Correlation between serum cytokine levels and the effect of allogeneic serum-based eye drops.

INTRODUCTION: The Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine (IHTM) in Warsaw has produced autologous serum eye drops (ASEDs) for the treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) since 1991. In 2019, IHTM introduced allogeneic tears (alloSEDs) for patients on long-term treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 114 patients who applied alloSEDs were included in the study.They were asked to complete the OSDI questionnaire before and after using ASEDs and 100 units of alloSEDs drops from each donation. The OSDI index rates DES severity (0 no symptoms; 100 severe). We also compared the content of IL-1ß, IL-2, IL- 6, IL-10 and VEGF in ASEDs (38 samples) and alloSEDs (15 serum samples). The study data covered the 2019-2022 period. RESULTS: 114 patients participated in the study. We compared the the effectiveness of ASEDs and alloSEDs. The average, OSDI dropped from 68.42 ± 5,86 (before application) to 51.05 ± 19,06 (after application). Data from the questionnaires (prepared at IHTM) completed and returned (41/114) present the most common indications for the use of serum drops, including DES with no underlying disease, DES secondary to GvHD (Graft versus Host Disease), Sjögren's Syndrome (SS). The study reported higher cytokine levels associated with disease entities such as SS. After application of drops with high cytokine levels, patients reported adverse reactions such as sand under the eyelids, impaired visual acuity, and worse eye lubrication. CONCLUSIONS: AlloSEDs with acceptably low values of pro-inflammatory cytokines and sufficiently high levels of VEGF growth factor may contribute to alleviation of inflammatory eye symptoms.

Allogeneic serum-based eye drops may give better results than autologous drops in Sjögren's syndrome dry eye.

PURPOSE: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) may cause severe dry eye symptoms. One of the therapeutic option known for almost 40 years are autologous serum eye drops (ASEDs). Due to the presence of many pro-inflammatory factors in the autologous serum of SS patients, the use of allogeneic serum is often considered a better option. In our facility almost one-fifth of the patients using allogeneic serum-based eye drops (alloSEDs) suffered from autoimmune diseases, including SS. The study aim was to compare the effectiveness of both ASEDs and alloSEDs in SS patients. METHODS: From the group of SS patients using alloSEDs, five female SS patients aged 39-73 years were selected. They had the longest history of the use of the product. The analysis was based on OSDI forms and internal questionnaires which compared the effects of ASEDs and alloSEDs application. The patients used alloSEDs for a period of 5-28 months. All had previously used ASEDs for at least 2 years. RESULTS: For all five patients the mean OSDI after application of ASEDs and before introducing alloSEDs was 68.71, while the mean OSDI after the use of alloSEDs was 30.49. CONCLUSION: In SS the treatment results are better with alloSEDs than with ASEDs. Almost all SS patients who applied both autologous and allogeneic drops reported better effects with the latter as also confirmed by the study cases.

Prevalence of dry eye and Meibomian gland dysfunction in Central and South America: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye is one of the most common ophthalmic conditions and can significantly impact quality of life. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a major cause of evaporative dry eye. We sought to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence and incidence of dry eye and MGD in Central and South America and to identify factors associated with disease burden. METHODS: Data sources Ovid MEDLINE and Embase. STUDY SELECTION: A search conducted on August 16, 2021, identified studies published between January 1, 2010, and August 16, 2021, with no restrictions regarding participant age or language of publication. Case reports, case series, case-control studies, and interventional studies were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: The review was based on a protocol registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021256934). Risk of bias was assessed in duplicate using a risk of bias tool designed for the purposes of descriptive epidemiological studies. Data were extracted by one investigator and verified by another for accuracy. Prevalence of dry eye and MGD were grouped based on study participant characteristics. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Prevalence and incidence of dry eye and MGD in Central and South America. Summary estimates from meta-analysis with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Fourteen studies (11,594 total participants) were included. The population prevalence of dry eye was 13% (95% CI, 12%-14%) in Brazil and 41% (95% CI, 39%-44%) in Mexico based on one study each. Meta-analyses suggested that dry eye prevalence was 70% among indoor workers (95% CI, 56%-80%; I2, 82%; 3 studies), 71% among students (95% CI, 65%-77%; I2, 92%; 3 studies), and 83% in general ophthalmology clinics (95% CI, 77%-88%; I2, 88%; 2 studies). MGD prevalence ranged from 23% among indoor workers (95% CI, 16%-31%; 1 study) to 68% in general ophthalmology clinics (95% CI, 62%-72%; 1 study). No studies reported incidence of dry eye or MGD. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated considerable variation in the published prevalence of dry eye and MGD among the general population and subpopulations in Central and South America. Local and subpopulation estimates of dry eye disease burden may be valuable to assist needs assessments and implementation of measures to mitigate the condition.

