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Open AccessArticle

Effect of Hypochlorous Acid on Blepharitis through Ultrasonic Atomization: A Randomized Clinical Trial

by Hong Zhang, Yuqing Wu, Xichen Wan, Yan Shen, Qihua Le, Pei Yang, Shuyun Zhou, Xujiao Zhou, Feng Zhou, Hao Gu and Jiaxu Hong

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(3), 1164; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12031164 - 1 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2618

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of eyelid hygiene using topical 0.01% hypochlorous acid (HOCL) through ultrasonic atomization after 2 weeks in patients with blepharitis. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Patients with blepharitis were randomized into two groups: topical 0.01% HOCL through [...] Read more.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of eyelid hygiene using topical 0.01% hypochlorous acid (HOCL) through ultrasonic atomization after 2 weeks in patients with blepharitis. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Patients with blepharitis were randomized into two groups: topical 0.01% HOCL through ultrasonic atomization (HOCL group, 42 eyes) or eyelid scrubs (control group, 37 eyes). Patients in both groups received warm compresses twice daily and topical 0.5% levofloxacin three times a day. Primary outcomes were the ocular surface disease index scores (OSDI), lid margin redness, lid margin abnormalities, meibum expressibility, meibum quality, and noninvasive breakup time after 2 weeks. Secondary outcomes were conjunctiva redness, corneal fluorescein staining, and tear meniscus height. A questionnaire of treatment adherence with a free response section was administered to confirm patient compliance and comments. Results: Sixty-seven participants participated in this study. Both groups show an improvement in all primary outcomes, while statistically significant improvements in OSDI, lid margin redness, lid margin abnormality, meibum expressibility and quality are only limited to the HOCL group after 2 weeks of treatment (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Subgroup analysis in HOCL reveals that only the change in lid margin abnormality and meibum expressibility in the mild–moderate meibomian glands loss patients at baseline has a statistically significant difference p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression shows that the improvement in OSDI is negatively associated with meibum expressibility score at the baseline (95% CI [−28.846, −1.815], p = 0.028). The patient compliance is 7.1 ± 2.0 in the HOCL group and 7.1 ± 1.8 in the control group (p > 0.05). No adverse events are reported. Conclusion: Topical 0.01% HOCL through ultrasonic atomization is a tolerable and effective eyelid hygiene treatment for blepharitis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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10 pages, 1820 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Botulinum Neurotoxin Type a Injection Combined with Absorbable Punctal Plug Insertion: An Effective Therapy for Blepharospasm Patients with Dry Eye

by Malachie Ndikumukiza, Yu-Ting Xiao, You-Fan Ye, Jia-Song Wang, Xi Peng, Hua-Tao Xie and Ming-Chang Zhang

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(3), 877; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12030877 - 22 Jan 2023

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Abstract

Blepharospasm patients often have dry eye manifestations. Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) injection has been the main management for blepharospasm and absorbable punctal plug (APP) insertion is shown to be effective in the treatment of dry eye. However, there have been no studies [...] Read more.

Blepharospasm patients often have dry eye manifestations. Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) injection has been the main management for blepharospasm and absorbable punctal plug (APP) insertion is shown to be effective in the treatment of dry eye. However, there have been no studies investigating the combined treatment of BoNT-A and APP in blepharospasm patients with dry eye. In this retrospective study, 17 blepharospasm patients with dry eye treated by BoNT-A injection and 12 receiving BoNT-A plus APP treatment were enrolled. The efficacy was evaluated according to the Jankovic rating scale, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), fluorescein staining (FL), fluorescein tear break-up time (FBUT) and Schirmer I test (SIT). Both BoNT-A and BoNT-A+APP treatment effectively reduced the functional impairment of blepharospasm. At baseline, all the patients had high OSDI scores (BoNT-A group: 82.48 ± 7.37, BoNT-A+APP group: 78.82 ± 4.60, p = 0.112), but relatively low degrees of FL (BoNT-A group: 3.18 ± 1.01, BoNT-A+APP group: 3.50 ± 1.24, p = 0.466), FBUT (BoNT-A group: 1.71 ± 0.77, BoNT-A+APP group: 2.17 ± 0.58, p = 0.077) and SIT (BoNT-A group: 2.53 ± 0.99, BoNT-A+APP group: 3.17 ± 1.23, p = 0.153). After treatment, OSDI, FL, FBUT and SIT were all obviously restored in the two groups. When comparing the changing rates, only OSDI (BoNT-A group: −52.23% ± 15.57%, BoNT-A+APP group: −61.84% ± 9.10%, p = 0.047) and FL (BoNT-A group: −22.55% ± 25.98%, BoNT-A+APP group: −41.94% ± 14.46%, p = 0.016) showed significant differences between the two groups. This study suggests that OSDI is not applicable in the diagnosis of dry eye among blepharospasm patients. For blepharospasm patients with severe dry eye symptoms, especially those with fluorescein staining in the cornea, the combined treatment of BoNT-A and APP is more effective than using BoNT-A alone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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9 pages, 28164 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sandwich (Amnion/Conjunctival-Limbal Autograft/Amnion) Transplantation for Recurrent Pterygium with Restrictive Strabismus

by Hang Wong, Jia-Song Wang, Ya-Li Du, Hua-Tao Xie and Ming-Chang Zhang

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(23), 7193; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11237193 - 3 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1204

Abstract

(1) Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of Sandwich (Amnion/Conjunctival-Limbal Autograft/Amnion) transplantation for recurrent pterygium with restrictive strabismus. (2) Methods: This retrospective study included 11 eyes in 11 patients diagnosed with recurrent pterygium with restrictive strabismus who received sandwich transplantation. [...] Read more.

