Factors affecting the development of cystoid macular edema following pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil placement: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cystoid macular edema (CME) can develop following silicone oil placement in complex vitreoretinal surgeries, contributing to poor visual outcomes. In this study, we investigated the clinical and surgical characteristics associated with the development of CME following the use of silicone oil (SO) in pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) surgeries. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent implantation of SO during PPV from 2010 to 2020 by a single surgeon. Patient demographics, type of oil, duration of oil tamponade, retinectomy size, diabetic status, lens status, prior panretinal photocoagulation, visual acuity, and incidence of CME were reviewed. RESULTS: This study included 43 eyes from 40 patients who underwent SO tamponade for retinal detachment (RD) surgery. The mean duration of SO tamponade was 15.7 ± 12.7 months (range: 1-58 months). The most common indication for surgery was diabetic tractional RD (32.7%), followed by traumatic RD (16.3%) and rhegmatogenous RD with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (11.6%). Of the 43 eyes, 18 (41.9%) developed CME for the first time after PPV with SO placement, with 8 (44%) resolving within a year of oil removal. The mean duration for the development of CME was 9 months. A logistic regression model showed that a scleral buckle procedure and poor initial vision were statistically significant factors for predicting the development of CME (ORs: 11.65 and 16.06, respectively). Overall, 91% of the patients had stable or improved vision after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a scleral buckle procedure and poor initial vision are significant factors for predicting CME following silicone oil tamponade in PPV surgeries, with 41.9% of patients developing CME with an average duration of 9 months. Recognizing such factors can lead to early monitoring and prompt management of CME. MEETING PRESENTATION: Partial analyses were presented at the ASRS 2020 conference. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Large language models: a new frontier in paediatric cataract patient education.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This was a cross-sectional comparative study. We evaluated the ability of three large language models (LLMs) (ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, and Google Bard) to generate novel patient education materials (PEMs) and improve the readability of existing PEMs on paediatric cataract. METHODS: We compared LLMs' responses to three prompts. Prompt A requested they write a handout on paediatric cataract that was 'easily understandable by an average American.' Prompt B modified prompt A and requested the handout be written at a 'sixth-grade reading level, using the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) readability formula.' Prompt C rewrote existing PEMs on paediatric cataract 'to a sixth-grade reading level using the SMOG readability formula'. Responses were compared on their quality (DISCERN; 1 (low quality) to 5 (high quality)), understandability and actionability (Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (≥70%: understandable, ≥70%: actionable)), accuracy (Likert misinformation; 1 (no misinformation) to 5 (high misinformation) and readability (SMOG, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL); grade level <7: highly readable). RESULTS: All LLM-generated responses were of high-quality (median DISCERN ≥4), understandability (≥70%), and accuracy (Likert=1). All LLM-generated responses were not actionable (<70%). ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 prompt B responses were more readable than prompt A responses (p<0.001). ChatGPT-4 generated more readable responses (lower SMOG and FKGL scores; 5.59±0.5 and 4.31±0.7, respectively) than the other two LLMs (p<0.001) and consistently rewrote them to or below the specified sixth-grade reading level (SMOG: 5.14±0.3). CONCLUSION: LLMs, particularly ChatGPT-4, proved valuable in generating high-quality, readable, accurate PEMs and in improving the readability of existing materials on paediatric cataract.

Ocular Surface Disease in Glaucoma Patients.

PURPOSE: To review the most recent studies in the literature regarding the ocular surface in glaucoma patients and treatment options aimed to reduce ocular surface disease in this population. METHODS: We performed a literature search in the electronic databases of PubMed CENT RAL, Google Scholar, EMBASE the Register of Controlled Trials, and Ovid MEDLINE using the following terms: "ocular surface", "dry eye", "glaucoma", "selective laser trabeculoplasty", "glaucoma surgery", "preservatives", "preservative free", "ocular surface disease index", "tear break up time", "MMP-9" and "conjunctival hyperemia". RESULTS: Over the last several years, several studies have demonstrated the changes to the ocular surface in the setting of glaucoma, the best tests for markers of dry eye, and how management can be altered to help address ocular surface disease routinely or in preparation for glaucoma surgery. CONCLUSION: Ocular surface disease in the glaucoma patient population is widely recognized. It should be addressed to maximize patient compliance and quality of life.

Ocular involvement in Mycoplasma induced rash and mucositis: A systematic review of the literature.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae induced rash and mucositis (MIRM) is a relatively newly identified clinical entity which is characterized by mucocutaneous manifestations in the setting of Mycoplasma infection. Though a clinically distinct disease, MIRM exists on a diagnostic continuum with entities including erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and the recently described reactive infectious mucocutaneous eruption (RIME). In this systematic review, we discuss published findings on the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management of MIRM, with an emphasis on ocular disease. Lastly, we discuss some of the most recent developments and challenges in characterizing MIRM with respect to the related diagnosis of RIME.