Nanomedicines for Dry Eye Syndrome: Targeting Oxidative Stress with Modern Nanomaterial Strategies.

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a dynamic, chronic disease of the ocular surface and ocular appendages caused by inflammation. The most common symptoms include redness, itching, and blurred vision, resulting from dysfunction of the meibomian glands and impaired tear-film production. Factors contributing to the development of DES include environmental elements, such as UV radiation, and internal elements, such as hormonal imbalances. These factors increase oxidative stress, which exacerbates inflammation on the surface of the eye and accelerates the development of DES. In recent years, the incidence of DES has risen, leading to a greater need to develop effective treatments. Current treatments for dry eye are limited and primarily focus on alleviating individual symptoms, such as reducing inflammation of the ocular surface. However, it is crucial to understand the pathomechanism of the disease and tailor treatment to address the underlying causes to achieve the best possible therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, in this review, we analyzed the impact of oxidative stress on the development of DES to gain a better understanding of its pathomechanism and examined recently developed nanosystems that allow drugs to be delivered directly to the disease site.

Empowering vision: the impact of nursing-led educational program on patients with dry eye syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a widespread ocular condition affecting the general population. It is a complex disorder affecting the eye surface, characterized by a tear film imbalance and ocular symptoms such as eye ache, burning, irritation, dryness, blurred vision, and foreign body sensation. DES can reduce visual acuity, increase the risk of ocular infection, and significantly impact daily activities and quality of life. AIM: Determine the impact of nursing-led educational program on the management of DES and patients' health outcomes including the intensity of DES symptoms and their influence on visual-related functions. METHODS: The study was conducted with a quasi-experimental design. Sixty adult patients diagnosed with DES were selected using a convenience sampling method. Two tools were employed for the collection of data. Tool I: Precipitating factors of DES structured interview schedule. Tool II: Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) to assess ocular irritation symptoms associated with DES and their effect on functions related to vision. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease in the mean scores of OSDI in the study group two weeks after the implementation of the educational program regarding the ocular symptoms, functions associated with vision, environmental triggers, and overall score of OSDI. CONCLUSION: Implementing an educational program for DES is effective in relieving symptoms, boosting patients' understanding of managing symptoms effectively, and maintaining eye health. Therefore, patients must be instructed on dry eye early detection and management to enhance health-related outcomes and self-care practices. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06288945.

Silk Fibroin Formed Bioadhesive Ophthalmic Gel for Dry Eye Syndrome Treatment.

PURPOSE: Dry eye syndrome (DES), arising from various etiologic factors, leads to tear film instability and ocular surface damage. Given its anti-inflammatory effects, cyclosporine A (CsA) has been widely used as a short-term treatment option for DES. However, poor bioavailability and solubility of CsA in aqueous phase make the development of a cyclosporine A-based eye drop for ocular topical application a huge challenge. METHODS: In this study, a novel strategy for preparing cyclosporine A-loaded silk fibroin nanoemulsion gel (CsA NBGs) was proposed to address these barriers. Additionally, the rheological properties, ocular irritation potential, tear elimination kinetics, and pharmacodynamics based on a rabbit dry eye model were investigated for the prepared CsA NBGs. Furthermore, the transcorneal mechanism across the ocular barrier was also investigated. RESULTS: The pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of CsA NBGs exhibited superior performance compared to cyclosporine eye drops, leading to a significant enhancement in the bioavailability of CsA NBGs. Furthermore, our investigation into the transcorneal mechanism of CsA NBGs revealed their ability to be absorbed by corneal epithelial cells via the paracellular pathway. CONCLUSION: The CsA NBG formulation exhibits promising potential for intraocular drug delivery, enabling safe, effective, and controlled administration of hydrophobic drugs into the eye. Moreover, it enhances drug retention within the ocular tissues and improves systemic bioavailability, thereby demonstrating significant clinical translational prospects.

