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The article discusses the effectiveness of cataract surgery in managing epithelial basement-membrane dystrophy (EBMD) which is the most common type of corneal dystrophy. It mentions that EBMD is the abnormality in the formation and the maintenance of the epithelial basement-membrane adhesion complex of the corneal epithelium that leads to recurrent epithelial erosions.

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between the clinical grading of the severity of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and meibomian gland area (MGA) loss detected using Sirius meibography in the upper and lower eyelids and to correlate these parameters with dry eye signs and symptoms., Methods: One hundred thirty eyes of 130 volunteer patients were enrolled. Meibomian gland dysfunction was defined as the presence of signs consistent with meibomian gland terminal duct obstruction and categorized between grades 1 and 4. Upper and lower MGA loss percentages were evaluated using Sirius meibography by two blinded examiners. Patients were categorized into two groups (positive and negative for MGD) based on their Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores (≥15 and <14, respectively) and MGD grades (≥1 and 0, respectively)., Results: The MGA loss percentage and ocular surface test results of the MGD group were greater than in the non-MGD group in both eyelids (P=0.001). Meibomian gland dysfunction grade and MGA loss for the lower eyelid was greater than that of the upper eyelids (P=0.002 and P<0.001, respectively). The OSDI score, tear film break-up time, and lissamine green staining were all significantly correlated with MGD grade and MGA loss in both eyelids (P<0.001). For the average measures of the MGA loss percentage in each scan, the intraclass correlation value was found as 0.994 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.992-0.995) for reader 1 and 0.988 (95% CI: 0.982-0.992) for reader 2., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Sirius meibography, a noncontact imaging device, is a reliable tool for evaluating meibomian gland structure in patients with MGD and non-MGD of various ages and regardless of sex.

Objective: To describe the clinical findings of a patient with tyrosinemia type I with noncompliance to a protein-restricted diet, treated with 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC)., Methods: Clinical findings at the initial examination and after strict compliance to a protein-restricted diet after 4 weeks follow-up are described in a patient with tyrosinemia type I on NTBC treatment, who had been treated with presumed herpetic keratitis., Results: A 10-year-old girl diagnosed with hereditary tyrosinemia type I and on NTBC treatment presented with photophobia and ocular discomfort in both eyes. An ophthalmologic examination demonstrated bilateral dendritiform epithelial lesions in the central cornea, staining faintly with fluorescein. These lesions were subsequently intermittently treated with topical antivirals for presumed herpes simplex virus keratitis and lubricant eye drops for 9 months without resolution; however, when strict compliance with a protein-restricted diet was instituted, nearly a complete resolution of the lesions was noted at the 4-week follow-up., Conclusions: Although type II tyrosinemia is known to have corneal involvement, the natural course of tyrosinemia type I has not been shown to have corneal involvement. Corneal involvement in type I tyrosinemia may be an indicator of dietary noncompliance and may show complete resolution with a strict compliance to protein-restricted diet only.

Purpose: To determine whether elevated levels of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) may contribute to thrombotic risk for patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and to investigate the possible correlations between TAFI activity level and other conventional risk factors., Methods: Ninety patients with RVO (cases), except those receiving medication affecting the study parameters, those undergoing a surgical procedure within the last week, and those with kidney and/or liver failure, were enrolled in the study. The control group included similar patients matched for age and sex. After written informed consent was obtained, parameters including TAFI activity levels, conventional risk factors, results of routine hematological examination, and factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutations were evaluated by analysis of blood samples obtained after an 8-hour fast., Results: Although TAFI activity levels were slightly elevated in cases (190.5 +/- 43.8) compared with controls (183.9 +/- 41.8), the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.36). According to evaluation of TAFI activity in subgroups (>200%, 150-200%, and 0-150%), 36.7% with central RVO, 40.0% with branch RVO, and 30% of controls were found to have TAFI activity of >200% (P = 0.83). TAFI activity levels did not correlate with age, sex, demographics, clinical status, and hematological variables. Finally, in stepwise regression analysis, TAFIa (carboxypeptidase U) activity was not found to be an important risk factor for RVO., Conclusion: On the basis of these data, TAFI activity was not found to be a new risk factor for either type of RVO. However, further larger studies may better identify the exact role of TAFI in the pathogenesis of RVO.