Choroidal Thickness Changes after Orthokeratology Lens Wearing in Young Adults with Myopia.

INTRODUCTION: Recently in South Korea, there are increasing number of young adults undergoing orthokeratology treatment for myopia control. They prefer orthokeratology treatment more than wearing spectacles or having a refractive surgery for several reasons. However, there is little research on the effect of orthokeratology treatment on choroids. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the change in choroidal thickness (CT) in the horizontal axis in young myopic adults after orthokeratology treatment. METHODS: This was a retrospective research among young myopic patients (-1.0 to -5.0 diopters) aged 19-29 years (n = 36; 23.6 ± 2.5 years). We selected patients who were treated with orthokeratology for 12 months. CT values of the horizontal axis near the fovea before and after orthokeratology treatment were analyzed using optical coherence tomography. The value was measured at the beginning of treatment and at 3, 6, and 12 months after orthokeratology treatment. Three regional areas of choroid on the horizontal plane including fovea were analyzed. RESULT AND CONCLUSIONS: In the beginning of orthokeratology treatment, CT of the horizontal axis was 248.9 ± 45.7 µm in the temporal region, 259.9 ± 55.3 µm in the macular region, and 219.2 ± 46.4 µm in the nasal region. Three months after orthokeratology treatment, thickness values of choroids in the 3 divided areas increased significantly (p < 0.05). Mean CT at 6 or 12 months after orthokeratology treatment was greater than before ortho--keratology treatment. CT increased after 3 months of orthokeratology treatment in each regional area. In young myopic adults, CT in nasal area was thinner than that in foveal or temporal area before treatment. CT recovered to near baseline when it was observed for more than 6 months after orthokeratology treatment.

Analysis of treatment response about low-dose (0.01%) atropine eye-drops in myopic children.

INTRODUCTION: Myopia usually commences during primary school and progresses until the mean age of 16 years. Topical low-dose (0.01%) atropine eye-drop appears to be safe and efficacious for myopia control in children. However, in some cases, a higher concentration of atropine is required in some cases because low-dose atropine treatment is not effective. METHODS: This is a retrospective study among young myopic children between 5 and 15 years with myopia progression > 0.50 D/year. We selected patients treated with low-dose atropine (0.01%) eye-drops for 12 months and conducted a comparative analysis of the group with good responder and poor responder. Patients were classified as good responders if spherical equivalent refractive error (SE) progression was ⩽ 0.50 D after 12 months of treatment and poor responders if SE progression > 0.50 D. The prognostic factors before and after treatment were analyzed in two groups. RESULTS: A total of 68 eyes were included. Low-dose (0.01%) atropine eye-drops have a good treatment response in 54% of patients. In the good responder group (n = 37), the mean rate of myopia progression after 12 months of treatment (0.36 ± 0.17 D) was significantly slower compared with the baseline progression (p < 0.001). Good responders have smaller changes in axial length (AL) elongation and SE than poor responders (p < 0.001). The only adverse event was temporary near vision difficulty (10%), photophobia (10%), and mild pupil dilation (30%). DISCUSSION: The AL elongation is an important indicator for monitoring the treatment response. Children with a family history of myopia at a young age may not respond well to low-dose (0.01%) atropine eye-drops. In these cases, increasing the concentration of atropine eye-drops should be considered.

Synthesis of Macro-Porous De-NOx Catalysts for Poly-Tetra-Fluoro-Ethylene Membrane Bag Filter.

This study examined the effects of the porosity of catalytic bag-filter materials for applications to the SNCR (selective noncatalytic reduction)-SCR (selective catalytic reduction) hybrid process for highly treating nitrogen Oxides (NOx) in the exhaust gas of a combustion process. A V2O5/TiO2 catalyst was dispersed in a PTFE (poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene) used as the catalytic bag-filter material to remove particulate matter and nitrogen oxides contained in the combustion exhaust gas. Macroporous alumina was added into a V2O5/TiO2-dispersed PTFE to improve the catalytic activity of V2O5/TiO2 dispersed in the PTFE material. In this study, the textural properties and denitrification performances of the V2O5/TiO2-dispersed PTFE materials were examined according to the addition of macro-porous alumina. When the denitrification catalyst was solely dispersed in the PTFE material, the catalyst inside the PTFE backbone had low gas-solid contact efficiency owing to the low porosity of the PTFE materials, resulting in low denitrification efficiency. On the other hand, the catalytic activity of V2O5/TiO2 dispersed inside the macro-porous PTFE material was significantly enhanced by adding macro-porous alumina into the PTFE matrix. The enhanced textural properties of the macro-porous PTFE material where V2O5/TiO2 was uniformly dispersed proved the facilitated diffusion of combustion exhaust gas into the PTFE material.