Obesity, body fat distribution and eye diseases.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity, a chronic disease, is increasing, and obesity is now considered a global epidemic. Eye diseases are also increasing worldwide and have serious repercussions on quality of life as well as increasingly high costs for the community. The relationships between obesity and ocular pathologies are not yet well clarified and are not pathologically homogeneous: they seem to be somehow linked to excess body fat, especially to the distribution of adipose tissue and its ectopic deposits. PURPOSE: Our objective was to examine the associations between obesity and anthropometric indices, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and the waist/hip ratio (WHR), and the risk of most widespread eye diseases, with particular attention given to the most significant metabolic mechanisms. METHODS: This article provides a narrative overview of the effect of obesity and anthropometric measurements of body fat on prevalent eye diseases. We used the MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from 1984 to 2024. In addition, we hand-searched references from the retrieved articles and explored a number of related websites. A total of 153 publications were considered. RESULTS: There is significant evidence that obesity is associated with several eye diseases. Waist circumference (WC) and the waist/hip ratio (WHR) have been observed to have stronger positive associations with eye diseases than BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity must be considered a significant risk factor for eye diseases; hence, a multidisciplinary and multidimensional approach to treating obesity, which also affects ocular health, is important. In the prevention and treatment of eye diseases related to obesity, lifestyle factors, especially diet and physical activity, as well as weight changes, both weight loss and weight gain, should not be overlooked. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V narrative review.

[Current possibilities for the diagnosis and treatment of pterygium]. / Sovremennye vozmozhnosti diagnostiki i lecheniya pterigiuma.

Pterygium is a common inflammatory-proliferative disease characterized by the invasion of degeneratively altered fibrovascular tissue into the cornea. This literature review analyzes the etiological factors and pathogenetic concepts of its development, describes modern methods of diagnostics and surgical treatment of pterygium, and pays particular attention to the assessment of structural and functional changes in the cornea occurring during the growth of pterygium and after its excision.

Dry eye in the upper blepharoplasty patient: a study comparing orbicularis-sparing versus orbicularis-excising techniques.

PURPOSE: To compare subjective and objective dry eye syndrome (DES) metrics preoperatively and postoperatively in patients undergoing bilateral upper eyelid blepharoplasty (ULB) using orbicularis-sparing versus orbicularis-excising techniques. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on patients without prior DES or other severe conditions who presented to our institution between 2017 and 2019 for routine functional ULB. Patients were randomized into two treatment arms: bilateral ULB using the orbicularis-sparing technique or bilateral ULB using the orbicularis-excising technique. One subjective and seven objective DES assessments were performed on all patients preoperatively and 1 month and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 63 patients were recruited for the study. Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) scores decreased in both treatment groups at 1 month and 1 year postoperatively. This change did not significantly vary based on surgical technique. Objective DES assessments were not significantly changed at both postoperative time points for either group. There was a correlation between the severity of preoperative DES symptoms and the subjective improvement of DES symptoms postoperatively in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: ULB with an orbicularis-sparing or orbicularis-excising technique does not worsen subjective or objective DES metrics and so, surgeons may confidently use either surgical technique. These findings may impact postoperative expectations for surgeons and patients alike.

