Intraocular pressure modulation with thermal stimuli

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether early-stage intraocular pressure can be modulated using a thermal face mask. Methods: In this prospective clinical study, healthy participants were randomized on a 1:1:1 allocation ratio to three mask groups: hypothermic (G1), normothermic (G2), and hyperthermic (G3). After randomization, 108 eyes from 108 participants were submitted to clinical evaluations, including measurement of initial intraocular pressure (T1). The thermal mask was then applied for 10 minutes, followed by a second evaluation of intraocular pressure (T2) and assessment of any side effects. Results: The hypothermic group (G1) showed a significant reduction in mean intraocular pressure between T1 (16.97 ± 2.59 mmHg) and T2 (14.97 ± 2.44 mmHg) (p<0.001). G2 showed no significant pressure difference between T1 (16.50 ± 2.55 mmHg) and T2 (17.00 ± 2.29 mmHg) (p=0.054). G3 showed a significant increase in pressure from T1 (16.53 ± 2.69 mmHg) to T2 (18.58 ± 2.95 mmHg) (p<0.001). At T1, there was no difference between the three study groups (p=0.823), but at T2, the mean values of G3 were significantly higher than those of G1 and G2 (p<0.00). Conclusion: Temperature was shown to significantly modify intraocular pressure. Thermal masks allow the application of temperature in a controlled, reproducible manner. Further studies are needed to assess the duration of these effects and whether they are reproducible in patients with pathologies that affect intraocular pressure.

Comparative study on corneal epithelium healing: effects of crosslinked hyaluronic acid and amniotic membrane extract eye drops in rats.

Introduction: Corneal ulcers are common lesions in both human and veterinary medicine. However, only a few studies have evaluated the efficacy of cross-linked hyaluronic acid (X-HA) eye drops on corneal wound healing. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate and compare the efficacy of amniotic membrane extract eye drops (AMEED) and X-HA for corneal wound healing in rats. Material and methods: A total of 15 male Wistar rats (30 eyes) were used in this study. Then, 10 eyes were treated with X-HA, AMEED, or 0.9% saline. After general and topical anesthesia, a superficial corneal ulcer was created using a corneal trephine. The defect was further polished with a diamond burr. Three groups of 10 eyes each were treated with either one drop of 0.75% X-HA or AMEED or 0.9% saline (control), administered every 12 h for a duration of 72 h. The median epithelial defect area (MEDA), expressed as a percentage of the total corneal surface, was measured at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h. Re-epithelization time scores were also evaluated. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare median times for re-epithelization and histopathologic scores between groups, while the Friedman test (for paired data) was employed to compare results from the serial analysis of MEDA and vascularization scores between groups. Results: MEDA was not significantly different between X-HA and AMEED. However, MEDA was significantly smaller in the X-HA group compared to the control group at 36 h (2.73 interquartile range (IQR) 5.52% x 9.95 IQR 9.10%, P=0.024) and 48 h (0.00 IQR 0.26% x 6.30 IQR 8.54%, P=0.030). The overall time for re-epithelization was significantly lower in the X-HA group (3.00 IQR 3.00) compared to the AMEED (6.5 IQR 3.00) and control (7.00 IQR 1.00) groups (P=0.035). Vascularization, hydropic degeneration, and epithelial-stromal separation were significantly less observed in samples in the X-HA-treated compared to samples in the AMEED- and saline-treated groups. Significantly more corneal epithelium cells were labeled for caspase3 in samples from the AMEED- and saline-treated groups compared to those from the X-HA-treated group. Discussion: Topical X-HA has been shown to accelerate corneal epithelial healing. AMEED did not decrease corneal re-epithelialization time. X-HA may also potentially be used as an adjunct therapy for treating corneal ulcers in clinical situations.

Topical anti-glaucoma medications effects on meibomian glands: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meibomian gland (MG) dysfunction and glaucoma are very prevalent ocular conditions that significantly impact patients' quality of life. A growing number of clinical and experimental studies have reported an association between the use of topical eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure and the development or exacerbation of MG dysfunction. Studies investigating the impact of glaucoma eyedrops on MG diagnostic parameters have shown variable results, particularly regarding the morphology and function of MG and tear film instability. Herein, we corroborated the findings of greater changes in morphological and functional variables related to MG in patients treated with antiglaucoma eye drops through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Oculomotor Patterns in Children with Poor Reading Abilities Measured Using the Development Eye Movement Test.