(1) Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of Sandwich (Amnion/Conjunctival-Limbal Autograft/Amnion) transplantation for recurrent pterygium with restrictive strabismus. (2) Methods: This retrospective study included 11 eyes in 11 patients diagnosed with recurrent pterygium with restrictive strabismus who received sandwich transplantation. The outcomes were measured by pterygium recurrence, best-corrected visual acuity, esotropia (prism diopters), and treatment complications. (3) Results: Eleven patients (six males, five females) had a mean age of 60.5 (range 36–80) years. The previously received pterygium excision surgery number was 1.8 ± 1.02 (range 1–4). The mean follow-up period was 19.9 ± 8.41 (range 12–36) months. All patients had a restriction of abduction in the previously operated eye, causing esotropia in the primary position. Pre-operative esotropia was 17.2 (range 10–30) prims diopter (PD). Five eyes (45.5%) had symblepharon before surgery. All patients were orthotropic until the last follow-up. Symblepharon was released in all eyes. Free ocular motility was present in all eyes. No donor site scar formation, scleral melt, or corneal ulcer was noted. (4) Conclusions: Sandwich transplantation for recurrent pterygium with restrictive strabismus is safe and effective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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11 pages, 465 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Corneal Aberrations and Thickness in Adults Born Small, Appropriate, or Large for Gestational Age at Term

by Achim Fieß, Jana C. Riedl, Sandra Gißler, Eva Mildenberger, Michael S. Urschitz, Bernhard Stoffelns, Norbert Pfeiffer and Alexander K. Schuster

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(23), 6903; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11236903 - 23 Nov 2022

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Abstract

Background/Aims: This study investigated whether there are changes in corneal surface regularity and corneal thickness in adults born small, appropriate, or large for gestational age at term. Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved prospective Scheimpflug imaging of the cornea (Pentacam^®) to [...] Read more.

Background/Aims: This study investigated whether there are changes in corneal surface regularity and corneal thickness in adults born small, appropriate, or large for gestational age at term. Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved prospective Scheimpflug imaging of the cornea (Pentacam^®) to compare the corneal thickness and aberrations between adults classified as small for gestational age (SGA), normal birth weight (BW), and large for gestational age (LGA). Multivariable linear regression was applied to analyze associations with gestational age, BW percentile, placental insufficiency, preeclampsia, and breastfeeding. Results: In total, 448 eyes of 261 individuals born full term (aged 29.9 ± 9.5 years, 140 females) were examined, including 29 severe SGA (BW < 3rd percentile), 32 moderate SGA (BW between 3rd and <10th percentile), 132 normal BW (BW between 10th and 90th percentile), 35 moderate LGA (BW between >90th and 97th percentile), and 33 severe LGA (BW > 97th percentile). There were no differences between groups in the corneal aberrations of the total cornea as well as of the corneal front surface, except for higher-order aberrations in the front of the cornea (p = 0.032). There was an association between the increased total root mean square of higher-order aberrations and lower birth weight percentile (p = 0.004), with increased higher-order aberrations correlating with lower visual acuity and spherical equivalent. Conclusion: Restricted prenatal growth is associated with increased higher-order aberrations in adulthood. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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11 pages, 2909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Clinical Outcome of Low-Temperature Plasma Ablation Treatment for Recurrent Corneal Erosions

by Yu Zhang, Lin Lin, Yirui Zhu, Shuo Yang and Xiaodan Huang

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(21), 6280; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11216280 - 25 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2089

Abstract

Purpose: To observe the therapeutic effect of low-temperature plasma ablation in treating patients with recurrent corneal erosions (RCEs). Materials and Methods: From 2020 to 2022, 35 participants with unilateral RCEs voluntarily enrolled. Here, 35 eyes of 35 patients were treated with low-temperature plasma [...] Read more.

Purpose: To observe the therapeutic effect of low-temperature plasma ablation in treating patients with recurrent corneal erosions (RCEs). Materials and Methods: From 2020 to 2022, 35 participants with unilateral RCEs voluntarily enrolled. Here, 35 eyes of 35 patients were treated with low-temperature plasma ablation (coblation). All surgeries were performed by the same doctor (X.H.). The coblation went back and forth over the entire erosion area around five times for about five minutes. After the operation, patients were scheduled for follow-up visits at the outpatient clinic after 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, and at the end of the trial. During every visit, each patient underwent an evaluation of their ocular symptoms utilizing the following: pain score, intraocular pressure, slit lamp biomicroscopic examination, dry eye analysis, corneal topography, and corneal in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). Results: The mean follow-up time was 12.4 ± 6.1 months, ranging from 6 to 29 months. Of the 35 patients who had low-temperature plasma ablation, 32 eyes (91.43%) were completely symptom-free and three (8.57%) eyes had repeated episodes of recurrent corneal erosions after the surgery, at 3, 10, and 12 months, respectively. The typical RCE morphologic abnormalities observed in IVCM included the deformation and relaxation of the corneal epithelium, disorganized stromal fibers, reduced nerve fiber density, and disordered organization. After low-temperature plasma ablation, the loose cysts disappeared, and the epithelium became solid and tight. There was no obvious difference in the intraocular pressure (p = 0.090) or corneal astigmatism (p = 0.175) before and after treatment. The mean pain score decreased significantly, with a preoperative score of 7.7 ± 2.4 and postoperative score of 1.1 ± 1.8 (p < 0.001). The mean corneal thickness decreased from 562.6 ± 42.2 mm to 549.6 ± 26.9 mm (p = 0.031). The mean non-invasive keratograph tear meniscus height (NIKTMH) decreased from 0.210 ± 0.054 mm to 0.208 ± 0.045 mm (p = 0.001), and the mean TBUT decreased from 6.191 ± 2.811 s to 5.815 ± 2.802 s (p < 0.001), which manifested as a slight worsening of dry eyes. In one case, the patient’s corneal astigmatism became more severe, which may be related to the high instantaneous energy when the operation did not flush in a timely manner, and it was recovered after 6 months. Conclusions: Low-temperature plasma ablation is an effective and safe procedure to treat patients with recurrent corneal erosions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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10 pages, 2035 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Effects of Pterygium and Aging on Limbal Structure Using Optical Coherence Tomography

by Shengwei Li, Haozhe Yu, Pu Wang and Yun Feng

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(19), 5879; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11195879 - 5 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1326

Abstract

Previous studies suggest that regions of corneal limbus may possess structural differences. We aimed to investigate the limbal changes associated with pterygium and aging via optical coherence tomography (OCT). Palisades of Vogt epithelial thickness (POV-ET) and Bowman’s membrane epithelial thickness (BM-ET) were measured [...] Read more.

