The profile of patients attending to the general emergency department with ocular complaints within the last year: is it a true ocular emergency?

PURPOSE: Ocular emergencies require immediate intervention to prevent rapid vision loss or functional impairment. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of true ocular emergencies among patients who presented to the general emergency department with ocular complaints and were referred to the Eye Clinic. METHODS: In a retrospective cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Istanbul, patients aged 0-100 years who presented to the general emergency department with ocular complaints between January and December 2022 were included. Inconclusive diagnoses and incomplete records were excluded. Patients were divided into three groups: top eye emergencies (TE), relative eye emergencies (REE), and non-emergency eyes (NEE). RESULTS: Among the 652,224 individuals seeking care, 9,982 (1.5%) were referred to the Eye Emergency Clinic. Of these, 2,788 (27.9%) were female, and 7,194 (72.1%) were male, with ages ranging from 0 to 98 years. TopEye Emergencies (TEE), Relative Eye Emergencies (REE), and Non-Eye Emergencies (NEE) accounted for 13%, 60%, and 27% of the cases, respectively. Common top-eye emergencies (TEE) include chemical injuries, orbital-preseptal cellulitis, and orbital fractures. Relative eye emergencies (REEs) commonly feature corneal foreign bodies, corneal erosion, and conjunctivitis. Nonemulsion eye (NEE) methods involve simple eye redness, trauma without eye involvement, and subconjunctival haemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with the literature, 1.5% of patients presenting to the general emergency department had eye complaints.However, 27% of those referred to the ophthalmological clinic did not have an urgent eye condition. This is partly due to the high proportion of patients presenting to the emergency department with ocular complaints and the lack of knowledge of ophthalmological diseases by emergency physicians, leading to unnecessary referrals to the ophthalmology clinic, resulting in a loss of the workforce and reduced time allocated to patients with true ocular emergencies.

Topical Ophthalmic Anesthetics for CornealAbrasions: Findings from a Cochrane SystematicReview and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Despite potential benefit, outpatient use of topical ophthalmic anesthetics can result in poor healing, infection, scar, and blindness. An unbiased analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is needed to examine their effectiveness and safety compared with placebo or other treatments for corneal abrasions. Methods: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase.com, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched on February 10, 2023, without restriction on language or publication date. Results: Systematic review and meta-analysis of nine RCTs describing 314 participants with post-traumatic abrasions and 242 participants with post-surgical abrasions, with a median study length of 7 days (interquartile range, 7-14), show no evidence of a difference in pain control between anesthetics and placebo at 24 hours in post-trauma cases. Self-reported pain at 24 hours is reduced with anesthetics plus topical nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug in post-surgical participants (mean difference [MD], -5.72 on a 10-point scale; 95% CI, -7.35 to -4.09; 1 RCT; 30 participants) and at 48 hours with anesthetics alone in post-trauma participants (MD, -5.68; 95% CI, -6.38 to -4.98; 1 RCT; 111 participants). Anesthetics are associated with 37% increased risk of non-healing defects (risk ratio, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.78 to 2.42; 3 RCTs; 221 post-trauma participants). All evidence is of very low certainty. Over 50% of trials have an overall high risk of bias. Conclusions: Available evidence is insufficient to support outpatient use of topical anesthetics for corneal abrasions with respect to pain, re-epithelialization, and complication risk.

[Perioperative visual loss : Rare, unknown, relevant?] / Perioperativer Visusverlust : Selten, unbekannt, relevant?

Perioperative visual loss (POVL) is a rare but severe complication following non-ophthalmological surgery under general anesthesia. A POVL can be caused by lesions in any part of the optical system. The predominant causes include corneal injuries and particularly ischemic damage. The symptoms of POVL substantially vary ranging from reduced vision to complete blindness. The risks involve factors related to the surgery as well as patient-specific factors. In general, the prognosis in cases of mechanical damage is better than for ischemic lesions. The treatment measures depend on the underlying pathomechanism and due to the limited evidence only a few treatment options are available. Therefore, preventive measures and meticulous documentation play a crucial role.

