Vision Impairments in Young Adults with Down Syndrome.

People with Down syndrome have more visual problems than the general population. They experience premature ageing, and they are expected to also have an acceleration in worsening visual function. A prospective observational study which includes visual acuity, refractive error, accommodation, binocular and colour vision was performed on young adults with (n = 69) and without (n = 65) Down syndrome and on a senior group (n = 55) without Down syndrome. Results showed significant differences in visual acuity between groups (p < 0.001), and it can be improved with a new prescription in 40% of the participants with Down syndrome. Regarding the accommodative state, no significant differences were found between groups of young people. Concerning binocular vision, 64.7% of strabismus was observed in the group with Down syndrome (p < 0.001). Visual abnormalities are significant in young adults with Down syndrome and are different from those of older people without Down syndrome, some of which can be improved by providing the optimal prescription as well as regular eye examinations.

Analysis of vault prediction in phakic implantable phakic collamer lenses: manufacturer's calculator vs theoretical formulae vs clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Implantable collamer phakic (ICL) intraocular lens sizing calculations are necessary to avoid complications associated to inadequate sizing. Historically, Holladay R, Dougherty, Hernández-Matamoros, and other authors have tried to create new formulas that solve calculation problems and provide higher reliability. In addition, in recent years, the appearance of new equipment, parameters, and formulas have led to significant progress. This paper compares the sizing according to manufacturer's method and other methods. METHODS: Forty-three eyes of 24 patients with EVO ICL implanted, with at least 1 year of follow-up, were analysed. The analysed variables were white to white (WTW), anterior chamber depth (ACD), ACW (angle-to-angle), crystalline lens rise (CLR), ICL size, vault measured at 1 week and 1 year after surgery, ICL size, and vault predicted by Nakamura-2 as well as vault size predicted by Igarashi. RESULTS: Sizing calculation with Online Calculation and Ordering System according to WTW and ACD is a good indicator with 86% success rate. The calculation with Nakamura 2 suggests larger ICL sizes in 32.5% of cases and smaller in 18.6% of cases, while the resulting Vault according to Igarashi obtains better results without significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: ICL sizing according WTW and ACD, using the manufacturer's algorithm, seems to be the most predictable method compared to other algorithms using other variables. The surgeon's expertise also has a high importance in the final ICL size election.

Retinal Protection from LED-Backlit Screen Lights by Short Wavelength Absorption Filters.

(1) Background: Ocular exposure to intense light or long-time exposure to low-intensity short-wavelength lights may cause eye injury. Excessive levels of blue light induce photochemical damage to the retinal pigment and degeneration of photoreceptors of the outer segments. Currently, people spend a lot of time watching LED screens that emit high proportions of blue light. This study aims to assess the effects of light emitted by LED tablet screens on pigmented rat retinas with and without optical filters. (2) Methods: Commercially available tablets were used for exposure experiments on three groups of rats. One was exposed to tablet screens, the other was exposed to the tablet screens with a selective filter and the other was a control group. Structure, gene expression (including life/death, extracellular matrix degradation, growth factors, and oxidative stress related genes), and immunohistochemistry in the retina were compared among groups. (3) Results: There was a reduction of the thickness of the external nuclear layer and changes in the genes involved in cell survival and death, extracellular matrix turnover, growth factors, inflammation, and oxidative stress, leading decrease in cell density and retinal damage in the first group. Modulation of gene changes was observed when the LED light of screens was modified with an optical filter. (4) Conclusions: The use of short-wavelength selective filters on the screens contribute to reduce LED light-induced damage in the rat retina.

Measurement of the Intraocular Pressure Elevation During Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis Flap Creation Using a Femtosecond Laser Platform.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure the intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation during laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap creation using the WaveLight FS200 femtosecond (FS) laser platform. Methods: We conducted an ex vivo experimental study in an animal model. The WaveLight FS200 FS laser platform was used to perform the corneal LASIK flap in freshly enucleated porcine eyes. We measured the changes in IOP from the application of the suction ring (suctioning phase) through the creation of the lamellar corneal flap (cutting phase). The IOP was recorded using a manometric technique with direct cannulation to the anterior chamber. Results: Nine freshly enucleated porcine eyes were included in the study. The mean baseline IOP before the procedure was 20.33 ± 5.9 mm Hg. The mean IOP increase over baseline IOP was 32.33 ± 11.3 mm Hg at the suctioning phase, and 38.22 ± 11.3 mm Hg at the cutting phase. The total surgical time needed to complete the procedure was 29.5 ± 4.4 seconds. Conclusions: The WaveLight FS200 FS laser platform produces a low to moderate increase in IOP during LASIK flap creation. Translational Relevance: The WaveLight FS200 is a safe FS laser platform because it induces a low to moderate IOP increase during LASIK flap creation.

Evolution of visual acuity, flap thickness, and optical density after laser in situ keratomileusis performed with a femtosecond laser.

PURPOSE: To describe the postoperative evolution of visual acuity, flap morphology, and stromal optical density femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK). SETTING: Clínica Rementería, Madrid, Spain. DESIGN: Prospective case series. METHODS: The study comprised 44 consecutive eyes that had FS-LASIK performed with the WaveLight FS200 and the Allegretto excimer laser to correct myopia. Visual outcomes, flap thickness, and stromal optical density were assessed 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement in the mean uncorrected distance visual acuity at 1 day (0.94 ± 0.2) and 1 week (0.93 ± 0.2) to 1 month (1.04 ± 0.2) and 3 months (1.11 ± 0.1) postoperatively (P < .05). At 3 months postoperatively, the femtosecond laser had good outcomes in efficacy (0.98 ± 0.1), safety (0.98 ± 0.1), and predictability (100% of eyes were within ± 0.5 D of emmetropia). The femtosecond-created flaps were slightly thicker than intended, the mean SD intraflap was 7.1 µm, the range between the thickest and thinnest points in each flap was 25.4 µm, and the mean flap thickness homogeneity was 7.6 µm at 3 months postoperatively. A progressive decrease in the optical density of the flap stroma and the residual stromal bed was detected during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The femtosecond laser study appears to be a safe, effective, and predictable platform to obtain LASIK flaps. The flaps were planar and homogeneous but slightly thicker than intended. The optical density of the flap stroma was slightly higher at early follow-up and decreased over time.