Objectives: The main purpose of this work was to clinically assess the oculomotricity of one hundred Mexican children with poor reading skills but without any specific learning disorder. Methods: The D.E.M. psychometric test was used. Sex and age analyses of the ratio, type, horizontal and vertical performance, and errors were carried out. Results: Our data suggest that 84% of poor readers exhibit oculomotor difficulties. Sex did not significantly influence the results (p > 0.05), whereas age was associated with the horizontal (p = 0.04) and vertical (p = 0.29) performance, as well as the number of errors (p = 0.001). Omissions were the most prevalent error type. Conclusions: This research gives insights into the role of oculomotricity in children with poor reading skills. Our results suggest that oculomotor performance should be included in the evaluation protocol to assess poor readers to identify any influence of the visual system.

Assessment by the Scheimpflug imaging system of corneal clarity and anterior segment properties in rosacea patients

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effects of rosacea on ocular surface changes such as alterations in dry eye parameters, corneal densitometry, and aberrations, in comparison with healthy controls. Methods A total of 88 eyes of 44 patients diagnosed with rosacea and 88 eyes of 44 healthy controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. All participants underwent a comprehensive dermatologic and ophthalmic examination and Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT) and Schirmer-1 tests were performed. The rosacea subtype and Demodex count and OSDI scores of all participants were recorded. Corneal topographic, densitometric, and aberrometric measurements were obtained using the Scheimpflug imaging system. Results The mean age of the 44 patients was 41.2 ± 11.0 years of whom 31 (70.5%) were female. The mean TBUT and Schirmer-1 test values were significantly decreased and OSDI scores were significantly increased in the rosacea group compared to healthy controls (p < 0.01 for all). The most common subtype of rosacea was erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (70.4%). The severity grading of rosacea revealed that 18 (40.9%) patients had moderate erythema. The median (min-max) Demodex count was 14.0 (0-120) and the disease duration was 24.0 (5-360) months. The comparison of the corneal densitometry values revealed that the densitometry measurements in all concentric zones, especially in central and posterior zones were higher in rosacea patients. Corneal aberrometric values in the posterior surface were also lower in the rosacea group compared to healthy controls. The topographic anterior chamber values were significantly lower in the rosacea group. Study limitations Relatively small sample size, variable time interval to hospital admission, and lack of follow-up data are among the limitations of the study. Future studies with larger sample sizes may also enlighten the mechanisms of controversial anterior segment findings by evaluating rosacea patients who have uveitis and those who do not. Conclusion Given the fact that ocular signs may precede cutaneous disease, rosacea is frequently underrecognized by ophthalmologists. Therefore, a comprehensive examination of the ocular surface and assessment of the anterior segment is essential. The main priority of the ophthalmologist is to treat meibomian gland dysfunction and Demodex infection to prevent undesired ocular outcomes.

Longitudinal evaluation of morphological, functional and vascular alterations in a rat model of experimental glaucoma.

Glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by chronic axonal damages and progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells, with increased intraocular pressure (IOP) as the primary risk factor. While current treatments focus solely on reducing IOP, understanding glaucoma through experimental models is essential for developing new therapeutic strategies and biomarkers for early diagnosis. Our research group developed an ocular hypertension rat model based on limbal plexus cautery, which provides significant glaucomatous neurodegeneration up to four weeks after injury. We evaluated long-term morphological, functional, and vascular alterations in this model. Our results showed that transient ocular hypertension, lasting approximately one week, can lead to progressive increase in optic nerve cupping and retinal ganglion cells loss. Remarkably, the pressure insult caused several vascular changes, such as arteriolar and venular thinning, and permanent choroidal vascular swelling. This study provides evidence of the longitudinal effects of a pressure insult on retinal structure and function using clinical modalities and techniques. The multifactorial changes reported in this model resemble the complex retinal ganglion cell degeneration found in glaucoma patients, and therefore may also provide a unique tool for the development of novel interventions to either halt or slow down disease progression.

Saccades, pupil response and blink abnormalities in Huntington's disease patients during free viewing.