Prevalence and risk factors of exposure keratopathy among critically ill patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: To identify the incidence, prevalence and risk factors of exposure keratopathy (EK) among critically ill patients. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis, in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 Statement. METHODS: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), Weipu Database (VIP) and WanFang Database were systematically searched from inception to June 2022. Observational studies that reported EK among paediatric and adult critically ill patients were screened and included original articles based on the inclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently completed data extraction and quality assessments. Subgroup analysis investigated potential causes of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Of the 4508 studies identified, 23 studies involving 3519 subjects were included. The pooled prevalence of EK was 34.0%, and the pooled incidence rate of EK was 23.0%. Risk factors associated with EK in critically ill patients included lagophthalmos, chemosis, eye blinks <5 times per minute, mechanical ventilation, sedation, lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score. CONCLUSION: This review shows that EK rates are high in critically ill patients and are influenced by multiple factors. Medical staff should pay more attention to EK in critically ill patients, conduct professional evaluations and implement targeted eye care protocols to reduce its occurrence. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study shows the frequency of and multiple risk factors for EK in critically ill patients, which provides evidence-based guidance for nurses to evaluate the risk of EK in critically ill patients and take appropriate precautions to reduce the risk. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/) (CRD42022346964). PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Keratitis in patients with corneal foreign bodies: a cross-sectional study in Cali, Colombia / Ceratite em pacientes com corpos estranhos na córnea: um estudo transversal em Cali, Colômbia

ABSTRACT Purposes: To describe the clinical characteristics and factors associated with keratitis in patients with corneal foreign bodies in Colombia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on a clinical records review of patients who had corneal foreign bodies and were admitted to the emergency department between June 2018 and June 2019 in Cali, Colombia. The primary outcome was the presence of keratitis diagnosed based on clinical criteria. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify associated factors. Results: A total of 381 corneal foreign bodies in 372 patients were analyzed (median age, 40.0; interquartile range, 29.0-53.0 years; male, 94.7% (n=352). Ninety-five patients developed keratitis (24.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 20.8%-29.5%). In the multivariate analysis, age 30 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.15, 95% CI 1.06-4.36), finding of aqueous flare (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.39-5.66]), and a foreign body in the peripheral cornea (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.19-3.50] were associated with an increased risk for keratitis. Sex, time between injury and admission, and corneal edema were not related to keratitis (p>0.05). Conclusion: In Cali, Colombia, a high proportion of keratitis was reported in patients with corneal foreign body. Age, an aqueous flare, and a foreign body in the peripheral cornea were the factors associated with keratitis.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever as características clínicas e os fatores associados à presença de ceratite em pacientes com corpos estranhos na córnea em uma população colombiana. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal baseado na revisão dos registros clínicos de pacientes com corpos estranhos na córnea admitidos em um departamento de emergência em Cali, Colômbia, entre junho de 2018 e junho de 2019. O desfecho primário foi a presença de ceratite diagnosticada através de critérios clínicos. Foram utilizados modelos de regressão logística univariada e multivariada para identificar os fatores associados. Resultado: Neste estudo, foi analisado um total de 381 corpos estranhos na córnea em 372 pacientes (idade média: 40,0 anos, intervalo interquartil: 29,0-53,0; sexo masculino: 94,7% [352 casos]). Noventa e cinco casos desenvolveram ceratite (24,9%, intervalo de confiança de 95% — IC 95%: 20,8%-29,5%). Na análise multivariada, para idade ≤30 anos (razão de chances — RC: 2,15, IC 95%: 1,06-4,36), o achado de flare aquoso (RC: 2,81, IC 95%: 1,39-5,66]) e a presença de corpo estranho na periferia da córnea (RC: 2,05, IC 95%: 1,19-3,50) foram associados a um risco aumentado de ceratite. Sexo, tempo entre a lesão e a internação, e edema da córnea não foram relacionados à ceratite (p>0,05). Conclusão: Há uma proporção elevada de ceratite em casos de corpos estranhos na córnea em Cali, Colômbia. Os três fatores associados à ceratite foram a idade, o achado de flare aquoso e a presença de corpo estranho na periferia da córnea.