Previous studies suggest that regions of corneal limbus may possess structural differences. We aimed to investigate the limbal changes associated with pterygium and aging via optical coherence tomography (OCT). Palisades of Vogt epithelial thickness (POV-ET) and Bowman’s membrane epithelial thickness (BM-ET) were measured at the nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior quadrants of patients with pterygium and healthy subjects of different ages. Values were expressed as a ratio that functioned as an index used to evaluate the change of limbus. Ratio values determined for quadrants of the corneal limbus were correlated highly in young healthy subjects. Further, parameter values were significantly greater than those of elder healthy subjects. In young subjects, the temporal and superior quadrants of patients with pterygium were significantly lower than those of healthy subjects. Temporal and superior quadrants of elder pterygium patients affected by both pterygium and age were significantly lower than those of healthy subjects; however, the inferior quadrant of elderly pterygium patients was significantly higher than that of age-matched healthy subjects. Our findings revealed that the thickness of limbal epithelium was negatively correlated with age, while pterygium led to the thinning of the temporal and superior limbal epithelium and inferior limbal epithelial thickening. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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7 pages, 1240 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Decrease in Tear Film Lipid Layer Thickness in Patients with Keratoconus

by Wenyan Zhou, Haozhe Yu and Yun Feng

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(18), 5252; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11185252 - 6 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1470

Abstract

Keratoconus (KC) is a progressive corneal disorder characterized by thinning and protrusion, mostly of the inferotemporal and central corneal regions. Dysfunction of the meibomian gland, the excretions of which form the lipid layer of the tear film, has been reported to be associated [...] Read more.

Keratoconus (KC) is a progressive corneal disorder characterized by thinning and protrusion, mostly of the inferotemporal and central corneal regions. Dysfunction of the meibomian gland, the excretions of which form the lipid layer of the tear film, has been reported to be associated with KC. Thus, this manuscript investigates the correlation among lipid layer thickness (LLT), partial blink rate (PBR), and KC of different degrees. This retrospective study included 54 patients and 24 healthy controls. The anterior corneal curvature, LLT, and PBR were taken from the unilateral eye of all 78 participants. The difference in those ocular parameters between the moderate and severe groups and the control group is significant. No significant association was found between anterior corneal curvature and LLT (r = −0.2, p = 0.15) across all the patients. However, there was a significant negative correlation between anterior corneal curvature and LLT in moderate (r = −0.6, p < 0.05) and severe (r = −0.7, p < 0.05) keratoconus cases. The results also show a significant negative correlation between anterior corneal curvature and PBR (r = −0.41, p < 0.05). Therefore, we conclude that the severity of keratoconus is associated with the thinning of LLT and the reduction of PBR. This may relate to a further epithelial abnormality with the reduced protection of tear film from the air, leading to the release of proteolytic enzymes that degrade stromal collagen and weaken the cornea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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10 pages, 1368 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acute Foggy Corneal Epithelial Disease: Seeking Clinical Features and Risk Factors

by Fei Li, Ruibo Yang, Liu Yang, Yuanyuan Qi, Chen Zhang, Yue Huang and Shaozhen Zhao

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(17), 5092; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11175092 - 30 Aug 2022

Viewed by 2996

Abstract

(1) Purpose: Here, we describe the clinical characteristics and predisposing factors of acute foggy corneal epithelial disease, a rare disease newly found during COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Methods: In this single-arm, ambispective case series study, ten patients with acute foggy corneal epithelial disease admitted [...] Read more.

(1) Purpose: Here, we describe the clinical characteristics and predisposing factors of acute foggy corneal epithelial disease, a rare disease newly found during COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Methods: In this single-arm, ambispective case series study, ten patients with acute foggy corneal epithelial disease admitted between May 2020 and March 2021 were enrolled. Their detailed medical history and clinical and ophthalmic findings were recorded and analyzed; (3) Results: All the patients were female (100%), aged from 28 to 61 years (mean age of 40.4 ± 9.3 years). Seven cases (70%) had excessive eye use, and six cases (60%) had stayed up late and were overworked. Ten subjects (100%) presented with acute onset and a self-healing tendency. There was a mild-to-moderate decrease in the corrected visual acuity (0.35 ± 0.21 (LogMAR)). Slit-lamp examination showed diffuse dust-like opacity and edema in the epithelial layer of the cornea. By in vivo confocal microscope, epithelial cells presented characteristically a “relief-like” appearance. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography examination revealed that the mean epithelial thickness was increased (69.25 ± 4.31 μm, p < 0.01); (4) Conclusions: Acute foggy corneal epithelial disease is a rare disease in clinic, which tends to occur in young and middle-aged females. The typical clinical symptom is sudden foggy vision, which occurs repeatedly and can be relieved without treatment. Sex, an abnormal menstrual cycle, overuse of the eyes, fatigue and pressure might be risk factors. Changes in lifestyle and eye use habit during the COVID-19 pandemic may have possibly contributed to this disease incidence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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10 pages, 1842 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Uneven Meibomian Gland Dropout in Patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Demodex Infestation

by Xinxin Yu, Yana Fu, Hengli Lian, Dandan Wang, Zuhui Zhang and Qi Dai

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(17), 5085; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11175085 - 30 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1449

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the differences between uneven meibomian gland (MG) atrophy with and without Demodex infestation based on the index of uneven atrophy score (UAS). In this retrospective cohort study, 158 subjects were recruited, including 66 subjects in [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study was to compare the differences between uneven meibomian gland (MG) atrophy with and without Demodex infestation based on the index of uneven atrophy score (UAS). In this retrospective cohort study, 158 subjects were recruited, including 66 subjects in the Demodex-positive MGD group, 49 subjects in the Demodex-negative MGD group, and 43 subjects as normal control. No significant difference was verified in OSDI, TMH, TBUT, CFS, lid margin score, and meibograde (all p > 0.05) between the Demodex-positive MGD group and the Demodex-negative MGD group. The UAS index of the upper eyelid or both eyelids was significantly higher in the Demodex-positive group in comparison with the normal control group and Demodex-negative group and the difference was statistically significant between the three groups. The UAS was significantly positive correlation with OSDI (r = 0.209, p < 0.05), lid margin score (r = 0.287, p < 0.001), and meibograde (r = 0.356, p < 0.001), which has a significant negative correlation with TBUT (r = −0.248, p < 0.05). Thus, Demodex infestation can cause uneven MG atrophy and we propose a novel index of UAS, which is used to evaluate uneven atrophy of MGs and as a morphological index of Demodex infestation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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9 pages, 230 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Refractive Characteristics and Related Factors of Amblyopia after Lamellar Keratoscleroplasty in Children with Limbal Dermoids

by Surong Luo, Jianjiang Xu, Tingting Shao and Xiaomei Qu

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(14), 4176; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11144176 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1247