OBJECTIVE: Video-based eye tracking was used to investigate saccade, pupil, and blink abnormalities among patients with Huntington's disease (HD) who watched sequences of short videos. HD, an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder resulting from a CAG mutation on chromosome 4, produces motor and cognitive impairments including slow or irregular eye movements, which have been studied using structured tasks. METHODS: To explore how HD affects eye movements under instruction free conditions, we assessed 22 HD patients and their age matched controls in a 10-minute video-based free viewing task. RESULTS: Patients with HD experienced a significant reduction in saccade exploration rate following video clip transitions, an increase in pupil reactions to luminance changes after clip transitions, and a significant higher blink rate throughout the task compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that HD has a significant impact on how patients visually explore and respond to their environment under unconstrained and ecologically natural conditions. SIGNIFICANCE: Eye tracking in HD patients revealed saccadic, pupil, and blink abnormalities in early HD patients, suggestive of brain circuitry abnormalities that probably involve brain stem deficits. Further research should explore the impact of these changes on the quality of life of the patients affected by the disease.

Latent Space Representations for Marker-Less Realtime Hand-Eye Calibration.

Marker-less hand-eye calibration permits the acquisition of an accurate transformation between an optical sensor and a robot in unstructured environments. Single monocular cameras, despite their low cost and modest computation requirements, present difficulties for this purpose due to their incomplete correspondence of projected coordinates. In this work, we introduce a hand-eye calibration procedure based on the rotation representations inferred by an augmented autoencoder neural network. Learning-based models that attempt to directly regress the spatial transform of objects such as the links of robotic manipulators perform poorly in the orientation domain, but this can be overcome through the analysis of the latent space vectors constructed in the autoencoding process. This technique is computationally inexpensive and can be run in real time in markedly varied lighting and occlusion conditions. To evaluate the procedure, we use a color-depth camera and perform a registration step between the predicted and the captured point clouds to measure translation and orientation errors and compare the results to a baseline based on traditional checkerboard markers.

Evolution of the regulation of developmental gene expression in blind Mexican cavefish.

Developmental evolution and diversification of morphology can arise through changes in the regulation of gene expression or protein-coding sequence. To unravel mechanisms underlying early developmental evolution in cavefish of the species Astyanax mexicanus, we compared transcriptomes of surface-dwelling and blind cave-adapted morphs at the end of gastrulation. Twenty percent of the transcriptome was differentially expressed. Allelic expression ratios in cave X surface hybrids showed that cis-regulatory changes are the quasi-exclusive contributors to inter-morph variations in gene expression. Among a list of 108 genes with change at the cis-regulatory level, we explored the control of expression of rx3, which is a master eye gene. We discovered that cellular rx3 levels are cis-regulated in a cell-autonomous manner, whereas rx3 domain size depends on non-autonomous Wnt and Bmp signalling. These results highlight how uncoupled mechanisms and regulatory modules control developmental gene expression and shape morphological changes. Finally, a transcriptome-wide search for fixed coding mutations and differential exon use suggested that variations in coding sequence have a minor contribution. Thus, during early embryogenesis, changes in gene expression regulation are the main drivers of cavefish developmental evolution.

Green method by National Environmental Methods Index and Eco-Scale Assessment for evaluation of gatifloxacin-based product by HPLC.

The literature reveals gaps in the availability of green analytical methods for assessing products containing gatifloxacin (GFX), a fluoroquinolone. Presently, method development is supported by tools such as the National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI) and Eco-Scale Assessment (ESA), which offer objective insights into the environmental friendliness of analytical procedures. The objective of this work was to develop and validate a green method by the NEMI and ESA to quantify GFX in eye drops using HPLC. The method utilized a C8 column (4.6 × 150 mm, 5 µm), with a mobile phase of purified water containing 2% acetic acid and ethanol (70:30, v/v). The injection volume was 10 µL and the flow rate was 0.7 mL/min in isocratic mode at 25°C, with detection performed at 292 nm. The method demonstrated linearity in the range of 2-20 µg/mL, and precision at intra-day (relative standard deviation [RSD] 1.44%), inter-day (RSD 3.45%), and inter-analyst (RSD 2.04%) levels. It was selective regarding the adjuvants of the final product (eye drops) and under forced degradation conditions. The method was accurate (recovery 101.07%) and robust. The retention time for GFX was approximately 3.5 min. The greenness of the method, as evaluated by the NEMI, showed four green quadrants, and by ESA, it achieved a score of 88.

