TFOS European Ambassador meeting: Unmet needs and future scientific and clinical solutions for ocular surface diseases.

The mission of the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) is to advance the research, literacy, and educational aspects of the scientific field of the tear film and ocular surface. Fundamental to fulfilling this mission is the TFOS Global Ambassador program. TFOS Ambassadors are dynamic and proactive experts, who help promote TFOS initiatives, such as presenting the conclusions and recommendations of the recent TFOS DEWS II™, throughout the world. They also identify unmet needs, and propose future clinical and scientific solutions, for management of ocular surface diseases in their countries. This meeting report addresses such needs and solutions for 25 European countries, as detailed in the TFOS European Ambassador meeting in Rome, Italy, in September 2019.

Development of microvascular complications in type 1 diabetic patients 10 years follow-up.

Microvascular diabetic complications are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality of patients with type 1 disease. Diabetic nephropathy is becoming the single most common cause of end stage renal failure, while diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness in working-age population. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the progression of late microvascular complications in type 1 diabetic patients treated by conventional or intensified insulin regimen over the period of 10 years. We selected a random sample of 32 patients, including 14 males and 18 females, aged 30,6 +/- 11,8 years, with average duration of the disease of 4,8 +/- 3,2 years. They did not show signs of overt diabetic nephropathy, while 5 patients had background retinopathy. All the patients had their fasting and postprandial glycaemia, HbAlc, 24/hour proteinuria, blood pressure, height and weight measured and body mass index calculated (BMI). There was a trend towards increasing values of HbAlc (6.9 +/- 0.8 vs. 7.4 +/- 1.0 %, p < 0.05), fasting glycaemia (6.8 +/- 08 vs. 7.8 +/- 1.2 mmol/l, p < 0.05), postprandial glycaemia (9.2 +/- 1.5 vs. 11.3 +/- 1.9 mmol/l, p <0.01), systolic and diastolic blood pressure values (120.0 +/- 10.8 vs. 128.5 +/- 16.8 mmHg, p<0.05; and 73.4 +/- 8.1 vs. 79.8 +/- 9.8 mmHg, p< 0.05) although no hypertensive patient was diagnosed. There were 11 persons (34.4%) with persistent proteinuria of 200 mg/24 hour or more and significant difference in overall proteinuria in 10 yrs period (121.3 +/- 37.3 vs. 312.8 +/- 109.9 mg/24 h, p< 0.001). Overall, 9 persons (28.1%) were diagnosed with simple, background retinopathy, but 6 of them (18.8%) had signs of proliferative form of the disease. The results indicate significant changes in progression of proteinuria in both groups although retinopathic progression was observed but was not significant in the intensively treated group.

[Sympathetic ophthalmia as complication of perforated wound of the eye]. / Simpaticka oftalmija kao komplikacija perforirane povrede oka.

Symphatetic uveitis was a fairly common and described disease in 19th century. Many cases of bilateral blindncss associated with injury and inflammation were diagnosed as sympathetic ophthalmia. A penetrating wound appears to be essential for the development of symphathetic ophthalmia. Since the antigen-presenting cell, of the eye appear to be functionally suppressed in situ, these antigens normaly would produce an inactivation signal. Authors present a case of 7 years old boy, who had injury of the right eye in the school. We performed surgery, but that right eye after several months went to subatrophy. Three months later, he come again with problems in left eye. We diagnosed symphatetic ophthalmia and included high doses of steroids. Two years after he is still on high dose of steroids due to two times of egxazcrbation. A month ago we perfomed phacoecmulsofication cataract syrgery, because a cataract developed due to high doses of steroid therapy.