Toll-like receptor-4 expression and oxidative stress in ocular rosacea

Purpose

To investigate systemic and ocular toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 expression and its association with oxidative stress markers in ocular rosacea (OR).

Methods

This prospective study included 40 patients with rosacea with ocular involvement and 20 healthy volunteers. Tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, meibomoscore, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores were estimated for all participants. TLR-4 expression in conjunctival epithelium and peripheral blood mononuclear cells was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In the tears and serum samples of all participants, antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and arylesterase (ARE) activation levels were measured using a fully automated spectrophotometric method, and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated.

Results

TLR-4 expression levels and oxidative stress status (TOS and OSI values) were significantly higher (p < 0.01), and antioxidant status (TAS and ARE values) were significantly lower (p < 0.01) in both ocular and blood samples of patients with OR compared with those in controls. A significant positive correlation was found between the ocular and blood values in all parameters (p < 0.05). According to the clinical associations of these results, we found negative correlations between TLR-4, OSI, and TBUT and between TLR-4 and Schirmer, whereas a positive correlation was observed between TLR-4, OSI, and meiboscore and between TLR-4, OSI, and OSDI (p < 0.05). No correlation was found between the OSI and Schirmer results (p = 0.92).

Conclusions

TLR-4 and oxidative stress both play important roles in OR pathophysiology and are closely related to clinical findings.

Evaluation of Ocular and Systemic Oxidative Stress Markers in Ocular Rosacea Patients

Purpose

To investigate oxidative stress markers in tears and serum of patients with ocular rosacea and to examine their association with both ocular surface parameters and cutaneous rosacea subtypes.

Methods

This prospective study includes rosacea patients with ocular involvement and healthy controls. We performed ophthalmological examination of all participants and collected tear breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer, Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores. We quantified the total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and arylesterase (ARE) levels from tear and serum samples, and calculated the oxidative stress index (OSI). We also classified patients into phymatous, erythematotelangiectatic, papulopustular subtypes.

Results

We included 90 ocular rosacea patients and 30 healthy controls. Oxidative stress (TOS, OSI) levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01) and antioxidant levels (TAS, ARE) were significantly lower (P < 0.01) in both tear and serum samples of ocular rosacea patients as compared to controls. We found a significant positive correlation between the tear and serum values regarding oxidative stress parameters (P < 0.05). Besides, OSI was negatively correlated with TBUT and positively correlated with MGD score (meiboscore) and OSDI (P < 0.05). The Schirmer score was not correlated with OSI. No difference was found between the cutaneous subtypes with respect to TAS, TOS, ARE, and OSI results.

Conclusions

In this study, we identified oxidative stress markers in the serum and tears of ocular rosacea patients and showed their correlation with clinical signs of MGD, suggesting that oxidative stress contributes to ocular rosacea pathogenesis and that oxidative stress could be an indicator of MGD severity.

36-Month Outcomes of Mechanical and Transepithelial PTK Epithelium Removal Techniques Prior to Accelerated CXL for Progressive Keratoconus

PURPOSE

To compare the 36-month visual, refractive, and topographic results and the optical quality of the cornea between mechanical and transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) epithelium removal techniques prior to the accelerated corneal cross-linking (CXL) procedure in patients with progressive keratoconus.

METHODS

Keratoconic eyes that received either mechanical epithelium removal or transepithelial PTK epithelium removal prior to accelerated CXL with 36 months of follow-up were included. The uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuity, spherical equivalent (SE), manifest astigmatism, flat keratometry (K1), steep keratometry (K2), maximum keratometry (Kmax) readings, thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), topographic astigmatism, point spread function (PSF), and aberrometric parameters including root mean square higher order aberrations (RMS HOAs), vertical coma, and spherical aberration (SA) were assessed preoperatively and 12, 24, and 36 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

One hundred ten eyes of 110 patients with keratoconus were included (mechanical epithelium removal group: 69 eyes, transepithelial PTK epithelium removal group: 41 eyes). After the CXL procedure, the mean UDVA, CDVA, manifest astigmatism, RMS HOAs, SA, vertical coma, and PSF improved significantly throughout the follow-up visits in both groups (P < .05 for all variables). The improvement in the mean UDVA, CDVA, manifest astigmatism, K1, K2, Kmax, RMS HOAs, SA, vertical coma, and PSF were significantly better in eyes that underwent transepithelial PTK epithelium removal when compared to eyes that underwent mechanical epithelium removal during the follow-up period (P < .05 for all variables).