Alterações oculares decorrentes de picada de abelha na córnea / Ocular changes due to corneal bee sting

RESUMO O propósito deste estudo foi reportar as alterações oculares observadas após picada de abelha com ferrão retido na córnea. Destacamos o tratamento e o desfecho de uma lesão de córnea incomum e sua patogênese. Trata-se de relato de caso e revisão da literatura de lesões oculares por picada de abelha. Paciente do sexo feminino, 63 anos, procurou atendimento oftalmológico de urgência devido à picada de abelha na córnea do olho direito há 6 dias. Queixava-se de embaçamento visual, dor e hiperemia ocular. Apresentou acuidade visual de vultos no olho afetado. Ao exame, notaram-se hiperemia moderada de conjuntiva bulbar, edema corneano com dobras de Descemet e presença do ferrão alojado na região temporal, no estroma profundo da córnea. A paciente foi internada para ser abordada no centro cirúrgico sob anestesia geral. Durante a cirurgia, o ferrão teve que ser retirado via câmara anterior, mediante a realização de uma paracentese e uma lavagem da câmara anterior, com dupla via e solução salina balanceada. Ainda não existe na literatura um tratamento padrão na abordagem de pacientes com lesões oculares por picada de abelha, sendo importantes a identificação e o reconhecimento precoce de possíveis complicações que ameacem a visão.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to report the ocular changes observed after a bee sting with a stinger retained in the cornea. We show the treatment and outcome of an unusual corneal injury and its pathogenesis. This is a case report and literature review of ocular injuries caused by bee stings. A 63-year-old female patient sought emergency ophthalmic care because of a bee sting on the cornea of her right eye six days before. She complained of blurred vision, pain, and ocular hyperemia. She had glare sensitivity on visual acuity in the affected eye. Examination revealed moderate hyperemia of the bulbar conjunctiva, corneal edema with Descemet's folds and a stinger lodged in the temporal region, in the deep stroma of the cornea. The patient was admitted to the operating room under general anesthesia. During surgery, the stinger had to be removed via the anterior chamber, by performing a paracentesis and washing the anterior chamber with a double flushing and balanced saline solution. There is still no standard treatment in the literature for patients with eye injuries caused by bee stings, and early identification and recognition of possible sight-threatening complications is important.

Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157-Possible Novel Therapy of Glaucoma and Other Ocular Conditions.

Recently, stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy by activation of collateral pathways counteracted various occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes, vascular, and multiorgan failure, and blood pressure disturbances in rats with permanent major vessel occlusion and similar procedures disabling endothelium function. Thereby, we revealed BPC 157 cytoprotective therapy with strong vascular rescuing capabilities in glaucoma therapy. With these capabilities, BPC 157 therapy can recover glaucomatous rats, normalize intraocular pressure, maintain retinal integrity, recover pupil function, recover retinal ischemia, and corneal injuries (i.e., maintained transparency after complete corneal abrasion, corneal ulceration, and counteracted dry eye after lacrimal gland removal or corneal insensitivity). The most important point is that in glaucomatous rats (three of four episcleral veins cauterized) with high intraocular pressure, all BPC 157 regimens immediately normalized intraocular pressure. BPC 157-treated rats exhibited normal pupil diameter, microscopically well-preserved ganglion cells and optic nerve presentation, normal fundus presentation, nor- mal retinal and choroidal blood vessel presentation, and normal optic nerve presentation. The one episcleral vein rapidly upgraded to accomplish all functions in glaucomatous rats may correspond with occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes of the activated rescuing collateral pathway (azygos vein direct blood flow delivery). Normalized intraocular pressure in glaucomatous rats corresponded to the counteracted intra-cranial (superior sagittal sinus), portal, and caval hypertension, and aortal hypotension in occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes, were all attenuated/eliminated by BPC 157 therapy. Furthermore, given in other eye disturbances (i.e., retinal ischemia), BPC 157 instantly breaks a noxious chain of events, both at an early stage and an already advanced stage. Thus, we further advocate BPC 157 as a therapeutic agent in ocular disease.

