Efficiency of Combining Heated Eye Mask with Intense Pulsed Light Therapy as a Treatment Option for Evaporative Dry Eye Disease.

Background and objectives: The study aimed to establish the efficiency of combining the Posiforlid heated eye mask with intense pulsed light therapy (IPL), as a treatment strategy for evaporative dry eye disease. Materials and methods: This study included 110 patients, respectively 220 eyes, diagnosed with evaporative dry eye disease, patients between 18 and 86 years old, divided into two study groups. The first one, the control group, consisted of 73 patients treated with IPL therapy, and the second of 37 patients, who underwent IPL therapy associated with Posiforlid heated eye mask. Subjective evolution was assessed using an eye fitness test (EFT) regarding symptomatology. Objective assessment of the ocular surface was performed by tear film stability evaluation (TFSE), non-invasive first break-up time (NIFBUT), non-invasive average breakup time (NIABUT), ocular surface inflammatory evaluation (OSIE), measuring of the central tear meniscus height (CTMH) and thinnest tear meniscus height (TTMH). The assessment was performed at the beginning of the IPL treatment, during the IPL sessions, at the end of the IPL treatment, and afterward, at 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: Tear film stability has increased in both study cases, but no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups studied. For the control group, tear film stability evaluation (TFSE) started from 310.56 ± 389.54 at baseline (time 1 presentation) to 114.40 ± 122.90 after 12 months, and for the heated mask group, from 391.11 ± 456.45 (time 1 presentation) to 97.38 ± 105.98 after 12 months. NIABUT increased from 10.72 ± 4.90 seconds to 14.79 ± 3.72 seconds in the control group, and from 11.11 ± 5.08 seconds to 15.84 ± 2.26 seconds in the second group. OSIE decreased, as expected, from 7.18 ± 7.93 percent in the control group to 2.24 ± 2.38 percent after 12 months and from 7.42 ± 7.77 percent to 2.47 ± 2.50 percent in the Posiforlid group. Although significantly lower, there was no significant difference between the two studied groups. No statistically significant changes were registered in the studied quantitative parameters. Using the EFT test, great improvements were registered regarding symptomatology, with a score increasing from 29.99 ± 8.60 to 39.10 ± 5.08 in the control group and from 27.35 ± 9.24 to 38.35 ± 4.62 in the other group. Again, the same statistical result was registered on this variable. Conclusions: The improvement of tear film stability, ocular surface inflammatory condition, and subjective symptoms during IPL therapy sessions and the first year of observation after the completion of the treatment was not necessarily increased by the additional use of a heated eye mask. Abbreviations: IPL = intense pulsed light therapy, EFT = eye fitness test, NIFBUT = non-invasive first break-up time, NIABUT = non-invasive average break-up time, OSIE = ocular surface inflammatory evaluation, TFSE = tear film stability evaluation, CTMH = central tear meniscus height, TTMH = thinnest tear meniscus height, DED = dry eye disease, MGD = meibomian gland dysfunction, SD = standard deviation.

Retinal Perfusion Analysis of Children with Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

(1) Background: This study aims to evaluate retinal perfusion by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) without diabetic retinopathy (DR). (2) Methods: Thirty-one patients affected by T1D were enrolled. All participants were evaluated using OCTA. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and superficial and deep macular vessel density (VD) were analyzed. The correlation of these parameters with metabolic factors such as body mass index (BMI), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and the type of insulin therapy (multiple daily injections, MDI vs. continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, CSII) was determined. (3) Results: None of the OCTA parameters were significantly different between the groups. The patients' HbA1C level did not influence any of the OCTA parameters. The use of MDI tended to reduce the parafoveal and perifoveal deep VD (p = 0.048 and p = 0.021, respectively) compared to CSII. An elevated BMI tended to increase the deep macular (p = 0.005) and perifoveal VD (p = 0.006). (4) Conclusion: VD and FAZ are normal in pubescent children with T1D without signs of DR. Treatment with CSII may be a better choice compared to MDI, as CSII may be protective against retinal microvascular damage. Our results indicate the need for new clinical parameters of glycemic control in addition to HbA1c which could assess the risk of DR.

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.

The safety and effectiveness of a novel annular keratopigmentation technique; a cross-sectional survey of patients.

