Efficacy and Toxicity Evaluation of Bepotastine Besilate 1.5% Preservative-Free Eye Drops Vs Olopatadine Hydrochloride 0.2% Bak-Preserved Eye Drops in Patients with Allergic Conjunctivitis.

Purpose: To study the efficacy and toxic effects of bepotastine besilate 1.5% preservative-free (BB-PF) and olopatadine 0.2% BAK-preserved (OL-BAK) drops on the ocular surface of patients with allergic conjunctivitis. Patients and Methods: Ninety-seven patients with allergic conjunctivitis diagnosis participated in a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. Patients received either BB-PF (n=48) or OL-BAK (n=49), both administered once daily in the morning. The patients were followed for 60 days. Ocular itching was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes included ocular symptoms, signs, and non-ocular symptoms associated with rhinoconjunctivitis. Conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) was performed to evaluate histopathological changes related to the toxic effects of preservatives. Results: BB-PF treatment was associated with a 1.30 more probability of diminished ocular itching than OL-BAK (odds ratio (OR)=1.30; 95% CI=(0.96-1.7); p=0.086). No statistically significant differences were found between treatments in the resolution of other ocular symptoms or signs, except for tearing, which was superior in the BB-PF (OR=1.37; 95% (1.26-1.47); p<0.0001). BB-PF was superior in terms of the resolution of rhinorrhea (p=0.040) and nasal itching (p=0.037). After 60 days of treatment, the BB-PF group exhibited 2.0 times higher probability of having a lower Nelson scale score compared to the OL-BAK group (OR=2.00; 95% CI=(1.19-3.34); p=0.010). Conclusion: Both medications presented a similar efficacy in terms of the resolution of ocular signs and symptoms associated with ocular conjunctivitis. BB-PF is superior in the resolution of non-ocular symptoms and safer for the ocular surface than OL-BAK.

TFOS Lifestyle Report: Impact of environmental conditions on the ocular surface.

Environmental risk factors that have an impact on the ocular surface were reviewed and associations with age and sex, race/ethnicity, geographical area, seasonality, prevalence and possible interactions between risk factors are reviewed. Environmental factors can be (a) climate-related: temperature, humidity, wind speed, altitude, dew point, ultraviolet light, and allergen or (b) outdoor and indoor pollution: gases, particulate matter, and other sources of airborne pollutants. Temperature affects ocular surface homeostasis directly and indirectly, precipitating ocular surface diseases and/or symptoms, including trachoma. Humidity is negatively associated with dry eye disease. There is little data on wind speed and dewpoint. High altitude and ultraviolet light exposure are associated with pterygium, ocular surface degenerations and neoplastic disease. Pollution is associated with dry eye disease and conjunctivitis. Primary Sjögren syndrome is associated with exposure to chemical solvents. Living within a potential zone of active volcanic eruption is associated with eye irritation. Indoor pollution, "sick" building or house can also be associated with eye irritation. Most ocular surface conditions are multifactorial, and several environmental factors may contribute to specific diseases. A systematic review was conducted to answer the following research question: "What are the associations between outdoor environment pollution and signs or symptoms of dry eye disease in humans?" Dry eye disease is associated with air pollution (from NO2) and soil pollution (from chromium), but not from air pollution from CO or PM10. Future research should adequately account for confounders, follow up over time, and report results separately for ocular surface findings, including signs and symptoms.

Manifestaciones oculares de enfermedad Sistémica: Retinitis por CMV en pacientes no HIV / Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Disease: CMV Retinitis in Non-HIV Patients

La retinitis es la manifestación más común de la infección por CMV en inmunocomprometidos. Es una infección oportunista representando el 90% de las retinitis infecciosas, y la principal causa de ceguera en este grupo de pacientes. La retinitis por Citomegalovirus (CMV) puede desarrollarse en pacientes no HIV con deterioro de la inmunidad secundario a medicación inmunodepresora o enfermedades malignas que originen por ser estados de inmunodepresión. Se presentan dos estudios de casos. A continuación una síntesis de la evidencia que incluye información del diagnóstico, tratamiento tanto con Ganciclovir, como con Foscarnet.

Retinitis is the most common manifestation of CMV infection in immunocompromised patients. It is an opportunistic infection that accounts for 90% of infectious retinitis andthe main cause of blindness in this group of patients. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis can develop in non-HIV patients with impaired immunity due to immunosuppressive medication or malignant disease resulting from the status of immunosuppression. Two case studies are presented. Below, there is a synthesis of the evidence, including information on the diagnosis and treatment with both Ganciclovir and Foscarnet.

Manifestaciones intraoculares de una enfermedad sistémica / Intraocular manifestations of a systemic disease

Este reporte describe las formas de presentación clínica de uveítis posterior en pacientes con diagnóstico de aplasia medular. Se describe un caso, el tratamiento implementado y los resultados obtenidos.

Biofilm en lentes de contacto hidrofílicas / Biofilm in hydrophilic contact lenses

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los biofilms son colecciones de microorganismos sésiles rodeadas de una matriz extracelular (exopolisacáridos) que ellos mismos generan. Se hallan de alguna manera, involucrados en la mayoría de los procesos infecciosos. La capacidad de generar biofilm por parte de algunos microorganismos sobre la superficie de las lentes de contacto (LC), dan a esta estructura un lugar relevante en la prevención de queratitis bacterianas en usuarios de lentes de contacto. OBJETIVO: Nuestro objetivo fue evidenciar cualitativamente, de manera reproducible mediante técnicas sencillas, el desarrollo de biofilm bacteriano sobre la superficie de lentes de contacto hidrofílicas usadas. METODOLOGÍA: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo descriptivo, utilizando 17 lentes de contacto hidrofílicas usadas (LCHU) sobre las cuales se evaluó el desarrollo de biofilm de Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATTC 27853). RESULTADO: Se evidenció la formación de biofilm a las 8 horas de incubación, siendo más evidente a las 10 horas. Los resultados se evaluaron mediante microscopia óptica, de difracción y confocal. CONCLUSIÓN: El reconocimiento del biofilm como responsable de procesos infecciones oculares, entre ellos, las queratitis bacterianas en usuarios de lentes de contacto, posibilita la búsqueda de enfoques novedosos para su tratamiento y prevención.

INTRODUCTION: Biofilms are collections of microorganisms surrounded by a sessile extracellular matrix (exopolysaccharides) generate by themselves. They are involved in most of infectious processes. The ability to generate biofilm by some microorganisms on the surface of contact lenses, gives to bioflim structure an important rol in the prevention of bacterial keratitis in contact lens wearers. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to show the development of bacterial biofilm on the surface of hydrophilic contact lenses. METHODS: We performed a prospective descriptive study, we evaluated the development of biofilm by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATTC 27853) on the surface of 17 hydrophilic contact lenses. After 8 hour of incubation, the formation of biofilm was cleared observed and became more evident 2 hour later. CONCLUSION:The results were evaluated by optical, diffraction and confocal microscopy.