Phototherapeutic keratectomy: current approaches and changing trends in a tertiary eye clinic / Ceratectomia fototerapêutica: abordagens atuais e tendências de mudança em uma clínica oftalmológica terciária

ABSTRACT Purpose: To examine the efficacy of phototherapeutic keratectomy as a treatment for variable pathologies with anterior corneal opacities and evaluate the distribution of phototherapeutic keratectomy indications over the past 10 years. Methods: The records of 334 eyes from 276 patients who underwent phototherapeutic keratectomy between March 2010 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Etiologies of the patients who underwent phototherapeutic keratectomy were noted, and their changes were examined. Refractive and visual acuity results before and after the operation were recorded and analyzed according to etiology. Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.7 ± 16.2 years (range: 19-84). The mean follow-up was 25.5 ± 19.1 months (range: 3-96). Phototherapeutic keratectomy was most frequently applied for corneal stromal dystrophies (44%, 151 eyes from 111 patients), and granular dystrophy was the most common phototherapeutic keratectomy indication among corneal dystrophies. Unlike other indications, there has been an increase in the application of phototherapeutic keratectomy for persistent subepithelial opacities due to adenoviral conjunctivitis in the past 10 years. There was a significant increase in visual acuity in all groups except for the recurrent epithelial defect group (p<0.05). The greatest improvement in visual acuity was detected for stromal dystrophies in the granular dystrophy subgroup. Conclusion: Despite changing indication trends, phototherapeutic keratectomy remains an effective and reliable treatment for anterior corneal lesions.

RESUMO Objetivo: Examinar a eficácia da ceratectomia fo­toterapêutica para o tratamento de patologias variáveis que apresentarem opacidades anteriores da córnea, e avaliar a distribuição das indicações de ceratectomia fototerapêutica nos últimos 10 anos. Métodos: Foram revisados retrospectivamente os prontuários de 276 pacientes, com 334 olhos tratados com ceratectomia fototerapêutica entre março de 2010 e o ano de 2020. As etiologias dos pacientes submetidos à ceratectomia fototerapêutica foram anotadas e suas alterações foram examinadas. Os resultados refrativos e de acuidade visual antes e após a operação foram registrados e analisados de acordo com a etiologia. Resultados: A idade média dos pacientes foi de 40,7 ± 16,2 anos (faixa: 19-84). O tempo médio de acompanhamento foi de 25,5 ± 19,1 meses (faixa: 3-96). A ceratectomia fototerapêutica foi aplicada com mais frequência para distrofias estromais corneanas (44%, 151 olhos de 111 pacientes); entre as distrofias corneanas como um todo, a distrofia granular foi a indicação terapêutica mais comum desse procedimento. Ao contrário de outras indicações, nos últimos 10 anos houve um aumento na aplicação de ceratectomia fototerapêutica em casos de opacidade subepitelial persistente causada por conjuntivite adenoviral. Houve um aumento significativo na acuidade visual em todos os grupos, exceto para o grupo com defeito epitelial recorrente (p<0,05). A maior melhora na acuidade visual foi detectada em casos de distrofia estromal, no subgrupo das distrofias granulares. Conclusão: Apesar das mudanças nas tendências de indicação, a ceratectomia fototerapêutica continua sendo uma abordagem terapêutica eficaz e confiável para tratar lesões da córnea anterior.

Nursing interventions to prevent corneal injury in critically ill sedated and mechanically ventilated patients: A systematic review of interventions.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effectiveness of interventions to prevent corneal injury in critically ill, sedated, and mechanically ventilated patients. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: A systematic review of intervention studies was conducted in the following electronic databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, LIVIVO, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Study selection and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. Quality assessment of the randomized and non-randomized studies was performed using the Risk of Bias (RoB 2.0) and ROBINS-I Cochrane tools, respectively, and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. The certainty of the evidence was assessed according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. RESULTS: 15 studies were included. Meta-analysis showed that the risk of corneal injury in the lubricants group was 66% lower (RR = 0.34; 95 %CI: 0.13-0.92) than in the eye-taping group. The risk of corneal injury in the polyethylene chamber was 68% lower than in the eye ointment group (RR = 0.32; 95 %CI 0.07-1.44). The risk of bias was low in most of the studies included and the certainty of the evidence was evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The most effective interventions to prevent corneal injury in critically ill sedated mechanically ventilated, who have compromised blinking and eyelid closing mechanisms, are ocular lubrication, preferably gel or ointment, and protection of the corneas with a polyethylene chamber. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Critically ill, sedated, and mechanically ventilated patients who have compromised blinking and eyelid closing mechanisms must receive interventions to prevent corneal injury. Ocular lubrication, preferably gel or ointment, and protection of the corneas with a polyethylene chamber were the most effective interventions to prevent corneal injury in critically ill, sedated, and mechanically ventilated patients. A polyethylene chamber must be made commercially available for critically ill, sedated, and mechanically ventilated patients.

