Piggyback miLOOP-assisted phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens scaffold in hypermature cataracts

Intraocular lens scaffolding technique in hypermature/Morgagnian cataract in manual small-incision cataract surgery

PURPOSE

To describe the surgical technique of intraocular lens (IOL) scaffolding in hypermature/Morgagnian cataract in manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS).

SETTING

Charitable section of the hospital through direct availed services at free/subsidized cost.

DESIGN

Interventional study.

METHODS

38 eyes of 38 patients operated at the charitable section of the hospital through direct availed services at free/subsidized cost were included in this study.

RESULTS

IOL scaffolding in MSICS was executed in 38 patients, of whom 25 patients were diagnosed as hypermature cataract, pseudoexfoliation syndrome with mature cataract in 5 patients, 5 patients had phacolytic glaucoma, and 3 patients had lens-induced uveitis. This technique was successful in 35 of 38 patients and was not successful in 3 patients in whom traditional SICS was performed in 2 patients and retrohaptic iris fixation in 1 patient.

CONCLUSIONS

A technique that uses the IOL as a scaffold in hypermature cataract in MSICS that provides a stable barrier by stretching the capsular bag to prevent the crumpling of the bag or whole bag removal after nucleus delivery is described.

ZNF219 protects human lens epithelial cells against H2O2-induced injury via targeting SOX9 through activating AKT/GSK3β pathway

Opacity of the lens caused by cataracts could lead to severe visual impairment and even blindness. Oxidative stress caused by exposure of lens epithelial cells to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) can lead to DNA damage and impair cell function. Therefore, how to prevent lens epithelial cells from being harmed by H₂O₂ is an urgent problem. The ZNF219 gene belongs to the Kruppel like zinc finger gene family, which is involved in a variety of biological processes. In this study, we found the low expression of ZNF219 in H₂O₂-induced HLE-B3 cells. We further noticed ZNF219 could improve the survival rate of H₂O₂-induced HLE-B3 cells, and inhibit the apoptosis and oxidative stress response. Mechanically, ZNF219 protected human lens epithelial cells against H₂O₂-induced injury via targeting SOX9 through activating AKT/GSK3β pathway. We therefore thought ZNF219 was a key protective protein in the oxidative damage of human lens epithelial cells and the pathogenesis of cataract.