Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for Dry Eye Disease: Analyzing Temporal Changes in Tear Film Stability and Ocular Surface between IPL Sessions.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye disease (DED), a prevalent condition with a multifactorial etiology, significantly impacts global health by causing discomfort and visual disturbance. This historical cohort study evaluates the efficacy of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy on meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)-related evaporative DED. METHODS: The study involved 110 patients (220 eyes) who underwent IPL therapy. Ethical approval was secured, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. A Tearcheck® (ESWvision, Houdan, France) device was used for ocular surface evaluation, measuring tear film stability (NIFBUT, NIABUT), tear film quantity (CTMH, TTMH), and inflammation (OSIE). The study assessed tear film and ocular surface health across multiple IPL sessions. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in subjective symptoms (EFT score increased from 29.10 ± 8.87 to 35.91 ± 7.03, p < 0.01), tear film stability (NIFBUT increased from 9.37 ± 6.04 to 10.78 ± 5.83 s, p < 0.01; NIABUT increased from 11.07 ± 4.98 to 12.34 ± 4.66 s, p < 0.01), and tear film surface evaluation (TFSE score decreased from 337.78 ± 414.08 to 206.02 ± 240.44, p < 0.01). Tear film quantity remained unchanged (CTMH and TTMH, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IPL therapy is a promising treatment for DED, improving symptoms and ocular surface health. Further research is warranted to explore long-term efficacy and optimization.

Macular dynamics and visual acuity prognosis in retinal vein occlusions - ways to connect.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to establish possible connections between macular dynamics, various macular features, and visual acuity prognosis among patients with retinal vein occlusions. Materials and Methods: This study included 85 patients with central retinal vein occlusions (CRVO) and 26 with branch retinal vein occlusions (BRVO). We assessed macular features such as central macular thickness (CMT), foveal intraretinal hemorrhage (IRH), the presence and distribution of hyperreflective foci (HF), ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption, inner retinal layer disorganization (DRIL), and posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), as well as their dynamics over one year of observation and their impact on final visual acuity prognosis, depending on the type of occlusion. Results: Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) evolution is statistically significant regarding groups of age and type of occlusion and insignificant regarding gender. The best response to intravitreal treatment, quantified as a decrease in CMT, was registered after the first intravitreal injection. Connecting a decrease in CMT with BCVA improvement, we did not register a statistically significant correlation in the CRVO group, only in BRVO cases. The study results showed that complete PVD plays a significant positive role in decreasing CMT and BCVA improvement in cases of CRVO. Our study revealed that no matter the type of occlusion, the presence of foveal IRH will have a negative impact on the BCVA outcome. Statistically significant differences have been noted only for the evolution of visual acuity in non-ischemic CRVO cases, in correlation with the presence of EZ disruption. Outer retinal layer HF has proved to be a predictive factor for poor visual acuity outcomes. Conclusions: The most important non-imaging predicting factors regarding BCVA after retinal vein occlusions are age and baseline BCVA. CMT's dynamics still establish a weak connection with visual acuity fluctuations. The presence of foveal IRH, outer retinal layer HF, and foveal EZ disruption has a negative impact on visual acuity outcomes. Abbreviations: CRVO = central retinal vein occlusions, BRVO = branch retinal vein occlusions, CMT = central macular thickness, IRH = foveal intraretinal hemorrhage, HF = hyperreflective foci, EZ = ellipsoid zone disruption, DRIL = inner retinal layer disorganization, PVD = posterior vitreous detachment, BCVA = best corrected visual acuity, OCT = optical coherence tomography, BCVA Ti = best corrected visual acuity at first, BCVA Tf = best corrected visual acuity after one year, NR of IVI = number of intravitreal injections, SD = standard deviation, M = male, F = female, CMT Ti = central macular thickness at first, CMT T1 = central macular thickness after first injection, CMT T3 = central macular thickness after 3 injections, CMT Tf = central macular thickness after one year.

Erratum: [Corrigendum] Corneal endothelial changes induced by pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for retinal detachment.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10393.].

Corneal endothelial changes induced by pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for retinal detachment.