The effect of sodium hyaluronate on tear film stability in patients with dry eye syndrome after cataract surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to observe the changes in the ocular surface after phacoemulsification in patients with age-related cataracts with respect to the addition of varying concentrations of hyaluronate. METHODS: Patients with dry eye syndrome were treated with 0.3% and 0.1% sodium hyaluronate eye drops to evaluate the clinical improvement in each treatment group. A total of 73 patients (91 eyes) with age-related cataracts suffering from dry eye syndrome after phacoemulsification were divided into treatment group A (30 eyes), undergoing conventional therapy and treatment with 0.3% sodium hyaluronate; treatment group B (31 eyes), undergoing conventional therapy and treatment with 0.1% sodium hyaluronate; and the control group (group C; 30 eyes), undergoing conventional therapy only. Two groups were given different concentrations of sodium hyaluronate eye drops four times a day (should be completed between 8 AM and 8 PM), one drop at a time. RESULTS: Seven days, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months postoperatively, there were significant differences in the Schirmer I test (SIt), first noninvasive tear film break-up time (NIBUTf), average noninvasive tear film break-up time (NIBUTav), tear meniscus height (TMH), and irregularity (when the refractive force of different parts of different meridians on the same meridian is different. The main manifestation is that the two meridians on the anterior surface of the cornea do not show a 90-degree vertical distribution, which cannot be corrected by conventional astigmatism lenses) between the three groups (p < 0.05). When compared with group C, there were significant differences in the SIt, NIBUTf, NIBUTav, TMH, and irregularity of group A and group B (p < 0.05). When compared with group B, there were significant improvements in the SIt, NIBUTf, NIBUTav, and TMH in group A (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the early stage after phacoemulsification, the stability of the tear film is reduced. Adding sodium hyaluronate eye drops can restore tear film structure and improve corneal surface regularity, and a 0.3% solution of sodium hyaluronate eye drops is more effective than a 0.1% solution.

A clinical study of topical treatment for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy with dry eye syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Clinically, thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients were suffered from dry eye syndrome. Only a few relevant studies were about this topic. Our study was determined to provide high-level evidence for the treatment of TAO with dry eye syndrome. PURPOSE: To compare the clinical effects of vitamin A palmitate eye gel and sodium hyaluronate eye drop forTAO patients with dry eye syndrome. METHODS: The study was conducted in the Ophthalmology Department of the Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated with the Medical College of Shanghai Jiao Tong University from May to October 2020. A total of 80 mild or moderate-to-severe TAO patients with dry eye syndrome were randomly divided into two groups. The disease stages of all subjects were inactive. Patients in group A were treated with vitamin A palmitate eye gel three times/day for one month and sodium hyaluronate eye drop in group B. The index including break-up time (BUT) and Schirmer I test (ST), corneal fluorescence staining (FL), ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and adverse reactions were recorded by the same clinician at baseline and 1 month after treatment. The data were analyzed by SPSS 24.0. RESULTS: Finally, 65 subjects completed the treatment. The average age of the patients in Group A was 38.1 ± 11.4 years, and that in Group B was 37.26 ± 10.67 years. 82% of the subjects in group A were female and 74% in group B. There was no significant difference between the two groups at baseline, including the value of ST, BUT, OSDI, and FL grade. After the treatment, the effective rate was 91.2% in group A, of which the value of BUT and FL grade was significantly improved (P < 0.001). The effective rate in group B was 67.7%, of which the value of OSDI score and FL grade was significantly improved (P = 0.002). In addition, the BUT value of group A was significantly longer than that of group B (P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: InTAO patients with dry eye syndrome, vitamin A palmitate gel and sodium hyaluronate eye drop improved the dry eye and promoted corneal epithelial repair. Vitamin A palmitate gel improves the stability of tear film, while sodium hyaluronate eye drop improves patients' subjective discomfort.

Smartphone App-Based and Paper-Based Patient-Reported Outcomes Using a Disease-Specific Questionnaire for Dry Eye Disease: Randomized Crossover Equivalence Study.

BACKGROUND: Using traditional patient-reported outcomes (PROs), such as paper-based questionnaires, is cumbersome in the era of web-based medical consultation and telemedicine. Electronic PROs may reduce the burden on patients if implemented widely. Considering promising reports of DryEyeRhythm, our in-house mHealth smartphone app for investigating dry eye disease (DED) and the electronic and paper-based Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) should be evaluated and compared to determine their equivalency. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to assess the equivalence between smartphone app-based and paper-based questionnaires for DED. METHODS: This prospective, nonblinded, randomized crossover study enrolled 34 participants between April 2022 and June 2022 at a university hospital in Japan. The participants were allocated randomly into 2 groups in a 1:1 ratio. The paper-app group initially responded to the paper-based Japanese version of the OSDI (J-OSDI), followed by the app-based J-OSDI. The app-paper group responded to similar questionnaires but in reverse order. We performed an equivalence test based on minimal clinically important differences to assess the equivalence of the J-OSDI total scores between the 2 platforms (paper-based vs app-based). A 95% CI of the mean difference between the J-OSDI total scores within the ±7.0 range between the 2 platforms indicated equivalence. The internal consistency and agreement of the app-based J-OSDI were assessed with Cronbach α coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficient values. RESULTS: A total of 33 participants were included in this study. The total scores for the app- and paper-based J-OSDI indicated satisfactory equivalence per our study definition (mean difference 1.8, 95% CI -1.4 to 5.0). Moreover, the app-based J-OSDI total score demonstrated good internal consistency and agreement (Cronbach α=.958; intraclass correlation=0.919; 95% CI 0.842 to 0.959) and was significantly correlated with its paper-based counterpart (Pearson correlation=0.932, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the equivalence of PROs between the app- and paper-based J-OSDI. Implementing the app-based J-OSDI in various scenarios, including telehealth, may have implications for the early diagnosis of DED and longitudinal monitoring of PROs.