CONCLUSIONS

Transepithelial PTK-assisted accelerated CXL seems to be more efficient in improving the visual acuity and the optical quality while stabilizing the cornea compared to the accelerated CXL with mechanical epithelium removal in patients with progressive keratoconus. [J Refract Surg. 2022;38(3):191-200.].

CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY: High-Resolution Imaging of Asymptomatic Fellow Eyes Using Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy

PURPOSE

To investigate cone density in the asymptomatic fellow eye of patients with unilateral central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).

METHODS

Seventeen asymptomatic fellow eyes of patients with unilateral CSCR and 17 eyes of aged-matched and gender-matched healthy controls underwent adaptive optics ophthalmoscopy. Cone density and spacing were assessed at the fovea. Clinical and multimodal imaging findings were also recorded.

RESULTS

In the CSCR group, the patient mean age was 48.9 ± 9.8 years. The mean (±SD) subfoveal choroidal thickness was 417.8 ± 125.2 µm. The foveal external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone were intact in all patients. Adaptive optics fundus imaging showed a significant decrease in cone density at 2° of eccentricity nasal and temporal to the fovea in asymptomatic fellow eyes of patients with unilateral CSCR compared with controls (P = 0.001 and P = 0.027, respectively). No statistically significant difference in cone density was found at 4° of eccentricity nasal and temporal to the fovea between both groups.

CONCLUSION

Asymptomatic fellow eyes of patients with unilateral CSCR showed a reduced density of foveal cones in the absence of a decreased visual acuity and photoreceptor line disruption on optical coherence tomography. These results suggest that the photoreceptors could be damaged independently of the occurrence of a serous retinal detachment.

Comparison of effects of mydriatic drops (1% cyclopentolate and 0.5% tropicamide) on anterior segment parameters

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the effects of cyclopentolate and tropicamide drops on anterior segment parameters in healthy individuals.

Methods

Two hundred and fifty-eight eyes of 129 healthy volunteers were included in this randomized clinical study. Cyclopentolate 1% drop was applied to 75 (58%) participants (group 1) and tropicamide 0.5% drop was applied to 54 (42%) participants (group 2). Flat keratometry (K1), steep keratometry (K2), axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), white-to-white (WTW) distance, pupil diameter, total pupil offset and intraocular lens (IOL) power were measured before and after drops, using Lenstar 900 optical biometry.

Results

The increase in CCT, ACD, pupil diameter, and pupil offset was significant in group 1 after the drop (P < 0.05), while the increase in ACD, pupil diameter, and pupil offset was significant in group 2 (P < 0.05). When the two groups were compared, there was no significant difference in K1, K2, CCT, ACD, WTW, pupil diameter, pupil offset, and IOL power (using Sanders-Retzlaff-Kraff T formula) changes after drops (P > 0.05), whereas the change in AL was significant (P = 0.01).

Conclusion

The effects of cyclopentolate and tropicamide drops on anterior segment parameters were similar; they did not make significant changes in K1, K2, AL, WTW, and third-generation IOL power calculation. However, ACD values significantly changed after these drops; thus, measuring anterior segment parameters before mydriatic agents should be taken into account particularly for fourth-generation IOL formulas and phakic IOL implantation. The change in pupil offset, which can be important in excimer laser and multifocal IOL applications, was not clinically significant.

Cutaneous and ocular rosacea: Common and specific physiopathogenic mechanisms and study models

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the face skin. It is clinically classified into the following four subgroups depending on its location and severity: erythematotelangiectatic, papulopustular, phymatous, and ocular. Rosacea is a multifactorial disease triggered by favoring factors, the pathogenesis of which remains imperfectly understood. Recognized mechanisms include the innate immune system, with the implication of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and cathelicidins; neurovascular deregulation involving vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels, and neuropeptides; and dysfunction of skin sebaceous glands and ocular meibomian glands. Microorganisms, genetic predisposition, corticosteroid treatment, and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation are favoring factors. In this paper, we review the common and specific molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of cutaneous and ocular rosacea and discuss laboratory and clinical studies, as well as experimental models.

Outcomes of toric intraocular lens implantation after femtosecond laser and traditional cataract surgery

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Having an understanding of the refractive outcomes of different forms of cataract surgery will assist optometrists in explaining the implication of such procedures to patients being referred for such procedures.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to compare the refractive outcomes after toric intraocular lens implantation between femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and traditional phacoemulsification.

