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The article offers information on the decreasing trend of opioid use among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, showing a 15% annual decrease since 2014. Topics include the shift in pain management paradigms away from opioids, the limited data on non-opioid pain management, and the need for updated clinical guidelines in autoimmune and rheumatic diseases.

The article discusses whether LASIK surgery can be used for the treatment of patients suffering from collagen vascular disease (CVD). Majid Moshirfar, research director of the HDR Research Center and professor of ophthalmology at the University of Utah's Moran Eye Center, cites studies in which authors concluded that LASIK could be safe for patients with autoimmune diseases. In a study from the Wilmer Eye Institute, LASIK was preferred over PRK due to LASIK's faster healing time.

The article presents case studies related to dry eye and lid marginal diseases. Topics discussed include a case of a 25-year-old male having epithelial defect caused by corneal collagen cross-linking, another case study of a 55-year-old male who underwent chelation to address a dense corneal scar and band keratopathy, and a case study of 55-year-old female who has non-healing superficial punctate keratitis and dry eye prior to cataract surgery.

The article provides information on scleroderma or systemic sclerosis (SSc), a multisystem autoimmune connective tissue disorder which predisposes patients to excess collagen formation and chronic inflammatory infiltration. Topics discussed include diagnosis, nonpharmacologic management, symptomatic treatment such as topical corticosteroids and dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, and the use of immunosuppressants and vitamin D analogues to treat SSc.

The article offers information on the symptoms, pathophysiology and treatment of Terrien's marginal degeneration (TMD). TMD is a condition which is rare, slowly progressive thinning disorder of the cornea. Patients with TMD do not exhibit symptoms. The principle findings of TMD include fibrosis, vascularization, and phagocytosis of corneal stromal collagen by histiocytes.

This article describes the signs and symptoms of episcleritis. An inflammatory condition of the external eye, episcleritis is seen most commonly in adults between the ages of 30 and 60. Episcleritis represents an inflammation of the episclera, the highly vascularized ocular tunic that encircles the globe between the overlying conjunctiva and the underlying sclera. The disorder is idiopathic in most cases, however, in certain instances, it may be associated with an underlying systemic disease. The conditions related to chronic or recurrent episcieritis are rheumatoid arthritis, polyarteritis nodosa, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, sarcoidosis, Wegener's granulomatosis, tuberculosis, Lyme disease, gout, Herpes zoster and syphilis.

Presents brief reports on various professional issues. Plans of the ImechE's Mechanical Reliability Committee to assemble data from operators on the reliability of rotating machinery sealing systems; Belief that collagen fatigue can lead to osteoarthrosis and the failure of some joint replacement; Insight on a board lecture by IMechE's Technical Strategy Board, held in September, 1998; Details on a lecture held 8th October, 1998.

The article discusses a study published in the January 12, 2010, issue of the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" which revealed researchers' formulation of a stable substitute for human collagen that may help treat arthritis and other collagen-defective conditions.

The article presents a picture of a patient, presented with nail changes associated with scleroderma. This woman originally presented with cold hands typical of Raynaud's disease. Later she developed other skin changes, a widening of the cuticle, and nail told capillary dilation, suggesting scleroderma. Other nail changes associated with this condition include thinning and flattening of the nails, with an overcurvature in the longitudinal direction.

Examines the safety and effectiveness of cross-linking of corneal collagen by topical treatment with riboflavin and ultraviolet light exposure in the nonsurgical treatment for keratoconus. Data showing the safety of the technique for stopping keratectasia progression in patients with keratoconus.