Construction and Validation of an Educational Technology to Promote the Health of Postmenopausal Women with Dry Eye Syndrome.

The climacteric heralds a transition from reproductive to non-reproductive life in women, often accompanied by various clinical manifestations such as dry eye, impacting their quality of life. This study focuses on systematically developing and suitability an educational digital booklet to promote eye health practices and prevent problems among postmenopausal women. The methodological approach encompassed semi-structured interviews with women diagnosed with Dry Eye Syndrome (DES), then constructing the material integrating content, script, illustrations, and layout informed by the interview findings. Subsequent validation involved assessment by 24 health experts for content, appearance, and evaluation by a target audience of 22 women. The booklet attained high suitability scores, with a Global Content Validity Index (CVI) of 0.96, indicating superior suitability as judged by experts. Additionally, it achieved a Global CVI of 0.98 for validation by the target audience. In conclusion, the educational booklet emerges as a suitable and reliable resource for promoting eye heath among DES and non-syndrome women, offering significant potential for broader application in relevant populations.

Sicca syndrome/Sjögren's disease associated with cancer immunotherapy: a narrative review on clinical presentation, biomarkers, and management.

INTRODUCTION: Almost one-quarter of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) recipients experience sicca syndrome, while Sjögren's disease (SjD) is estimated at 0.3-2.5%, possibly underreported. AREAS COVERED: This narrative review (Medline/Embase until January/31/2024) addresses the pathophysiology, incidence, demographic/clinical features, biomarkers, labial salivary gland biopsy (LSGB), fulfillment of the idiopathic SjD (iSjD) classificatory criteria, differential diagnosis, and management of sicca syndrome/SjD associated with ICIs. EXPERT OPINION: SjD associated with ICIs is underdiagnosed, since studies that performed the mandatory SjD investigation identified that 40-60% of patients with sicca syndrome associated with ICIs meet the iSjD classificatory criteria. LSGB played a fundamental role in recognizing these cases, as most of them had negative anti-Ro/SS-A antibody. Despite the finding of focal lymphocytic sialoadenitis in LSGB samples mimicking iSjD, immunohistochemical analysis provided novel evidence of a distinct pattern for sicca syndrome/SjD associated with ICIs compared to iSjD. The former has scarcity of B lymphocytes, which are a hallmark of iSjD. Additionally, patients with sicca syndrome/SjD associated with ICIs have demographical/clinical/serological and treatment response dissimilarities compared to iSjD. Dryness symptoms are more acute in the former than in iSjD, with predominance of xerostomia over xerophthalmia, and partial/complete response to glucocorticoids. Dryness symptoms in ICI-treated patients warrant prompt SjD investigation.

The ILux® compared to the mechanical meibomian gland expression for the treatment of moderate and severe meibomian gland dysfunction.

AIM: To compare the safety and effectiveness of eyelid treatment with the ILux®-MGD Treatment System in one session versus five sessions of mechanical meibomian gland expression (MMGE) in patients with moderate to severe meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). METHODS: A prospective, randomized, open-label, and controlled clinical trial that compared one session of the ILux® MGD Treatment System versus five sessions of MMGE in both eyes of 130 patients aged ≥18y with Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores ≥13, total meibomian gland scores (MGS) of <15 in the lower eyelid of each eye, and non-invasive tear break-up time (NI-TBUT) <10s, who were randomized 1:1 to ILux® or MMGE. RESULTS: The mean age was 58±17.49y. Baseline total MGS scores in both treatment groups were comparable. During follow-up, there were significant differences in total MGS and per sector with P<0.001. Multivariate analysis was performed using generalized estimating equations corresponding to the generalized linear model for repeated means to determine the treatment relationship with total MGS, NIBUT, and OSDI. There was a significant difference between ILux® and MMGE (P<0.001) at follow-up from the first to the twelfth month in MGS, NI-BUT, and OSDI scores. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: ILux® treatment compared to MMGE significantly improves symptoms and signs in patients with moderate to severe MGD for one year without adverse events.