Spontaneous resolution of massive expulsive suprachoroidal hemorrhage with good long-term visual outcome: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage (SCH) that completely fills the vitreous cavity rarely resolves spontaneously. Even in cases with spontaneous resolution, long-term visual prognosis is disappointing due to retinal detachment or deterioration of preexisting ocular diseases. To the best of our knowledge, the first case of spontaneous resolution of massive SCH is reported with good long-term visual and anatomic outcome. CASE PRESENTATION: An 80-year-old Asian woman with high myopia underwent cataract surgery in the right eye. Posterior capsular rupture occurred during phacoemulsification. At the conclusion of scleral fixation of intraocular lens, expulsive SCH developed. After 1 day, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was hand motion. Ultrasonography revealed massive SCH with central apposition. At 2nd week, decrease in SCH with resolution of central apposition was observed. At 6th week, BCVA improved to 20/120. Ultrasonography and fundus examination revealed complete resorption of the SCH and flat retina. At 1 year, BCVA was 20/50. Fundus was flat without any signs of retinal detachment. CONCLUSION: Favorable anatomic and visual outcomes can be attained with conservative management even in cases of massive expulsive SCH, particularly when central retinal apposition resolves in 2 weeks.

Clinical features of infectious keratitis at a tertiary referral center in a rural area of Korea.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical features of infectious keratitis at a tertiary referral center in a rural area of Korea. RESULTS: This was a retrospective study. Medical records of 70 patients who were diagnosed with infectious keratitis and underwent corneal culture were reviewed. Data including demographics, predisposing factors, and microbiological profiles were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Age distribution showed one peak at sixth and seventh decade, and 48 patients (68.6%) were ≥50 years old. The male to female ratio was 43 (61.4%):27 (38.6%). Ocular surface disease was the most frequently found (48 cases, 68.6%). Gram-positive bacteria were most common (ten patients, 66.7%), followed by Gram-negative bacteria (three patients, 20%) and fungi (two patients, 13.3%). In this study, 34.3% of patients were treated by at least one topical antimicrobial before culture. Patients who received topical therapy before culture showed positive culture rate of 16.7%, and patients who underwent corneal culture without topical antibiotics showed positive culture rate of 23.9%. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in positive culture rate (P=0.554). CONCLUSION: The proportions of the elderly and male patients were higher than the young and female patients, respectively. Gram-positive bacteria were the most common pathogens, and ocular surface disease was the most common predisposing factor.

Diabetic papillopathy with macular edema treated with intravitreal ranibizumab.

We report a case of diabetic papillopathy that demonstrated a resolution of optic disk swelling and rapid visual recovery when intravitreal ranibizumab was administered. A 51-year-old male presented with acute painless visual loss in his right eye. His vision was 20/320 in the right eye and 20/50 in the left eye. Fundus examination of the right eye showed nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema and a swollen optic disk. Fluorescein angiography showed dye leakage from the right optic disk. Optical coherent tomography revealed a significant increase in retinal nerve fiber-layer thickness. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was normal. The patient received a single intravitreal ranibizumab (0.5 mg) injection. Two weeks following injection, there was marked regression of the disk swelling and improvement of macular edema, with vision improving to 20/100. Three months following injection, there was complete resolution of the optic disk swelling. No further treatment was required.

Multiple Fistula Emptying into the Left Ventricle through the Entire Left Ventricular Wall.

Coronary artery fistulae are usually identified during invasive coronary angiographies. However, in this case, we made the early detection of coronary artery fistulae during non-invasive transthoracic echocardiography, by demonstrating diastolic multiple abnormal color Doppler flows on the entire left ventricular walls including left ventricular free wall, interventricular septum and apex, which were mimicking firecracker on the whole left ventricle. Fistulous communication from the coronary artery to the left ventricle is rare. Moreover, a case of multiple coronary fistulae emptying into the left ventricle through the entire left ventricular walls including left ventricular free wall, interventricular septum and apex is uncommon. We report a case of a 31-year-old woman who was diagnosed with multiple fistula communicating with entire left ventricular wall.