1.
Jaffe GJ, Foster S, Pavesio C, Paggiarino D, Riedel GE.
Ophthalmology. 2018 Oct 24. pii: S0161-6420(18)31715-9
Multicentre randomised study that evaluated the safety and efficacy of an intravitreal fluorocinolone acetonide (FA) insert in the treatment of inflammation associated with non-infectious posterior uveitis.
Uveitis recurrence rates at 6 months (28% and 91%) and 12 months (38% and 98%) were significantly lower (P < 0.001) with FA vs. sham indicating that non-infectious posterior uveitis could be successfully managed with AF; furthermore, eyes treated with AF experienced fewer episodes of uveitis recurrence, required less additional treatment, and lost fewer visual acuity units than eyes not treated with AF.
2.
Chan TCY, Wan KH, Kang DSY, Tso THK, Cheng GPM, Wang Y.
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2018 Oct 27. doi: 10.1007/s00417-018-4165-8.
A study that investigated the association between anterior corneal curvature and centring of the optic zone and its impact on the aberration profiles of eyes treated with SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) - a procedure performed entirely with the femtosecond laser - and the laser in situ keratomileusis or LASIK. The authors demonstrated that anterior corneal astigmatism had an impact on treatment centring in SMILE, but not in LASIK.
3.
van Nispen R, van der Aa H, Timmermans F, Meijer N, Koster N, de Blok J, Keunen J, van Rens G.
Acta Ophthalmol. 2018 Oct 27. doi: 10.1111/aos.13956.
Studio cross-sectional investigating the prevalence of potential age-related eye diseases in elderly persons cared for by home care nurses. The results indicate that 60% of elderly patients with health problems had an ophthalmic problem, and of these more than 20% reported an 'unrecognised ophthalmic problem' until home screening. Basic ophthalmological screening by home health nurses could be a potentially relevant tool to reduce age-related vision loss, contributing to the World Health Organisation - VISION 2020 joint initiative to eliminate "avoidable blindness".
4.
Bernardo-Colon A, Vest V, Clark A, Cooper ML, Calkins DJ, Harrison FE, Rex TS.
Cell Death Dis. 2018 Oct 26;9(11):1097. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-1061-4.
These authors studied the role of oxidative stress and the inflammosome in trauma-induced axon degeneration and vision loss using a mouse model. Wild-type mice were fed normal, high vitamin E (VitE) or ketogenic diets. Mice lacking the ability to produce vitamin C (VitC) were maintained on a low-VitC diet. In addition, the left eyes of the mice were exposed to pressure and tissue damage. The data revealed that the injury increased retinal superoxide levels, decreased SOD2 and increased caspase levels. The diet called low-VitC exacerbated these changes while the diet high-VitE mitigated them. The injury caused the loss of nearly 50% of optic nerve axons at 2 weeks and astrocyte hypertrophy in mice on a normal diet, both of which were prevented by the high VitE diet. These data suggest that oxidative stress induces inflammosome activation after neurotrauma of the visual system. Furthermore, blocking the activation of the inflammosome pathway may be an effective post-injury intervention.
5.
Monteiro MLR, Hokazono K, Cunha LP, Biccas Neto L.
BMC Ophthalmol. 2018 Oct 26;18(1):278. doi: 10.1186/s12886-018-0949-1.
Sudden vision loss and optic disc oedema caused by optic neuritis are usually followed by significant visual recovery. However, there is little or no recovery when the loss is caused by atypical optic neuritis, especially in patients with neuromyelitis optica. Optic disc drusen are a cause of disc oedema and may be a predisposing factor for non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION), thus mimicking atypical optic neuropathy.
The purpose of this study is to describe two patients with loss of visual acuity followed by optic disc atrophy initially labelled as 'atypical' in whom optical coherence tomography (OCT) later revealed deep optic disc drusen and identified them as predisposing factors for NAION.
6.
Harada C, Kimura A, Guo X, Namekata K, Harada T.
Br J Ophthalmol. 2018 Oct 26. pii: bjophthalmol-2018-312724. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-312724.