Abstract

We examined the refractive characteristics and related factors of amblyopia in pediatric patients with limbal dermoids undergoing lamellar keratoscleroplasty. Forty-one children (mean age: 56.15 ± 22.47 months) were enrolled. Cycloplegic refraction, corneal topography, and anterior segment photography were performed. The corneal topographic and [...] Read more.

We examined the refractive characteristics and related factors of amblyopia in pediatric patients with limbal dermoids undergoing lamellar keratoscleroplasty. Forty-one children (mean age: 56.15 ± 22.47 months) were enrolled. Cycloplegic refraction, corneal topography, and anterior segment photography were performed. The corneal topographic and distribution characteristics of the refractive state were summarized, and the relationship between limbal dermoid invasion size and the refractive state was analyzed. The relationship between invasion size and amblyopia severity and the effect of clinical intervention at different times on amblyopia treatment were also analyzed. The spherical power distribution was −1.0–+10.75 D (average: +4.79 ± 3.09 D). The cylinder power was −1.25–−8.75 D (average: −4.19 ± 1.93 D). The axial range of astigmatism was 10–180° (average: 103.54 ± 58.16°). Equivalent spherical refraction was −3.88–+7.76 D (average: +2.70 ± 3.08 D). Twenty-five, fifteen, and one case had limboid dermoid invasion of the central circular zone (CCZ), paracentral annular zone (PCZ), and corneal limbus within 1 mm, respectively. Corneal topography of 39 patients showed flat, steep, and mean curvatures of 38.48 ± 2.12 D, 43.29 ± 1.97 D, and 40.70 ± 1.48 D, respectively. The mean astigmatism was 4.80 ± 2.93 D in the 3-mm optical region. Astigmatism was higher in CCZ than in PCZ invasion (p < 0.05). Postoperative visual acuity was positively correlated with patients’ age and amblyopia treatment duration (r = 0.392, p = 0.048; r = 0.488, p = 0.011), and was negatively correlated with astigmatism (r = −0.646, p < 0.001). High hyperopia and astigmatism are the dominant refractive errors in patients with limbal dermoids undergoing lamellar keratoscleroplasty. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

9 pages, 1018 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combination Therapy of 0.1% Fluorometholone and 0.05% Azelastine in Eyes with Severe Allergic Conjunctival Diseases: A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Minjie Chen, Bilian Ke, Jun Zou, Lan Gong, Yan Wang, Chaoran Zhang, Jianjiang Xu, Anji Wei and Jiaxu Hong

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(13), 3877; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11133877 - 4 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1856

Abstract

This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of the isolated use of fluorometholone compared with the combined use of azelastine and fluorometholone for the treatment of severe allergic conjunctival disease (ACD). One hundred and eleven patients with severe ACD were randomized into two [...] Read more.

This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of the isolated use of fluorometholone compared with the combined use of azelastine and fluorometholone for the treatment of severe allergic conjunctival disease (ACD). One hundred and eleven patients with severe ACD were randomized into two groups: one treated with topical 0.1% fluorometholone combined with 0.05% azelastine and the other with 0.1% fluorometholone alone. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and the signs of keratopathy, palpebral conjunctiva papillae and conjunctival congestion were scored before and at one, two and six weeks after treatment and compared between the groups. The intra-ocular pressure (IOP) was also monitored. There were no significant differences between the groups in the baseline mean scores of signs and OSDI scores, which gradually improved at all visits after therapy in both groups. Although the time effect was significant for all the parameters (all p < 0.001), the reduction in corneal involvement scores from week 2 to week 6 was insignificant in both groups (p = 0.460 for the steroids group and p = 0.074 for the combination group). All signs and symptoms were significantly more improved in the combination group than in the isolated group at each control visit. IOP remained stable at all visits (all p < 0.001), except one patient in each group had elevated IOP over 21 mmHg. While both the isolated use of fluorometholone and combined use of azelastine and fluorometholone are effective in alleviating the signs and symptoms of severe ACD, optimal response can be achieved with adjunctive treatment including azelastine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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23 pages, 6833 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Retinal Glaucoma Public Datasets: What Do We Have and What Is Missing?

by José Camara, Roberto Rezende, Ivan Miguel Pires and António Cunha

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(13), 3850; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11133850 - 2 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4327

Abstract

Public databases for glaucoma studies contain color images of the retina, emphasizing the optic papilla. These databases are intended for research and standardized automated methodologies such as those using deep learning techniques. These techniques are used to solve complex problems in medical imaging, [...] Read more.

Public databases for glaucoma studies contain color images of the retina, emphasizing the optic papilla. These databases are intended for research and standardized automated methodologies such as those using deep learning techniques. These techniques are used to solve complex problems in medical imaging, particularly in the automated screening of glaucomatous disease. The development of deep learning techniques has demonstrated potential for implementing protocols for large-scale glaucoma screening in the population, eliminating possible diagnostic doubts among specialists, and benefiting early treatment to delay the onset of blindness. However, the images are obtained by different cameras, in distinct locations, and from various population groups and are centered on multiple parts of the retina. We can also cite the small number of data, the lack of segmentation of the optic papillae, and the excavation. This work is intended to offer contributions to the structure and presentation of public databases used in the automated screening of glaucomatous papillae, adding relevant information from a medical point of view. The gold standard public databases present images with segmentations of the disc and cupping made by experts and division between training and test groups, serving as a reference for use in deep learning architectures. However, the data offered are not interchangeable. The quality and presentation of images are heterogeneous. Moreover, the databases use different criteria for binary classification with and without glaucoma, do not offer simultaneous pictures of the two eyes, and do not contain elements for early diagnosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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8 pages, 1683 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Safety and Feasibility of Low Fluence Intense Pulsed Light for Treating Pediatric Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Blepharitis

by Zimeng Zhai, Hao Jiang, Yuqing Wu, Pei Yang, Shuyun Zhou and Jiaxu Hong

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(11), 3080; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11113080 - 30 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1716

Abstract

To explore the safety and feasibility of low fluence intense pulsed light (IPL) for treating pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe blepharitis and to analyze potential factors associated with the recovery of meibomian glands (MG) dropout, a retrospective, noncomparative study, including 17 blepharitis patients (33 [...] Read more.