METHODS

This retrospective non-randomised case series included 114 eyes of 92 consecutive patients (59 male and 55 female) aged 71.65 ± 10.46-years (range 57 to 92-years), who underwent either femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (using two laser platforms) (group 1) or traditional phacoemulsification (group 2) between August 2013 and September 2015. Pre-operative keratometric values, the attempted refraction from the biometry platform and the toric intraocular lens web-based calculator, and the one month post-operative manifest refraction were assessed to evaluate the refractive outcomes of the two groups.

RESULTS

Mean pre-operative topographic corneal astigmatism was -1.94 ± 0.73 D (range 0.91 to 4.61 D) and -1.98 ± 0.60 D (range 1.07 to 3.43 D) for groups 1 and 2, respectively (p > 0.05). Mean axial length was 24.22 ± 0.73-mm (range 21.78 to 29.30-mm) and 24.60 ± 1.09-mm (range 21.82 to 25.95-mm) for groups 1 and 2, respectively (p > 0.05). Multivariate vector analysis of the remaining refractive error between the two groups (desired refraction minus achieved refraction) revealed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Analysis within each group demonstrated a higher accuracy of refractive outcomes for the femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery eyes (p < 0.05) when compared to the traditional phacoemulsification (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and traditional phacoemulsification demonstrate similar refractive outcomes after toric intraocular lens implantation, while femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery seems to provide a slightly higher accuracy.

The Effect of NSAID Pretreatment on Aqueous Humor Prostaglandin E2 Concentration in Eyes Undergoing Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Capsulotomy

PURPOSE

To assess aqueous humor concentration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) after capsulotomy creation using a femtosecond laser (FLAC) in patients pretreated with short-term topical ketorolac versus patients without pretreatment.

METHODS

This prospective study comprised consecutive patients scheduled to undergo cataract surgery using a femtosecond laser platform to perform only capsulotomies. An identical protocol for preoperative mydriasis was used for all the eyes included in the study, while aqueous humor was extracted from the anterior chamber of all patients immediately after the initial side port incision. ELISA was performed to quantify aqueous humor PGE2. The patients were divided into 2 groups; in group 1, the patients received short-term topical ketorolac preoperatively, while the patients in group 2 did not receive NSAID pretreatment.

RESULTS

Twenty eyes of 20 patients were included in the study (10 eyes in each group). Mean concentration of aqueous humor PGE2 after FLAC was 392.16 ± 162.00 pg/ml and 622.63 ± 331.84 pg/ml for groups 1 and 2, respectively. A statistically significant difference in aqueous humor PGE2 concentration between the two groups (p < 0.05) was demonstrated, with the eyes that received ketorolac pretreatment demonstrating a lower concentration of PGE2.

CONCLUSION

Short-term topical use of ketorolac prior to FLAC seems to prevent excessive release of PGE2 in the anterior chamber of the eyes that received NSAID pretreatment when compared to the eyes that did not receive NSAIDs preoperatively.

Retinal toxicity related to hydroxychloroquine in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis

PURPOSE

To compare the retinal toxicity due to hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using multifocal electroretinography (mfERG), fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS

Patients who were using HCQ due to SLE and RA, and healthy subjects evaluated in this study. Central foveal thickness (CFT), inner-outer segment (IS-OS) junction irregularity, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, mfERG and FAF measurements were performed to evaluate retinal toxicity.

RESULTS

Study included 35 eyes of 35 SLE patients, 40 eyes of 40 RA patients and 20 eyes of 20 healthy subjects. In SLE group, retinal abnormality was found in three eyes with mfERG, in one eye with FAF and in four eyes with OCT. In RA group, retinal abnormality was found in 10 eyes with mfERG, in five eyes with FAF and in nine eyes with OCT. A statistically significant difference was found with respect to mfERG between "eyes with abnormal responses and without abnormal responses" and "eyes with abnormal responses and controls" (p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found with respect to CFT between "eyes with IS-OS junction irregularities and without IS-OS junction irregularities" and "eyes with/without IS-OS junction irregularities and controls" (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of HCQ seems to cause retinal toxicity more often in RA patients compared to SLE patients. For the early detection of retinal changes, OCT and mfERG can be used as screening tools due to their higher sensitivity rates compared to other tests.