Movimientos visuales y desempeño deportivo del tenista: revisión de alcance / Visual Movements and Sports Performance of the Tennis Player: Scoping Review / Movimentos visuais e desempenho esportivo do tenista: Revisão do escopo

Resumen Propósito: El presente estudio tiene como objetivo explorar la bibliografía existente sobre las habilidades y movimientos visuales en jugadores de tenis. Metodología: Se indagó en las bases de datos Scopus, SPORTDiscus, PubMed y Google Scholar que permn seleccionar 37 estudios empíricos realizados con un método cuantitativo. La elección de los estudios respondió a los criterios establecidos en torno a las palabras clave, temática del estudio y la metodología de investigación. Resultados: Los resultados se organizan en tres tópicos centrales: (a) Antecedentes de habilidades visuales en el siglo XX, (b) Siglo XXI: rol de los movimientos sacádicos y (c) Reflexiones sobre la gesta tenística y los movimientos sacádicos. Conclusiones: A lo largo de varias décadas de investigación y seguimiento al enfoque ''visión y deporte'' en el tenis de campo, específicamente en los movimientos visuales entre fijaciones y movimientos sacádicos, se pueden identificar niveles diferenciales de rendimiento tenístico con el potencial de ser indicadores de mejores desempeños deportivos. Dado que las herramientas utilizadas hasta ahora en esta disciplina para los procesos de selección o evaluación no son determinantes, debido a ser una disciplina deportiva multifactorial de orden perceptivo-motor y de habilidades abiertas, se sugiere que las habilidades visuales pueden ser indispensables para la adquisición de un alto nivel competitivo. Este aspecto plantea una línea de investigación interesante que merece una mayor exploración en el futuro.

Abstract: Purpose: The presente study aims to explore the existing bibliography on visual skills and visual movements in tennis players. Method: We searched the Scopus, SPORTDiscus, PubMed and Google Scholar databases, which allowed us to select 37 empirical studies carried out with a quantitative method. The choice of the studies responded to the criteria established around the Keywords, the subject of the study and the research methodology. Results: The results are organized into three central topics: (a) Antecedents of visual skills in the 20th century, (b) 21st century: Role of saccadic movements, and (c) Reflections on the tennis feat and saccadic movements. Conclusions: Throughout several decades of research and monitoring of the ''vision and sport'' approach in field tennis, specifically in the visual movements between fixations and saccadic movements, differential levels of tennis performance can be identified with the potential to be indicators of better sports performance. Given that the tools used so far in this discipline for the selection and/or evaluation processes are not determinant, due to being a multifactorial sport discipline of perceptual-motor order and open skills, it is suggested that visual skills may be essential for the acquisition of a high competitive level. This aspect raises an interesting line of research that deserves further exploration in the future.

Resumo: Propósito: O presente estudo tem como objetivo explorar a literatura existente sobre habilidades e movimentos visuais em jogadores de tênis. Metodologia: Pesquisamos os bancos de dados Scopus, SPORTDiscus, PubMed e Google Scholar, o que nos permitiu selecionar 37 estudos empíricos realizados com um método quantitativo. A escolha dos estudos atendeu aos critérios estabelecidos em torno das palavras-chave, do tema do estudo e da metodologia da pesquisa. Resultados: Os resultados estão organizados em três tópicos centrais: (a) Precedentes das habilidades visuais no século XX, (b) Século XXI: Papel dos movimentos sacádicos (c) Reflexões sobre a proeza do tênis e os movimentos sacádicos. Conclusões: Ao longo de várias décadas de pesquisa e monitoramento da abordagem ''visão e esporte'' no tênis de campo, especificamente nos movimentos visuais entre fixações e movimentos sacádicos, podem ser identificados níveis diferenciais de desempenho no tênis com potencial para serem indicadores de melhores desempenhos esportivos. Considerando que as ferramentas utilizadas até o momento nessa modalidade para os processos de seleção e/ou avaliação não são determinantes, devido ao fato de ser uma modalidade esportiva multifatorial de ordem perceptivomotora e de habilidades abertas, sugere-se que as habilidades visuais podem ser essenciais para a aquisição de um alto nível competitivo. Esse aspecto levanta uma linha de pesquisa interessante que merece ser mais explorada no futuro.