To explore the safety and feasibility of low fluence intense pulsed light (IPL) for treating pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe blepharitis and to analyze potential factors associated with the recovery of meibomian glands (MG) dropout, a retrospective, noncomparative study, including 17 blepharitis patients (33 eyes) aged between 5 and 16 years old was conducted. All of the participants were given 4 continuous sessions of low-fluence (9–12 J/cm²) IPL at 3–4 week intervals. Corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), tear breakup time (BUT), inferior tear meniscus height, Demodex presence, and MG morphology were examined before and after the treatment. Results indicated that CFS, BUT and MG morphology (central/total gland area ratio and gland signal index) had significantly improved (p < 0.05). Symptoms and signs such as severe corneal neovascularization, limbal pannus and conjunctival congestion also subsided. Among age, gender, presence of Demodex and interval before diagnosis, age initiating the formal treatment was confirmed as a negatively correlated factor of the recovery of MG dropout (p = 0.032, B = −1.755). No notable adverse events were reported. In conclusion, low fluence IPL seems to be a safe and effective alternative for moderate-to-severe pediatric blepharitis, and MG dropout is prone to recover in younger patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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12 pages, 2128 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Perceptual Learning on Deprivation Amblyopia in Children with Limbal Dermoid: A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Jing Zhong, Wei Wang, Jijing Li, Yiyao Wang, Xiaoqing Hu, Lei Feng, Qingqing Ye, Yiming Luo, Zhengyuan Zhu, Jinrong Li and Jin Yuan

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(7), 1879; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11071879 - 28 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1806

Abstract

Limbal dermoid (LD) is a congenital ocular tumor that causes amblyopia and damages visual acuity (VA) and visual function. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of perceptual learning (PL) toward improving contrast sensitivity function (CSF) and VA. A total of 25 children with [...] Read more.

Limbal dermoid (LD) is a congenital ocular tumor that causes amblyopia and damages visual acuity (VA) and visual function. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of perceptual learning (PL) toward improving contrast sensitivity function (CSF) and VA. A total of 25 children with LD and 25 normal children were compared in terms of CSF and VA. The LD group was further randomly allocated into two arms: nine underwent PL combined with patching and eight underwent patching only; eight patients quit the amblyopia treatment. The primary outcome was the area under log CSF (AULCSF), and the secondary outcome was the best corrected VA (BCVA). The CSF was obviously reduced in the LD group compared with that in the normal group. Moreover, the difference in the changes in the AULCSF between the PL and patching groups after 6 months of training was 0.59 (95% CI: 0.32, 0.86, p < 0.001), and the between-group difference in VA at 6 months was −0.30 (95% CI: −0.46, −0.14, p < 0.001). Children suffering from LD with amblyopia exhibited CSF deficits and VA loss simultaneously. PL could improve CSF and VA in the amblyopic eye better than patching. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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15 pages, 4517 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristic Assessment of Angiographies at Different Depths with AS-OCTA: Implication for Functions of Post-Trabeculectomy Filtering Bleb

by Man Luo, Yingting Zhu, Hui Xiao, Jingjing Huang, Jin Ling, Haishun Huang, Yiqing Li and Yehong Zhuo

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(6), 1661; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11061661 - 16 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2077

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the quantitative vascular biomarkers of filtering bleb function at different depths using anterior segment optical coherence tomography angiography (AS-OCTA). This cross-sectional study is registered on Clinicaltrails.gov (NCT 04515017). Forty-six eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma that had undergone trabeculectomy [...] Read more.

This study aimed to analyze the quantitative vascular biomarkers of filtering bleb function at different depths using anterior segment optical coherence tomography angiography (AS-OCTA). This cross-sectional study is registered on Clinicaltrails.gov (NCT 04515017). Forty-six eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma that had undergone trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C for more than six months were included. Vessel density (VD) and vessel diameter index (VDI) in the superficial layer (SL), Tenon’s layer (TL), and deep layer (DL) of the bleb were obtained. The VD and VDI were higher in the failure group (both p = 0.000). Significant correlations were found between the SL, TL, DL’s VDI, and IOP in the success group (p = 0.013, 0.016, 0.031, respectively). The VD of the TL and DL were related to IOP in the failure group (p = 0.012, 0.009). Tenon’s VD (TVD) and Tenon’s VDI (TVDI) correlated with IOP adjusting for TVD, TVDI, and the Indiana Bleb Appearance Grading Scale (IBAGS) (p = 0.009, 0.043) or Kenfeld grading system (KGS) (p = 0.011, 0.016). The area under curve (AUC) of the TVD, TVDI, IBAGS, and KGS to predict surgery failure were 0.960, 0.925, 0.770, and 0.850. AS-OCTA realized the quantitative evaluation of vessels, especially the invisible vascularity beneath the conjunctiva. TVD and TVDI as detected by AS-OCTA better reflected bleb function than conventional grading systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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11 pages, 1877 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thickness Measurement of Endothelium-Descemet Membrane in Descemt Membrane Detachment Patients Using High-Definition Optical Coherence Tomography

by Wei Wang, Lingjuan Xu, Guanyu Su, Ban Luo, Jing Gao, Yongyao Tan, Hong Zhang and Guigang Li

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(6), 1534; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11061534 - 11 Mar 2022

Viewed by 1759

Abstract

Purpose: (1) To measure the corneal endothelium-Descemet membrane (EDM) layer thickness in Descemet membrane detachment (DMD) patients in vivo using high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT), and to investigate its correlation with age. (2) To explore whether the detachment time will affect the EDM [...] Read more.