Glaucoma is one of the world's leading causes of vision loss. Currently, pharmacological intervention for the treatment of glaucoma is limited to eye drops aimed at reducing intraocular pressure (IOP). Recent studies have shown that various factors are involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma, especially in the subtype of normal tension glaucoma. To date, various animal models of glaucoma have been studied, including glutamate/aspartate knockout mice, optineurin E50K knock-in mice, DBA/2J mice and several experimentally induced models. These animal models are very useful for elucidating the pathogenesis of glaucoma and for identifying potential therapeutic targets. However, each model represents only certain aspects of glaucoma, never the entire disease. This review summarises the different aspects of animal models of glaucoma and recent basic research conducted on retinal protection using drugs available to date.
7.
Differences between tears of contact lens wearers studied by photon correlation spectroscopy.
Picarazzi S, Bergamaschi D, Tavazzi S.
Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2018 Oct 23. pii: S1367-0484(18)30772-0. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2018.10.004.
The aim of this study was to assess any differences between the tears of contact lens wearers of different materials, which could be detected by measuring the hydrodynamic diameter of the tear components using photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS).
The carriers were divided into groups according to material: (i) FDA group II hydrogels (H-II), (ii) FDA group IV hydrogels (H-IV), (iii) silicone hydrogels (SH).
Statistical differences were found between the tears of each group of contact lens wearers of the different materials and not only between patients and non-patients, except between SH and H-IV.
8.
Association between tear film break up time and blink interval in visual display terminal users.
Uchino M, Kawashima M, Uchino Y, Tsubota K, Yokoi N.
Int J Ophthalmol. 2018 Oct 18;11(10):1691-1697. doi: 10.18240/ijo.2018.10.18
The authors of this study investigated the association between tear film break up time (TBUT) and eye blink interval in subjects using video display terminals (VDT).
The 930 VDT users underwent dry eye syndrome and visual function tests. Subjects with a blink interval longer than the TBUT were considered to be at risk of unstable tear film. These subjects were approximately 80% of the entire sample, furthermore, this group had significantly lower Schirmer's test and TBUT values, however, they did not show significant differences in symptom severity. Finally, logistic regression showed that an age of over 40 was an important risk factor.
High-Dose Steroid Treatment of Bacterial Keratitis.
Green M, Hughes I, Hogden J, Sara S, Apel A, Stapleton F.
Cornea. 2018 Oct 24. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000001794
The purpose of this retrospective study is to describe the patterns of steroid use in bacterial keratitis and to analyse the effect of steroids on patients' visual acuity. A high-dose steroid treatment was classified as 6 or more drops of steroid per day within 7 days after corneal scraping. The outcome of the keratitis episode was classified as good if the final visual acuity was 6/12 or better; poor if it was 6/60 or worse or if a corneal transplant was required, otherwise it was classified as average. The data showed that the factors significantly associated with the results in the multivariate model were: high-dose steroid treatment, baseline visual acuity of the subject, age, cause of keratitis, size of infiltrates and location. Thus, high-dose steroid treatment was significantly associated with better visual outcomes in patients with bacterial keratitis.
10.
Retinoblastoma presenting as haemorrhagic choroidal detachment in a 10-year-old girl.
Sosuan GMN, Eleazar-Verde JT, Mercado GJV, Arroyo MH.
BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Oct 24;2018. pii: bcr-2018-226149. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-226149.
Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular neoplasm in children. These authors report a case of retinoblastoma presenting as a haemorrhagic choroidal detachment in a 10-year-old girl. The patient presented with sudden blurred vision in the context of blunt trauma. The specialist suspected haemorrhagic choroidal detachment. The patient underwent external drainage by sclerostomy. The haemorrhage resolved ultrasonographically, but her vision did not improve. Five months after surgery, the patient presented with sudden pain and swelling of the eyes. The tests were consistent with a diagnosis of panophthalmitis and she was treated as such. Six months after surgery, the pain and swelling persisted; therefore, the eye was enucleated. Histopathology revealed small round blue blood cells with necrosis consistent with retinoblastoma. Hence, the importance of increased awareness of the various presentations of retinoblastoma to prevent life- and vision-threatening complications in patients.
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile
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