PURPOSE: We investigated safety aspects and other patient experiences related to a novel Femtosecond Laser Assisted Annular Keratopigmentation technique (FLAAK). SETTING: Espace Nouvelle Vision Clinic in Paris. METHODS: Monocentric, post-operative, cross-sectional survey of patients who returned to the clinic for a color correction after the FLAAK procedure. Whilst waiting for their color retouch, consenting patients completed a questionnaire about their experiences following the FLAAK procedure. Aspects related to side-effects or discomfort as well as patient satisfaction were assessed. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 42 of 51 patients returning to the clinic for a color retouch (27 females, 15 males; mean age 37.6 years). Pain was experienced by 34 (81%) patients, dry eyes by 32 (76%) patients, glare by 23 (56%) patients, red eyes by 28 (67%) patients, and tingling by 30 (71%) patients; no patient experienced visual halos. All experienced post-operative symptoms were of a transient nature. Symptoms like pain, tingling, glare and red eyes disappear in less than 48 h after surgery in approximately 50% of the cases, and ocular dryness in 22% of cases., The median duration of these symptoms in patients for whom the symptoms were still present after 48 h, is 7 days. Patient satisfaction with the aesthetical result (scale ranging from 0 to 10) was on average 8,1 (SD 1,6). CONCLUSION: The FLAAK procedure performed for purely aesthetic purposes appears to be safe and is associated with high patient satisfaction.

Femtosecond assisted keratopigmentation (FAK) with a 5-millimeter diameter aperture does not affect ocular examination.

AIM: to assess the feasibility of performing a screening of ocular pathologies after Femtosecond laser Assisted Keratopigmentation (FAK) procedure in normal eyes with the aid of multimodal imaging technologies. DESIGN: A Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty consecutive international patients (60 eyes) who underwent FAK for purely aesthetic reasons were chosen for this study. METHODS: Data from medical records of 30 consecutive patients were retrieved after performing tests 6 months after surgery. Clinical examinations were performed by three ophthalmologists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main purpose of this study was to see if routine examinations are feasible in patients operated on by the FAK and if the results can be interpreted as easily as in non-operated patients. RESULTS: Sixty eyes of thirty consecutive patients that underwent a screening of ocular pathologies at 6 months post FAK were included. 60% were female and 40% were males. Mean age was 36 years +/- 12 years. Screening of ocular pathologies using multimodal imaging tests or clinical examination was performed without any difficulties in acquisition or interpretation in 100% of patients (n = 30) except the endothelial cell count of the corneal periphery which was not possible. The direct examination of the iris periphery was possible at the slit lamp through the translucid pigment. CONCLUSIONS: The screening of ocular pathologies after purely aesthetic FAK surgery is feasible, except for pathologies of the peripheral posterior cornea.

The Safety and Effectiveness of a Novel Annular Keratopigmentation Method: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the safety and effectiveness of a novel aesthetic femtosecond-assisted annular keratopigmentation technique. CASE REPORT: A 21-year-old female patient in good general and ophthalmological health with the wish to change the colour of her eyes was treated with a femtosecond-assisted annular keratopigmentation technique. Pigment was inserted in a channel in the cornea (external diameter 9.3 mm; internal diameter 5.5 mm) created with a femtosecond laser at a depth of 225 µm. Eight months post-operatively, there were no signs of leakage, diffusion, inflammation or any other detrimental effects on the cornea both objectively and subjectively. CONCLUSION: This procedure is a promising safe and effective option for those who want annular keratopigmentation for aesthetic reasons.

Association of glaucoma with neurodegenerative diseases with apoptotic cell death: Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

PURPOSE: To report a possible association of glaucoma with Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: Retrospective chart review (observational case series). The ophthalmologic charts of 49 patients with Alzheimer's disease and of 38 patients with Parkinson's disease were reviewed to determine the occurrence rate of glaucoma among these patients. RESULTS: Glaucomatous visual field defects or cup-to-disk ratios of 0.8 or greater were recorded in 12 patients with Alzheimer's disease (24.5%) and in 9 patients with Parkinson's disease (23.7%). CONCLUSION: Patients with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease may have an increased occurrence rate of glaucoma.