Purpose: (1) To measure the corneal endothelium-Descemet membrane (EDM) layer thickness in Descemet membrane detachment (DMD) patients in vivo using high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT), and to investigate its correlation with age. (2) To explore whether the detachment time will affect the EDM thickness. (3) To explore whether the EDM thickness of cornea with DMD was different from that without DMD. Participants: Patients with DMD were divided into three groups. Group 1 included twenty-three patients whose Descemet membrane (DM) was partial or complete detached from the corneal stroma after various ocular surgeries. Group 2 included eight patients from group 1 who underwent twice HD-OCT examination on different days before the DM reattached to the stroma. Group 3 included nine patients from group 1 who had clear grayscale boundary between the DM and stroma in HD-OCT images after DM reattachment. Methods: All patients underwent HD-OCT and EDM thickness was measured using Image -Pro Plus 6.0. In Group 1, regression analyses were used to evaluate the correlation between EDM thickness and age, and the thickness difference between the ≤50-year-old group and the >50-year-old group was analyzed by independent sample t-test. In Group 2, paired samples t-test was used to check whether detachment time would affect EDM thickness. In Group 3, paired samples t-test was used to check whether the EDM thickness of cornea with DMD was different from that without DMD. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: In Group 1, the EDM thickness measured on the first post-operative day was 27.8 ± 3.6 μm, and a positive correlation was found between EDM thickness and age (r = 0.619, p < 0.05). The EDM thickness of ≤50-year-old group and >50-year-old group were 23.9 ± 3.2 and 29.2 ± 2.6 μm, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.001). In Group 2, the first measurement of EDM thickness was 27.5 ± 4.0 μm, the second measurement was 27.6 ± 4.2 μm, the interval between the two measurements was 2.1 ± 1.6 days, and there was no significant difference between the two measurements (p = 0.328). In Group 3, the EDM thickness with DM detachment was 28.3 ± 3.5 μm, with DM reattachment was 23.4 ± 2.4 μm, there was a significant difference between the two measurements (p = 0.002). Conclusions: The EDM thickness in the state of DMD is thicker than its actual thickness in normal cornea, and EDM thickness of the >50-year-old group is much thicker than that of the ≤50-year-old group. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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13 pages, 4550 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Abnormal Intrinsic Functional Hubs in Corneal Ulcer: Evidence from a Voxel-Wise Degree Centrality Analysis

by Min-Jie Chen, Rong Huang, Rong-Bin Liang, Yi-Cong Pan, Hui-Ye Shu, Xu-Lin Liao, San-Hua Xu, Ping Ying, Min Kang, Li-Juan Zhang, Qian-Min Ge and Yi Shao

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(6), 1478; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11061478 - 8 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1423

Abstract

Background: Numerous anterior neuroimaging researches have revealed that corneal ulcers (CU) are related to changes in cerebral anatomic structure and functional area. Nonetheless, functional characteristics of the brain’s network organization still show no definite research results. The study was designed to confirm CU-associated [...] Read more.

Background: Numerous anterior neuroimaging researches have revealed that corneal ulcers (CU) are related to changes in cerebral anatomic structure and functional area. Nonetheless, functional characteristics of the brain’s network organization still show no definite research results. The study was designed to confirm CU-associated spatial centrality distribution functional network of the whole cerebrum and explore the mechanism through which the larvaceous changed the intrinsic functional hubs. Material and Methods: In this study, 40 patients with CU and 40 normal controls (matched in sex, age, and education level) were enrolled in this study to undergo resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. The differences between the groups were determined by measuring the voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) throughout the whole cerebrum. For the purpose of assessing the correlation between abnormal DC value and clinical variables, the Linear correlation analysis was used. Results: Compared with normal controls (NCs), CU patients revealed high DC values in the frontal lobe, precuneus, inferior parietal lobule, posterior cingulate, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe in the brain functional connectivity maps throughout the brain. The intergroup differences also had high similarity on account of different thresholds. In addition, DC values were positively related to the duration of CU in the left middle frontal gyrus. Conclusions: The experimental results revealed that patients with CU showed spatially unnatural intrinsic functional hubs whether DC values increased or decreased. This brings us to a new level of comprehending the functional features of CU and may offer useful information to make us obtain a clear understanding of the dysfunction of CU. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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12 pages, 1416 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morphological and Functional Changes of Meibomian Glands in Pediatric and Adult Patients with Allergic Conjunctivitis

by Yuqing Wu, Hao Jiang, Xujiao Zhou, Zimeng Zhai, Pei Yang, Shuyun Zhou, Hao Gu, Jianjiang Xu and Jiaxu Hong

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(5), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11051427 - 4 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2595

Abstract

Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is one of the most common ocular disorders in clinical practice and is associated with meibomian gland dysfunction. This study aimed to explore the morphological and functional changes of meibomian glands (MGs) in pediatric and adult patients with AC and [...] Read more.

Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is one of the most common ocular disorders in clinical practice and is associated with meibomian gland dysfunction. This study aimed to explore the morphological and functional changes of meibomian glands (MGs) in pediatric and adult patients with AC and to analyze their potential predictors. In our prospective, observational cohort study, a total of 59 patients with AC were enrolled, with 30 patients aged ≤16 years in the pediatric group and 29 patients in the adult group. All patients underwent examinations at baseline and last visit when the complete resolution of conjunctival papillae was identified. An automatic MG analyzer was used to measure the morphological and functional parameters of MGs, including their area ratio (GA), tortuosity index (TI), and signal index (SI). Two groups were comparable at baseline in terms of characteristics and MG parameters (p > 0.05). The morphological (length, square, and GA) and functional MG parameters (SI) of AC patients significantly improved in the pediatric group after treatment (all p < 0.05), but not in the adult group. The change in the GA correlated with age, sex, GA, TI, and SI at baseline (all p < 0.05). Age (p = 0.001) and GA (p < 0.001) at baseline were predictors of an improvement in the GA of MGs. The findings showed that the structure and function of MGs in pediatric patients with AC seem to improve after the conjunctival papillae disappear, but not in adult patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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12 pages, 3752 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Therapeutic Effect of Intense Pulsed Light in Patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome Related Dry Eye

by Yanan Huo, Qi Wan, Xinzhu Hou, Zhiyong Zhang, Jinchuan Zhao, Zhiyi Wu and Xiuming Jin

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(5), 1377; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11051377 - 2 Mar 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3071

Abstract

This prospective randomized study evaluated the efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light (IPL) and meibomian gland expression (MGX) as polytherapy for Sjögren’s Syndrome-related dry eye (SS-DE). The study enrolled 55 participants with SS-DE, 27 for the treatment group and 28 for the [...] Read more.