Mask dependency of the lacrimal gland dose under whole brain radiotherapy when the six-degrees of freedom couch is not available.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye syndrome has been recently reported in patients who underwent whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). WBRT based on a couch with three-degrees of freedom (3D) can occasionally be performed in which the rotational head motion is not corrected. This study assessed the dependency of the rotational errors on the mask and the dose variation of the lens and lacrimal gland in WBRT patients. METHODS: Translational and rotational setup errors were obtained at the first treatment with cone-beam CT (CBCT) for patients under WBRT and frameless stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) (n = 20 each) immobilized using a conventional WB mask and an SRS mask with a bite block, respectively. For the CT sets of SRS cases, WBRT plans were generated for the study. To simulate the rotational error, rotated CT images were created with each rotational error, on which initial WBRT plans were copied and doses were recalculated. The lens and lacrimal gland doses with and without rotation errors were compared. RESULTS: Despite similar translational setup errors for the two masks, the SRS mask showed a dramatic reduction in rotational errors compared to those of the WB mask. The errors varied within -2.9° to 2.9° and -1.2° to 0.7° for the WB and SRS masks, respectively. Accordingly, the SRS mask confined the change in the maximum lens dose, mean dose of the lacrimal gland, and lacrimal volume receiving 15 Gy to one-third of those using the WB mask. CONCLUSION: When the six-degrees of freedom (6D) couch is not available, the frameless SRS mask is beneficial to WBRT for the faithful treatment as it was planned.

Dry Eye Disease: What Is the Role of Vitamin D?

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial condition resulting from reduced tear secretion from the lacrimal glands, increased tear water evaporation or the production of poor-quality tears. Such tear instability can lead to inflammation and damage of the ocular surface, as well as to abnormal nociception. Historically, tear substitutes and corticosteroids have been the bastion of DED therapy, but a substantial number of patients still suffer from residual symptoms even after being treated with traditional treatments. Aiming to find safe and effective alternative therapies, recent efforts have been focused on the role of vitamin D in the cellular physiology of the eye. Possibly because of its positive effect in modulating the immune and inflammatory responses, the systemic supplementation of vitamin D seems, indeed, to be an effective therapeutic strategy, especially, but not only, for patients affected by DED that does not respond to conventional treatments. In this context, this review focuses on the literature reporting on the pathogenesis and treatment of DED, with a special emphasis on the recent investigations reporting on the potential role of the systemic administration of vitamin D as a therapeutic approach in the management of such condition.

The Effects of Fisetin on Cyclosporine-Treated Dry Eye Disease in Dogs.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic debilitating ophthalmological disease with the current therapeutic options focused on the suppression of the symptoms. Among the possibilities of how to improve DED therapy, polyphenols have shown an enormous capacity to counteract DED functional changes. The study aimed to specifically target pathophysiological mechanisms by the addition of fisetin to the cyclosporine treatment protocol. We examined dog patients with DED on cyclosporine treatment that were administered 0.1% fisetin or fisetin-free eye drops. For the assessment of fisetin effects, tear film production and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) were studied in the tear film. Tear production was not recovered after 7 or 14 days (9.40 mm ± 6.02 mm, p = 0.47; 9.80 mm ± 6.83 mm, p = 0.53, respectively). MMP-9 levels significantly increased after 7 days and then dropped after 14 days (775.44 ng/mL ± 527.52 ng/mL, p = 0.05; 328.49 ng/mL ± 376.29 ng/mL, p = 1.00, respectively). Fisetin addition to cyclosporine DED treatment was not able to restore tear fluid production but influenced molecular pathological events through MMP-9.