Intraocular lens power overestimation in a patient with history of circling keratorraphy

We report a case of cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) power overestimation in a patient with history of hyperopia managed with circling keratorraphy. A 65-year-old female presented to our institute complaining of decreased vision in both eyes. The patient had a history of bilateral hyperopia that was managed 20 years ago (1994) with circling keratorraphy. At presentation her uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 20/70 and 20/60 in her right eye (OD) and left eye (OS), respectively, while her corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/25 OD and 20/25 OS with manifest refraction of −0.50 + 1.50 × 75 OD and +0.50sph + 1.50cyl × 30 OS. Slit lamp examination revealed the presence of a circular intrastromal corneal suture (6 mm diameter) and mild (+1) nuclear sclerosis in both eyes. The patient was scheduled to undergo cataract extraction targeting plano, using a toric IOL; one month after the surgery, the manifest refraction of the operated right eye was −2.00 + 0.50 × 175, reflecting an overestimation of the intraocular lens (IOL) power for the attempted target. Cataract extraction in patients with history of circling keratorraphy for the management of hyperopia results in IOL power overestimation, consistent with that which is seen in patients with other previous hyperopic corneal refractive procedures.

Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography in patients with different phases of Behcet's panuveitis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the changes in choroidal thickness (CT) at 13 different points between "active," "remission," and "end-stage" phase of Behcet's panuveitis and compare this with the age, sex, and spherical equivalent matched healthy controls using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighty-five eyes of 45 patients with Behcet's panuveitis (19 eyes with active phase, 48 eyes with remission phase, and 18 eyes with end-stage phase) and 84 eyes of 42 controls were enrolled in this study.

METHODS

CT measurements were obtained beneath the fovea and at 500-µm intervals for 3 mm nasal and temporal to the centre of the fovea. Correlation analyses were calculated to assess the relationship of the CT with age and disease duration.

RESULTS

At all 13 measurement points, CT was significantly thinnest in end-stage-phase eyes and thickest in active-phase eyes (p < 0.01). CT was thicker in remission-phase eyes compared with control eyes at foveal and perifoveal points, but the trend was not statistically significant. The mean CT at each of the 13 measured points showed a negative correlation with age and disease duration (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Submacular CT, as measured by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography, was significantly reduced in eyes with Behcet's panuveitis in the end-stage phase and increased in those in the active phase.

Effects of Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Pretreatment on Pupil Diameter: A Comparison Between Three Laser Platforms

PURPOSE

To assess pupil diameter before and after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) pretreatment and compare the outcomes of three laser platforms.

METHODS

This prospective observational case series included consecutive patients scheduled to undergo cataract extraction using FLACS between August 2013 and February 2015. All eyes received FLACS pretreatment using three laser platforms: LenSx (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX), Catalys (Abbott Medical Optics Inc., Santa Ana, CA), and Victus (Bausch & Lomb, Inc., Rochester, NY). The same protocol for preoperative medical mydriasis was used for all patients, and pupil diameter was assessed immediately before and 3 minutes after FLACS using a surgical ruler.

RESULTS

A total of 198 eyes of 161 patients were included in the study. Mean pupillary miosis was 1.42 ± 1.26 mm for the LenSx, 0.66 ± 0.89 mm for the Catalys, and 0.14 ± 0.34 mm for the Victus groups. Furthermore, 8 of the 198 eyes (4.0%) demonstrated a pupil diameter of less than 5 mm after FLACS and 48 eyes (24.24%) demonstrated a pupil diameter of 6 mm or less. There was a statistically significant decrease in pupil diameter for all groups individually (P < .05). There was also a statistically significant difference among the three groups (P < .05), with LenSx inducing the highest degree of miosis, followed by Catalys, and finally Victus. A correlation between the pupil diameter before FLACS and degree of FLACS-induced miosis was demonstrated (P < .05), with larger pupil diameter before FLACS associated with greater miosis.

CONCLUSIONS

FLACS pretreatment seems to induce significant pupillary miosis with all laser platforms assessed in this study. The decrease in pupil diameter after FLACS reached clinical significance for cataract extraction (< 5 mm) in 4.0% of cases, whereas 20.2% of eyes demonstrated small pupil diameter (≤ 6 mm) after FLACS pretreatment.

Anterior Capsulotomy Outcomes: A Comparison Between Two Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery Platforms

PURPOSE

To compare capsulotomy outcomes between two femtosecond laser platforms for cataract surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective case series included 205 eyes of 162 consecutive patients (75 male and 87 female) aged 68.32 ± 10.27 years (range: 38 to 92 years) who underwent femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) using either the LenSx (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX) or the Catalys (Abbott Medical Optics, Abbott Park, IL) laser platform. Intraoperative assessment of the capsulotomy was performed and graded as one of the following four types: complete treatment pattern (type 1), microadhesions (type 2), incomplete treatment pattern (type 3), and complete pattern but not continuous (type 4).