This prospective randomized study evaluated the efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light (IPL) and meibomian gland expression (MGX) as polytherapy for Sjögren’s Syndrome-related dry eye (SS-DE). The study enrolled 55 participants with SS-DE, 27 for the treatment group and 28 for the control group. The treatment group underwent three IPL-MGX treatments, three weeks apart. A randomly-selected eye from each patient was assessed at baseline and on weeks 9, 12, and 15 for Snellen best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, conjunctival congestion, tear meniscus height, non-invasive tear breakup time (NBUT), Schirmer’s I test (SIT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), meibomian gland (MG) dropout, eyelid margin abnormality, MGX and meibum quality. OSDI, NBUT, CFS, MGX, and meibum quality were significantly improved in both groups, particularly in the treatment group. The eyelid margin abnormality improved significantly in the treatment but not in the control group on weeks 12 and 15. Snellen BCVA, conjunctival congestion, and SIT improved significantly in the treatment group, but the two groups were statistically similar. Our results indicated that three IPL-MGX sessions could significantly improve the subjective and objective characteristics of SS-DE, representing a promising treatment strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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9 pages, 643 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Keratograph and Fourier-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Measurements of Tear Meniscus Height

by Minjie Chen, Anji Wei, Jianjiang Xu, Xingtao Zhou and Jiaxu Hong

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(5), 1343; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11051343 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2036

Abstract

To compare the interoperator repeatability of tear meniscus height (TMH) measurements obtained with a keratograph and Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and to assess the agreement between the methods.Forty-seven eyes with DED and 41 healthy eyes were analyzed using the Schirmer test I [...] Read more.

To compare the interoperator repeatability of tear meniscus height (TMH) measurements obtained with a keratograph and Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and to assess the agreement between the methods.Forty-seven eyes with DED and 41 healthy eyes were analyzed using the Schirmer test I and tear breakup time test (TBUT). The TMH was measured three times with each device. The repeatability of measurements was assessed by within-subject standard deviation (Sw), repeatability (2.77 Sw), coefficient of variation (CoV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Efficacy in detecting DED was evaluated in terms of the area under the curve (AUC). The TMHs obtained with the keratograph were 0.03 mm lower than those obtained with FD-OCT in both groups (p < 0.001 for the DED group and p = 0.0143 for the control group, respectively). The intraexaminerICCs of the keratographic TMH were 0.789 and 0.817 for the DED and control groups, respectively, and those of the FD-OCT TMH were 0.859 and 0.845, respectively. Although a close correlation was found between the TMHs measured with the keratograph and FD-OCT by the Spearman analysis in both groups (both p < 0.001), poor agreement between the devices was shown in both groups using a Bland–Altman plot. The AUCs of the keratography and FD-OCT results were 0.971 (p < 0.001) and 0.923 (p < 0.001), respectively. Both devices had excellent diagnostic accuracy in differentiating normal patients from DED patients. FD-OCT TMH measurements were more reliable than the keratograph data in the DED group. Agreement between the devices was poor in both groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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13 pages, 1620 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of Intense Pulsed Light Combined Blood Extract Eye Drops for Treatment of Nociceptive Pain in Dry Eye Patients

by Yaying Wu, Yujie Mou, Yu Zhang, Yu Han, Lin Lin, Yanan Huo, Yirui Zhu, Shuo Yang and Xiaodan Huang

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(5), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11051312 - 27 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2095

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) combined with deproteinized calf blood extract (DCBE) eye drops for dry eye disease (DED) patients with nociceptive ocular pain. Methods: In this prospective, one-center, interventional study, 23 subjects with DED and ocular pain [...] Read more.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) combined with deproteinized calf blood extract (DCBE) eye drops for dry eye disease (DED) patients with nociceptive ocular pain. Methods: In this prospective, one-center, interventional study, 23 subjects with DED and ocular pain were treated with a combination of IPL and DCBE eye drops for four sessions at a four-week interval. Subjective and objective assessments on nociceptive pain and dry eye were examined and analyzed. Results: The visual analog scale (VAS), ocular surface disease index, ocular pain assessment survey (OPAS), patient health questionnaire-9 items, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), Athens insomnia scale, corneal fluorescein staining score, meibomian gland secretion quality, and expressibility scores were significantly reduced after the treatment. Tear break-up time and Schirmer I test increased significantly. The brand density of corneal nerves and neuropeptide substance P also significantly increased. OPAS, GAD-7, meibomian gland secretion quality, and expressibility scores were essential factors affecting the VAS changes. Conclusions: IPL combined with DCBE drop therapy was effective for DED patients with ocular pain. With such treatment, both DED symptoms and the sensation of ocular pain may be improved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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8 pages, 1987 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Factors of Urrets-Zavalia Syndrome after Penetrating Keratoplasty

by Ping Wang, Qingqin Gao, Guanyu Su, Wei Wang, Lingjuan Xu and Guigang Li

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(5), 1175; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11051175 - 22 Feb 2022