Inhibitory effect of miR-497 on the repair of diabetic mice corneal epithelial damage by targeting wnt3a / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effect of miR-497 on the corneal epithelial healing in diabetic mice and its possible mechanism.Methods:Forty healthy clean-grade wild-type C57BL/J6 mice were randomly divided into a blank control group and a model control group, with 20 mice in each group.Another 20 CRISPR/Cas9-mediated miR-497 knockout mice and miR-497 overexpression mice were taken as miR-497 knockout and miR-497 overexpression groups, respectively.The diabetes model was constructed by continuous intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) to the mice in model control, miR-497 knockout and miR-497 overexpression groups, and the mice in blank control group were injected with an equal amount of citrate buffer, followed by 8-week normal feeding.After the establishment of diabetes model, the corneal epithelial injury model was further constructed by scraping off part of the corneal epithelium with a central diameter of 2 mm.The corneal epithelial defect area of mice in 0, 12, 24 and 36 hours after corneal epithelial injury was observed by corneal fluorescein sodium staining.The expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin proteins in mice corneal tissues was detected by Western blot.The expression of miR-497 as well as the mRNA expression levels of cell proliferation-associated factor genes CyclinD1, c-Myc, and Ki-67 mRNA was detected by real-time quantitative fluorescence PCR.The targeting relationship between miR-497 and wnt3a was detected by a dual luciferase reporter gene assay.Human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) were cultured in vitro and transfected with miR-497 mimics, miR-497 mimics negative control, miR-497 inhibitor, and miR-497 inhibitor negative control by Lipo8000 as miR-497 mimics group, mimics negative control group, miR-497 inhibitor group, andmiR-497 inhibitor negative control group, respectively, all of which were cultured in high glucose medium containing 25% glucose.Another two groups of HCEC were taken and cultured in medium containing 5% and 25% glucose as control and high glucose groups, respectively.The cell proliferation viability was determined by CCK8 method.The use and care of animals complied ith the ARVO statement.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (2019K-K010). Results:Eight weeks after STZ injection, the blood glucose of mice was significantly higher and the weight was significantly lower in each diabetic model group than those of blank control group (all at P<0.05). At 12, 24 and 36 hours after the corneal epithelial injury, the percentages of corneal epithelial defect area observed by slit-lamp microscopy in model control group were significantly higher than those in blank control group and miR-497 knockout group and lower than those in miR-497 overexpression group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). The relative expressions of wnt3a and β-catenin proteins in the corneal tissues of model control group were significantly lower than those of blank control group and miR-497 knockout group, but higher than those of miR-497 overexpression group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). The relative expressions of CyclinD1, c-Myc and Ki-67 mRNA in model control group were lower than those in miR-497 knockout group, but higher than those in miR-497 overexpression group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). The relative expression of miR-497 in model control group, miR-497 knockout group and miR-497 overexpression group was 1.00±0.02, 0.63±0.06 and 1.48±0.03, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( F=19.62, P<0.01). The luciferase activity of miR-497-5p mimics group in wild-type wnt3a transfected cells was lower than that of miR-497-5p negative control group and empty vector group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). In the mutant wnt3a transfected cells, there was no significant difference in the luciferase activity among various groups ( F=0.73, P=0.59). The cell proliferation A value of high glucose group was 0.59±0.03, which was significantly lower than 0.59±0.03 of normal control group and 0.88±0.08 of miR-497 inhibitor group, but significantly higher than 0.48±0.11 of miR-497 mimics group (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:The silencing of miR-497 may promote the repair of diabetic corneal epithelial defects by targeting wnt/β-catenin pathway.