RESULTS

Ninety-seven eyes underwent FLACS using the LenSx platform and 108 eyes using the Catalys platform. Ninety-four capsulotomies in the LenSx group were graded as type 1 (96.91%), and three were graded as type 2 (3.09%); all capsulotomies in the Catalys group were graded as type 1 (100%). There was no statistically significant difference between the LenSx and Catalys groups (P > .05). No intraoperative complications (specifically, no posterior capsular extension or vitreous loss) were noticed in any of the eyes included in the study.

CONCLUSIONS

The LenSx and Catalys laser platforms demonstrate similar capsulotomy outcomes. The microadhesions that were demonstrated in three cases in the LenSx group did not lead to intraoperative or postoperative complications.

Quantification of the ciliary muscle and crystalline lens interaction during accommodation with synchronous OCT imaging

Two SD-OCT systems and a dual channel accommodation target were combined and precisely synchronized to simultaneously image the anterior segment and the ciliary muscle during dynamic accommodation. The imaging system simultaneously generates two synchronized OCT image sequences of the anterior segment and ciliary muscle with an imaging speed of 13 frames per second. The system was used to acquire OCT image sequences of a non-presbyopic and a pre-presbyopic subject accommodating in response to step changes in vergence. The image sequences were processed to extract dynamic morphological data from the crystalline lens and the ciliary muscle. The synchronization between the OCT systems allowed the precise correlation of anatomical changes occurring in the crystalline lens and ciliary muscle at identical time points during accommodation. To describe the dynamic interaction between the crystalline lens and ciliary muscle, we introduce accommodation state diagrams that display the relation between anatomical changes occurring in the accommodating crystalline lens and ciliary muscle.

Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segment Explantation in Patients With Keratoconus: Causes, Technique, and Outcomes

PURPOSE

To assess the causes for intrastromal corneal ring segment (Intacs; Addition Technology Inc., Lombard, IL) explantation in patients with keratoconus, and technique for explantation, long-term outcomes, and secondary procedures to correct visual acuity.

METHODS

Ten eyes of 8 patients with a history of Intacs explantation between 2004 and 2012 were included in a retrospective study performed at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida. Causes of Intacs removal, surgical technique, preoperative and postoperative corneal examination, and uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity were documented. Additionally, corneal topography (Tomey, Nagoya, Japan) parameters such as average keratometry and corneal cylinder were assessed.

RESULTS

Although the segments were well positioned, the most common cause of Intacs removal was worsening visual acuity (80%). There was no statistically significant difference between pre-Intacs placement, post-Intacs placement, and post-Intacs removal in uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity, average keratometry, or corneal cylinder, except between 1-year post-Intacs placement corrected distance visual acuity (0.57 logMAR [20/75 Snellen]) and 1-month post-Intacs removal corrected distance visual acuity (0.25 logMAR [20/36 Snellen], P =.03). Four patients underwent penetrating keratoplasty after Intacs removal with good visual outcomes.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the visual and structural outcomes that returned to near baseline after Intacs explantation in keratoconic eyes.

Unusual presentation of an intraocular foreign body retained for sixty years

Intraocular foreign bodies may remain quiescent for many years particularly if they are not metallic. We report a case of a missed intraocular stone foreign body that had remained asymptomatic underneath the iris for 60 years and appeared during cataract surgery.

The results of pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade for endophthalmitis after intravitreal injections

To report the role of early vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade in acute endophthalmitis following intravitreal injection. Medical records of eight patients who presented with acute endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection of different drugs were retrospectively reviewed. Initial treatment consisted of vitreous tap with cultures and injection of intravitreal antibiotics, with the patients subsequently undergoing pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade within 24 h following initial vitreous tap. The mean time to presentation was 1.7 days (1-3 days). The initial best-corrected visual acuity was hand motion to 0.05 before treatment and 0.05-0.8 (Snellen) after treatment. Vitreous cultures were obtained from all patients, of which four were culture positive. Endophthalmitis was controlled in all patients. There was no retinal detachment or phthisis bulbi during the follow-up period (1-4 years). Acute endophthalmitis following intravitreal injection occurs rapidly and requires urgent treatment. If intravitreal antibiotics fail to control inflammation, early pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade would be an appropriate option.