Viewed by 1696

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical features and risk factors of Urrets-Zavalia syndrome (UZS) after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Methods: The medical records of 152 patients who underwent PKP at the Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, between January 2014 [...] Read more.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical features and risk factors of Urrets-Zavalia syndrome (UZS) after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Methods: The medical records of 152 patients who underwent PKP at the Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, between January 2014 and December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. UZS was diagnosed based on pre- and post-operative pupillary findings. The relationships among the primary disease, postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), and the incidence of UZS were statistically analyzed. The pupillary changes during the follow-up period were studied. Results: Among the 152 included patients, 23 were diagnosed with UZS, with an incidence of 15.13%. The primary diseases of the UZS patients were keratoconus (eight cases, 34.78%), viral keratitis (six cases, 26.08%), leukoma (four cases, 17.39%), fungal corneal ulcer (two cases, 8.70%), corneal endothelial decompensation (two cases, 8.70%), and corneal degeneration (one case, 4.35%). The incidence of UZS in keratoconus patients was higher than that in patients with fungal corneal ulcer (42.11% versus 6.25%, p = 0.003); In addition, the transient postoperative high IOP was not significantly related to the incidence of UZS in keratoconus patients in our study (p = 0.319). Twenty-one patients with UZS were followed up for >6 months, seven of whom (33.33%) recovered spontaneously (within the range of 48 days to 1.5 years). Conclusion: In our study, the incidence of UZS after PKP was 15.13%, and 33.33% of these patients recovered spontaneously. UZS may be more likely to occur in patients with keratoconus. Postoperative transient high IOP may increase the incidence of UZS after PKP for keratoconus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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10 pages, 6261 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Conjunctival Sac Microbiome from Patients with Allergic Conjunctivitis

by Hang Song, Kang Xiao, Hanyi Min, Zhengyu Chen and Qin Long

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(4), 1130; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11041130 - 21 Feb 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1854

Abstract

Conjunctival sac microbiome alterations have been reported to be closely associated with many ocular diseases. However, the characteristic of conjunctival sac microbiome in allergic conjunctivitis (AC) was scarcely described. In this study, we aimed to identify the differences of the conjunctival sac microbiome [...] Read more.

Conjunctival sac microbiome alterations have been reported to be closely associated with many ocular diseases. However, the characteristic of conjunctival sac microbiome in allergic conjunctivitis (AC) was scarcely described. In this study, we aimed to identify the differences of the conjunctival sac microbiome composition in AC patients compared with normal controls (NCs) using high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing metagenomic analysis. The conjunctival sac microbiome samples from 28 AC patients and 39 NC patients were collected. The V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing was performed on the illumina MiSeq platform. Alpha diversity, beta diversity and the relative abundance at the phylum and genus levels were analyzed using QIIME. Alpha diversity demonstrated by Chao1, Observed_species and PD_whole_tree indexes did not show significant difference between the AC and NC groups, while the Shannon index was higher in the AC group. Beta diversity showed divergent microbiome composition in different groups (p < 0.005). The top five abundant phyla were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota and Cyanobacteria in both groups. The top five abundant genera were Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Acinetobacter and Ralstonia in the AC group and Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Corynebacterium and Geobacillus in the NC group. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio at the phylum level was similar between groups (p = 0.144). The Bacillus/Acinetobacter (B/A) ratio at the genus level was higher in the AC group (p = 0.021). The dysbiosis detected in this study might provide further evidence to investigate the mechanism and treatment methods for allergic conjunctivitis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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Review

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19 pages, 1319 KiB

Open AccessReview

More than Antibiotics: Latest Therapeutics in the Treatment and Prevention of Ocular Surface Infections

by Ming-Cheng Chiang and Edward Chern

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(14), 4195; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11144195 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2324

Abstract

Ocular surface infections have been common issues for ophthalmologists for decades. Traditional strategies for infection include antibiotics, antiviral agents, and steroids. However, multiple drug-resistant bacteria have become more common with the prevalence of antibiotic use. Furthermore, an ideal treatment for an infectious disease [...] Read more.

Ocular surface infections have been common issues for ophthalmologists for decades. Traditional strategies for infection include antibiotics, antiviral agents, and steroids. However, multiple drug-resistant bacteria have become more common with the prevalence of antibiotic use. Furthermore, an ideal treatment for an infectious disease should not only emphasize eliminating the microorganism but also maintaining clear and satisfying visual acuity. Immunogenetic inflammation, tissue fibrosis, and corneal scarring pose serious threats to vision, and they are not attenuated or prevented by traditional antimicrobial therapeutics. Herein, we collected information about current management techniques including stem-cell therapy, probiotics, and gene therapy as well as preventive strategies related to Toll-like receptors. Finally, we will introduce the latest research findings in ocular drug-delivery systems, which may enhance the bioavailability and efficiency of ocular therapeutics. The clinical application of improved delivery systems and novel therapeutics may support people suffering from ocular surface infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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13 pages, 7343 KiB

Open AccessReview

Opioids and Ocular Surface Pathology: A Literature Review of New Treatments Horizons

by Celia García-López, Carmen Gómez-Huertas, José-María Sánchez-González, Davide Borroni, Marina Rodríguez-Calvo-de-Mora, Vito Romano, Rahul Rachwani-Anil, Juan-Francisco Ramos-López, Santiago Ortiz-Pérez and Carlos Rocha-de-Lossada

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(5), 1424; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11051424 - 4 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2766

Abstract

This review discusses the role of opioids in the corneal surface and the different pathways and therapeutic methods of management. A literature review was performed using PubMed database. For the database search, the main searching words “opioid” and “topical opioid treatment” were used [...] Read more.

This review discusses the role of opioids in the corneal surface and the different pathways and therapeutic methods of management. A literature review was performed using PubMed database. For the database search, the main searching words “opioid” and “topical opioid treatment” were used with the descriptors “cornea”, “ocular surface”, “neuropathic corneal pain”, “corneal sensitivity” and “naltrexone”; original scientific articles and reviews were included to achieve the purpose of the review. The endogenous opioid system has relevant functions in the organism, and in daily use, opioids are used as painkillers. However, these drugs may be employed for other indications as opioid pathways have a wide spectrum. The corneal surface for topical treatment is easily accessible, hence sparing the side effects of systemic opioids. Instillation of opioid antagonist substances, such as naltrexone, increases corneal healing rates and stimulates the division of corneal epithelium cells without deleterious effects. The natural modulation of endogenous opioids controls different forms of pain, including inflammatory and neuropathic pain, both in the ocular surface and in the central nervous system. There are diverse methods in controlling pain using opioids, especially in refractory forms. This review attempts to collect the literature about corneal surface and opioid pathways to provide an overview image and a possible direction of the news treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases)

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