1.0%)group was significantly higher than that of FLS(1.5%)and FLS(2.0%)group(t=10.742, 15.492, all P<0.01). The survival time of fluorescein in FLS(0.5%)group was significantly shorter than that of the other four groups(t=8.226, 7.458, 9.159, 12.347, all P<0.01). The survival time of fluorescein in FLS(1.5%)group was significantly longer than that of FLS(1.0%)and FLS(2.0%)group(t=15.428, 13.274, all P<0.05). TBUT in FLS(0.5%)group was significantly higher than that of the other four groups at 2min(t=22.767, 22.345, 15.494, 17.213, all P<0.01), and was significantly lower than that of the other four groups at 10min(t=23.266, 25.353, 10.183, 22.025, all P<0.01). The mean first TBUT of FLS(1.5%)group was significantly shorter than that of the other four groups(t=25.236, 21.374, 19.658, 72.341, all P<0.01), and the mean first TBUT of FLSP group was significantly longer than that of the other four groups(t=22.487, 30.267, 60.247, 40.857, all P<0.01). There was no significant correlation between TBUT and ocular surface disease index(OSDI)and tear river height(rs=-0.072, 0.219, P=0.689, 0.112). TBUT was positively correlated with tear secretion(rs=0.674, P<0.01).CONCLUSION: FLS(0.5%)had higher image quality but it was only suitable for observing staining within 5min, and the FLSP group was more suitable for clinical observation of corneal fluorescence staining for a longer period; FLS(1.5%)was the most stable and reliable concentration and dose for the detection of TBUT.