I-125 eye-plaque seed economics: To re-use or to not re-use? A single institutional cost savings analysis of re-using I-125 radioactive seeds for eye-Plaque brachytherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Iodine-125 (I-125) seeds, commonly used in low-dose rate brachytherapy for ocular malignancies, are often discarded after a single use. This study examines the potential cost savings at an institution with high ocular melanoma referrals, by re-using I-125 seeds for eye-plaque brachytherapy. METHODS: In this single-institutional retrospective analysis, data was collected from I-125 seed orders from 8/2019 through 10/2022. Information including number of seeds ordered per lot, number of plaques built per lot, and number of seeds used per lot were collected. Cost per lot of seed was assumed to be the current cost from the most recent lot of 35 seeds. RESULTS: During the study, 72 I-125 seed lots were ordered bi-weekly, with a median of 35 seeds per lot (Range: 15-35). Each seed was used on average 2.26 times prior to being discarded. The average duration of each seed lot used was 62.2 days (Range: 21-126). Each seed lot contributed to the construction of an average of 8.4 eye plaques (Range: 2-20). With seed recycling, 2,475 seeds were used to construct 608 eye-plaques. Without re-using practice this would require 5,694 seeds. This resulted in a percentage cost savings of 56.5%, with a total seed cost reduction of $344,884, or $559 per eye-plaque on average. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate cost savings relative to re-using I-125 seeds for eye plaques. The data demonstrates how an institution can decrease costs associated with I-125 radiation seeds used for eye-plaque brachytherapy by re-using them.

Facial and ocular thermal mapping in black-and-gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) by infrared thermography: An ex situ study.

BACKGROUND: This study used infrared thermography (IRT) for mapping the facial and ocular temperatures of howler monkeys, to determine parameters for the diagnosis of febrile processes. There are no published IRT study in this species. METHODS: Were evaluated images of a group of monkeys kept under human care at Sorocaba Zoo (São Paulo, Brazil). The images were recorded during 1 year, in all seasons. Face and eye temperatures were evaluated. RESULTS: There are statistically significant differences in face and eye temperatures. Mean values and standard deviations for facial and ocular temperature were respectively: 33.0°C (2.1) and 36.5°C (1.9) in the summer; 31.5°C (4.5) and 35.3°C (3.6) in the autumn; 30.0°C (4.3) and 35.6°C (3.9) in the winter; 30.8°C (2.9) and 35.5°C (2.1) in the spring. CONCLUSIONS: The IRT was effective to establish a parameter for facial and ocular temperatures of black-and-gold howler monkeys kept under human care.

Visual Field Restriction in the Recognition of Basic Facial Expressions: A Combined Eye Tracking and Gaze Contingency Study.

Uncertainties and discrepant results in identifying crucial areas for emotional facial expression recognition may stem from the eye tracking data analysis methods used. Many studies employ parameters of analysis that predominantly prioritize the examination of the foveal vision angle, ignoring the potential influences of simultaneous parafoveal and peripheral information. To explore the possible underlying causes of these discrepancies, we investigated the role of the visual field aperture in emotional facial expression recognition with 163 volunteers randomly assigned to three groups: no visual restriction (NVR), parafoveal and foveal vision (PFFV), and foveal vision (FV). Employing eye tracking and gaze contingency, we collected visual inspection and judgment data over 30 frontal face images, equally distributed among five emotions. Raw eye tracking data underwent Eye Movements Metrics and Visualizations (EyeMMV) processing. Accordingly, the visual inspection time, number of fixations, and fixation duration increased with the visual field restriction. Nevertheless, the accuracy showed significant differences among the NVR/FV and PFFV/FV groups, despite there being no difference in NVR/PFFV. The findings underscore the impact of specific visual field areas on facial expression recognition, highlighting the importance of parafoveal vision. The results suggest that eye tracking data analysis methods should incorporate projection angles extending to at least the parafoveal level.