Current and Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Treatment of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration AMD is one of the leading causes of blindness in the elderly population. An advanced form of AMD known as neovascular AMD (nAMD) is implicated as the main attributor of visual loss among these patients. The hallmark feature of nAMD is the presence of neovascular structures known as choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVs), along with fluid exudation, hemorrhages, and subretinal fibrosis. These pathological changes eventually result in anatomical and visual loss. A type of proangiogenic factor known as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been known to mediate the pathological process behind nAMD. Therefore, therapy has transitioned over the years from laser therapy that ablates the lesions to using Anti-VEGF to target the pathology directly. In this work, we provide an overview of current and emerging therapies for the treatment of nAMD. Currently approved Anti-VEGF agents include ranibizumab, aflibercept, and brolucizumab. Bevacizumab, also an Anti-VEGF agent, is used to manage nAMD even though this is an off-label use. While Anti-VEGF agents have provided a favorable prognosis for nAMD, they are associated with a substantial financial burden for patients and the healthcare system, due to their high cost as well as the need for frequent repeat treatments and visits. Emerging therapies and studies aim to extend the intervals between required treatments and introduce new treatment modalities that would improve patients' compliance and provide superior results.

Down syndrome: a review of ocular manifestations.

Down syndrome is the most common genetically mediated intellectual disability. Although many physiologic and pathologic features of Down syndrome are discussed at length in the literature, the ocular manifestations of Down syndrome have seldom been discussed in a comprehensive fashion. Given that Down syndrome has ocular manifestations from the front to the back of the eye, it is important for physicians to become familiar with these manifestations, especially given the prevalence of Down syndrome. This review aims to discuss the varied ophthalmologic manifestations of Down syndrome - including strabismus, amblyopia, nystagmus, accommodation deficits, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, keratoconus, optic nerve pathology, neoplastic disease, and retinal pathology - to facilitate better care and visual outcomes in this important patient population.

Current and Emerging Therapies for Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency.

The corneal epithelium serves to protect the underlying cornea from the external environment and is essential for corneal transparency and optimal visual function. Regeneration of this epithelium is dependent on a population of stem cells residing in the basal layer of the limbus, the junction between the cornea and the sclera. The limbus provides the limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) with an optimal microenvironment, the limbal niche, which strictly regulates their proliferation and differentiation. Disturbances to the LESCs and/or their niche can lead to the pathologic condition known as limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) whereby the corneal epithelium is not generated effectively. This has deleterious effects on the corneal and visual function, due to impaired healing and secondary corneal opacification. In this concise review, we summarize the characteristics of LESCs and their niche, and present the current and future perspectives in the management of LSCD with an emphasis on restoring the function of the limbal niche.

Acute Uveitis following COVID-19 Vaccination.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated anterior uveitis after receiving the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. METHODS: A retrospective case report. RESULTS: An 18-year-old girl, with a history of antinuclear antibody positive oligoarticular JIA, presented with bilateral anterior uveitis 5 days after the second dose of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. Ocular examination revealed anterior uveitis with reduced visual acuity in both eyes. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography showed hyperreflective dots in the anterior chamber (AC) and fine endothelial granularities representing the circulating cells in the AC. Uveitis in both eyes resolved gradually after topical steroid treatment without recurrence. CONCLUSION: This report demonstrates a potential causal association of COVID-19 vaccine with anterior uveitis.

Phlyctenular Keratoconjunctivitis in a Patient With COVID-19 Infection.

ABSTRACT: The coronavirus disease 2019 global pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Several ophthalmic manifestations have been reported to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, including conjunctivitis, acute sixth nerve palsy, and multiple cranial neuropathies. We present a unique case of unilateral phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis in a 5-year-old boy in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Orbital inflammatory disease associated with COVID-19 infection.

Conjunctival congestion has been reported as the most common ophthalmic manifestation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, affecting 18.4%-31.6% of patients with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Orbital inflammatory disease has been rarely reported in association with COVID-19 infection, with only 2 case reports of adolescent patients having been recently published. We present a unique case of orbital myositis in a 10-year-old boy who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection in the absence of typical systemic COVID-19 manifestations. Although it is uncertain whether SARS-CoV-2 infection triggered the inflammation or was coincidental, the possible association of the events is concerning.

Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 in Ocular Surface Disorders.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To explore the role and significance of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), a proteolytic enzyme, in various ocular surface diseases of inflammatory, infectious, and traumatic etiology (2), to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for its overexpression in ocular surface disease states, and (3) to discuss possible targets of therapeutic intervention. METHODS: A literature review was conducted of primary sources from 1995 onward using search results populated from the US National Library of Medicine search database. RESULTS: MMP-9 overexpression has been found in in vitro and in vivo models of dry eye disease (DED), corneal ulceration, microbial keratitis, corneal neovascularization, ultraviolet light-induced radiation, and a host of additional surface pathologies. MMP-9 is involved in an intricate signal transduction cascade that includes induction by many proinflammatory molecules including interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB), platelet-activating factor, activator protein 1 (AP-1), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B). MMP-9 expression is blunted by a diverse array of molecular factors, such as tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, cyclosporine A (CyA), PES_103, epigalloccatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), N-acetylcysteine (NaC), ascorbate, tetracyclines, and corticosteroids. Inhibition of MMP-9 frequently led to improvement of ocular surface disease. CONCLUSIONS: Novel insights into the mechanistic action of MMP-9 provide potential for new therapeutic modulations of ocular surface diseases mediated by its overexpression.