Customized designed notch filters and applied effects on glare and contrast sensitivity in patients with dry eye syndrome.

PURPOSE: Glare visual acuity and contrast sensitivity are important indicators of visual quality. Studies have shown that the glare visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in dry eye patients tend to degenerate, further affecting their quality of life. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of notch filters on glare VA and contrast sensitivity in patients with dry eye or with dry eye syndrome. METHOD: 36 subjects in the 20‒65 age group were diagnosed as having dry eye disease or perceived dry eye syndromes themselves who were included after the initial screening with the OSDI questionnaire, and one was subsequently excluded as they had undergone retinal detachment surgery. Finally, 35 subjects (14 male and 21 female) with a mean age of 40.66 ± 15.62 years participated in this study. All subjects wore their habitual prescriptions and four different filter lenses (namely 480, 620, dual 480 & 620 notch filter, and FL-41 tinted lens), and measured the parameters of glare visual acuity and contrast sensitivity using CSV-1000 and sine wave contrast test (SWCT), respectively. Student t-test and Repeated measurement analysis (R-ANOVA) were utilized by using SPSS 26.0 software. RESULTS: A dual-wavelength 480 & 620 nm optical notch filter had a significant anti-glare effect decreasing glare disabilities or discomfort, and leading to better visual quality, the same effect was also shown on a 480 nm notch filter lens. All participants showed a significant difference among the baseline, three notch filters (480 nm, 620 nm, dual-wavelength 480 & 620 nm), and FL-41 tinted lens were used on SWCT_A (1.5 cpd, F = 3.054, p = 0.019) and SWCT_E (18 cpd, F = 2.840, p = 0.049); but did not show statistical different on SWCT_B (3 cpd, F = 0.333, p = 0.771), SWCT_C (6 cpd, F = 1.779, p = 0.159), and SWCT_D (12 cpd, F = 1.447, p = 0.228). The baseline showed the best visual performance on CS at a low spatial frequency (SWCT_A, 1.5 cpd), any filter might reduce the contrast sensitivity at low spatial frequencies in the clinical trial, whereas 480 nm notch filter showed the best effectiveness on CS at a high spatial frequency (SWCT_E, 18 cpd), the FL-41 lens that also filters out the 480 nm band does not achieve the same effect. Moreover, patients with dry eye or those older than 40 years old preferred optical multilayer notch filters to FL-41 tinted lenses. CONCLUSION: The 480- & 620-nm dual-wavelength and 480-nm single-wavelength notch filters have the best effect on the glare visual acuity and contrast sensitivity (CS) at high spatial frequencies in dry eye patients. The 620-nm notch filter performs better in CS at low and mid-low spatial frequencies; the FL-41 tinted lens performs poorly for glare VA and CS spatial frequencies examination. Patients with glare disabilities or CS disturbance at high spatial frequencies may choose a 480-nm notch filter lens, and patients who have CS disturbance at low spatial frequencies may consider a 620-nm notch filter for the prescription.

The validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire in a sample of the Gazan population: a study from Palestine.

PURPOSE: To develop an Arabic version of OSDI for the Gazan population. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a convenience sample technique. The translation procedure included five stages: forward translation, revision of translation, backward translation, refinement of translation, and a final test of the pre-final version. The final sets of questionnaires were constructed using an online JotForm platform. The online platform was chosen to automatically calculate the questionnaire's final overall score. Overall, 260 participants were instructed to fill out the English and the Arab-OSDI version twice to conduct the reliability of the translated version and repeatability evaluation. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 33.45 ± 11.74 years old. Cronbach's alpha for all items was greater than 0.80, except for the "blurred vision" and "deteriorating vision" items (0.77 and 0.74, respectively). The mean overall score difference between the English-OSDI and Arab-OSDI was 0.86 based on the Bland-Altman chart. For repeatability, no significant difference in the overall scores between the two repeats of the Arab-OSDI (p = 0.632). The Arab-OSDI overall score (sessions 1 and 2) has a clinical difference (bias) of 0.21. Using the varimax rotation method, only three factors (ocular symptoms, vision-related function, and environmental triggers) had eigenvalues greater than one in the structure of the Arab-OSDI. CONCLUSION: The Arab-OSDI is an appropriate, reliable, and repeatable tool for the determination of dry eye symptoms, ocular discomfort, and quality of life in the Gazan population. This version could remove the language barrier in answering OSDI items more easily.