Using 2% PVPI topical solution for serial intravitreous injections and ocular surface findings: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: The use of povidone-iodine for ocular surface asepsis is widespread for intravitreal injections. They became frequent procedures, leading to serial exposure of patients' eyes to iodinated solutions. In this study, we investigate the changes in the ocular surface in patients submitted to repeated use of povidine for intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF asepsis, analyzing Ocular Surface Disease Index, non-invasive break up time, blinking quality, lipid layer, meniscus height and osmolarity. METHODS: This case-control study included 34 individuals (68 eyes), 14 males, 20 females aged 48 to 94. Inclusion criteria were individuals who received application of 2% povidone-iodine eyedrops for intravitreal injections treatment with the non-treated contralateral eye used as control. Ocular surface examinations were performed at a single occasion. A pre-intravitreal injection asepsis protocol with povidone-iodine was applied. All statistical analysis was performed using the STATA® 18.0 Software and a p-value = 0.05 was considered as the statistical significance value in all tests. RESULTS: The median number of IVIs in treated eyes was 12 (range 6-20). The results in treated eyes compared with untreated eyes were respectively : median OSDI 16 (IQR 6-39) and 12.5 (IQR 8-39) (p = 0.380); mean NIBUT 10.30 (SD ± 2.62) and 10.78 (SD ± 2.92) ( s, p = 0.476); median blinking quality 100 (IQR 100) and 100 (IQR 100 ) (%, p = 0.188); median lipid layer 87 (IQR 77-90) and 86 (IQR 74-100) (nm, p = 0.451); median meniscus height 0.22 (IQR 0.19-0,31) and 0.24 (IQR 0.20-0.27) (mm, p = 0.862), median Meibomian gland atrophy 33 (IQR 24-45) and 31.5 (IQR 25-39) (%, p = 0.524); and mean osmolarity 306.6 (SD ± 21.13) and 313.8 (SD ± 29) (mOsm, p = 0.297). There was no statistically significant relationship between the repetitive use of 2% iodinated solution and signs or symptoms compatible with dry eye syndrome in this group of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that 2% povidone iodine is a safe and efficacious agent for ocular surface antisepsis during intravitreal injections, not leading to substantial ocular surface modifications. This conclusion supports the continued use of povidone iodine in routine ophthalmic procedures without increased risk of inducing dry eye syndrome.

Lexical-semantic processing in preschoolers with Developmental Language Disorder: an eye tracking study.

This study examined lexical-semantic processing in children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) during visually situated comprehension of real-time spoken words. Existing evidence suggests that children with DLD may experience challenges in lexical access and retrieval, as well as greater lexical competition compared to their peers with Typical Development (TD). However, the specific nature of these difficulties remains unclear. Using eye-tracking methodology, the study investigated the real-time comprehension of semantic relationships in children with DLD and their age-matched peers. The results revealed that, for relatively frequent nouns, both groups demonstrated similar comprehension of semantic relationships. Both groups favored the semantic competitor when it appeared with an unrelated visual referent. In turn, when the semantic competitor appeared with the visual referent of the spoken word, both groups disregarded the competitor. This finding shows that, although children with DLD usually present a relatively impoverished vocabulary, frequent nouns may not pose greater difficulties for them. While the temporal course of preference for the competitor or the referent was similar between the two groups, numerical, though non-significant, differences in the extension of the clusters were observed. In summary, this research demonstrates that monolingual preschoolers with DLD exhibit similar lexical access to frequent words compared to their peers with TD. Future studies should investigate the performance of children with DLD on less frequent words to provide a comprehensive understanding of their lexical-semantic abilities.

Medical staff dose estimation during pediatric cardiac interventional procedures.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the occupational doses (eye lens, extremities and whole body) in paediatric cardiac interventional and diagnostic catheterization procedures performed in a paediatric reference hospital located in Recife, Pernambuco. For eye lens dosimetry, the results show that the left eye receives a higher dose than the right eye, and there is a small difference between the doses received during diagnostic (D) and therapeutic (T) procedures. The extrapolated annual values for the most exposed eye are close to the annual limit. For doses to the hands, it was observed that in a significant number of procedures (37 out of 45 therapeutic procedures, or 82%) at least one hand of the physician was exposed to the primary beam. During diagnostic procedures, the physician's hand was in the radiation field in 11 of the 17 catheterization procedures (65%). This resulted in a 10-fold increase in dose to the hands. The results underscore the need for optimization of radiation safety and continued efforts to engage staff in a radiation safety culture.