Silicone oils are effective intraocular tamponade agents in the treatment of severe retinal detachments, because they maintain the adhesion between neurosensory retina and retinal pigment epithelium, thanks to their ability to remove aqueous humor from the surface of the retina. To understand their effectiveness, it is important to know the characteristics of silicone oils. Patients should be closely monitored due to many complications associated with intraocular silicon oil, such as inflammatory reaction, raised intraocular pressure, refraction disorders, cataract, and emulsification. This study presents corneal endothelial changes and some intraocular complications caused by silicone oil used as an intraocular tamponade agent in the case of vitrectomy for complex retinal detachments. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the damage of corneal endothelial cells after the use of silicone oil in patients with retinal detachment surgery. Endothelial specular microscopy measurements were performed and the changes of the following parameters demonstrated the corneal damage: Mean cell density, coefficient of variation, average cell area, percentage of hexagonal cells, and corneal thickness. Three months postoperatively, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the following analyzed parameters: Mean cell density (P=0.04), and percentage of hexagonal cells (P=0.002); the remaining parameters also had a linear decrease (coefficient of variation, average cell area), but were statistically insignificant. Three months postoperatively, the corneal thickness presented a slight increase. Silicone oils are powerful tools when used wisely and within the limits of their use. These are often recommended in cases of severe detachment of the retina in patients at high risk of experiencing intraoperative complications.

Color Doppler imaging features in patients presenting central retinal artery occlusion with and without giant cell arteritis.

Introduction: Central retinal artery obstruction (CRAO) represents an abrupt diminution of blood flow through the CRA that is severe enough to cause ischemia of the inner retina with permanent unilateral visual loss. We presented the role of color Doppler imaging (CDI) of orbital vessels and of extracranial duplex sonography (EDS) in the etiological diagnosis of CRAO in two patients with clinical suspicion of unilateral CRAO. Case Report: Patients were examined following the protocol which included CDI of orbital vessels and EDS. Both patients had no emboli visible on ophthalmoscopy. The B-scan ultrasound evaluation of the first patient found a small round, moderately reflective echo within the right optic nerve, 1.5 mm behind the optic disc (emboli of cholesterol). CDI of retrobulbar vessels revealed the normal right ophthalmic artery (OA) hemodynamic parameters, but the first patient had no arterial flow signal on CDI at the distance of 1.5 mm behind the right optic disc. In contrast, the left eye had the normal aspect on CDI of retrobulbar vessels. The right internal carotid artery EDS identified a severe stenosis at its origin as CRA's emboli source. The second patient had characteristic CDI findings for giant cell arteritis (GCA) with eye involvement: severe diminished blood flow velocities, especially end-diastolic velocities, in both CRAs. Less abnormalities were observed in the posterior ciliary arteries, and in the ophthalmic arteries. The second patient had no systemic symptoms or signs of GCA. Conclusion: In the presented cases, the ultrasound investigation enabled prompt differentiation between central retinal artery occlusion of embolic mechanism and CRAO caused by GCA.

Accidental macular hole following neodymium:YAG posterior capsulotomy.

INTRODUCTION: Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is the commonest complication of cataract surgery, occurring in up to one-third of patients in a period of five years. The treatment of choice is the Neodymium:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. This treatment can be associated with several complications, some of them severe. A rare complication of this procedure is the accidental induced macular hole. CASE OUTLINE: A 54-year-old female patient was referred to our Department because of a severe loss of vision and a central scotoma at the right eye. The patient underwent a Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy 2 days ago, for a PCO. The fundus examination at presentation revealed a round retinal defect in the macular region, a massive inferior preretinal hemorrhage and a mild vitreous hamorrhage. A 6-months follow-up of the case, including retinography and fluorescein angiography, is presented. CONCLUSION: Although the Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy is a safe, noninvasive, and effective outpatient procedure to improve vision hindered by PCO, it must be recognized that it carries a low but definite risk of serious complications. Physicians and patients should be aware of these rare but severe complications regarding this otherwise safe procedure. Fortunately, most of the complications related to this procedure are transient and can be managed by proper medication.

Repositioning and follow-up of intralenticular dexamethasone implant.

We report the case of a 54-year-old man who attended our emergency department complaining of severe floaters and decreased vision in his right eye. Seven days earlier, a dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Oxurdex) had been placed for a noninfectious posterior uveitis. Slitlamp examination showed the implant had penetrated the posterior lens capsule and was lodged in the posterior cortex of the lens; a posterior cortical cataract developed subsequently. Removal of the cataract, repositioning of the implant to the posterior segment, and the postoperative course are described. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the repositioning of an intralenticular dexamethasone intravitreal implant.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic methods in keratoconus]. / Metode de diagnostic si tratament in keratoconus.

Keratoconus is a rare disease that appears at teenagers. This condition is diagnosed frequently and at early stages in the last years with the means of modern diagnosis (pachymetry, corneal topography). The treatments for this disease are new and efficient as corneal cross-linking and intrastromal rings.