Evaluation of the corneal biomechanical properties and corneal thickness in patients with Graves' orbitopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the corneal biomechanical properties and central corneal thickness in patients with Graves' orbitopathy (GO). METHOD: A total of 132 eyes of 66 patients with GO and 108 eyes of 54 healthy subjects were enrolled. Eyes with GO were classified as high score clinical activity score (CAS, ≥ 3) (Group 1, n = 64) and low CAS score (< 3) (Group 2, n = 68). Corneal biomechanical parameters [corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF)], Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg), and corneal-compensated IOP (IOPcc) levels were measured with Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA, Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments, Buffalo, NY) and compared between the groups. RESULTS: The mean CH values were found as 9.6 ± 1 mmHg in Group 1, 10.2 ± 0.9 mmHg in Group 2, and 11.4 ± 1.7 mmHg in the Control Group (p < 0.001). In post hoc analysis the mean CH was significantly lower in Group 1 than Group 2 and Control Group (Group 1-Group 2, p < 0.001; Group 1-Control Group, p < 0.001). The mean CRF was found as 10.5 ± 2.1 in Group 1, 10.4 ± 2.2 in Group 2, and 10.43 ± 2.0 in the Control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in CRF measurements (p = 0.959). The mean IOPcc values were found as 17.1 ± 3.6 mmHg in Group 1, 15.8 ± 4.0 mmHg in Group 2 and 15.2 ± 4.1 mmHg in the Control Group. The IOPcc and IOPg measurements between all groups were statistically significant (p = 0.009, p = 0.027, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal biomechanical measurements were different in the GO patients with varying CAS scores compared to healthy individuals.

[Modern possibilities of pathogenetically oriented therapy for dry eye syndrome]. / Sovremennye vozmozhnosti patogeneticheski orientirovannoi terapii sindroma «sukhogo glaza¼.

In recent years, anti-inflammatory therapy has become a significant part of the complex approach to treatment of patients with dry eye syndrome (DES), with cyclosporine preparations becoming increasingly important in the structure of the therapy. Taking into account the immunosuppressive effect of cyclosporine A, which is realized through hindering the activation of T-lymphocytes in the tissues of the ocular surface, its topical application in DES has a pronounced pathogenetic focus. Numerous clinical studies have shown that instillations of cyclosporine into the conjunctival cavity contribute to an increase in total tear production, as well as recovery of the density of goblet cells in the conjunctiva of DES patients. The positive effect of cyclosporine A instillations has been convincingly demonstrated in the complex therapy of patients with vernal and atopic corneal conjunctivitis, Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis, autoimmune keratitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, etc. However, one significant problem associated with cyclosporine A instillations is the irritating effect of the drug. That prompted the development of a drug that is safe and tolerable during instillations into the conjunctival cavity - preservative-free 0.1% cyclosporine A labelled Ikervis (Santen, Japan). The drug carrier is artificial tear Cationorm (Santen), which has an advantage of stabilizing the tear film and protecting the ocular surface from the irritating effect of cyclosporine. According to numerous clinical studies, Ikervis instillations can improve the effectiveness of complex therapy in patients with DES (especially secondary to Sjögren syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, graft-versus-host disease), with allergic diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva (spring, atopic corneal conjunctivitis), with corneal transplant disease, and other similar conditions. The high efficacy and safety of Ikervis constitute the reason to recommend it for wide clinical use.

[Neuropathic pain in dry eye syndrome. Part 1. Pathophysiological mechanisms of pain formation]. / Nevropaticheskaya bol' pri sindrome «sukhogo glaza¼. Chast' 1. Patofiziologicheskie mekhanizmy formirovaniya boli.

The review details the features and mechanisms of the formation of various types of pain. The emphasis is placed on the occurrence of pain syndrome in various ophthalmological diseases, particularly in dry eye syndrome. The article also presents literature data on the role of cytokines in the formation of a neuroinflammatory cascade affecting damage to corneal nerve fibers and the development of pain syndrome, which is a characteristic feature of a subtype of dry eye disease - burning eye syndrome.