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Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral azithromycin treatment combined with topical antibiotic and anti-inflammatory agents in pediatric patients with chronic severe bilateral blepharokeratoconjunctivitis. Methods: Patients younger than 14 years with chronic and severe bilateral blepharokeratoconjunctivitis were reviewed retrospectively. Consecutive patients receiving oral azithromycin treatment were included. All patients received oral azithromycin (5 mg/kg/single dose daily) for at least 4 weeks combined with topical antibiotic and anti-inflammatory agents. Before and after the treatment, clinical symptoms were noted, and corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining and corneal neovascularization were graded. Meibomian gland secretion and meibomian gland plugging were also assessed. All patients completed at least 3 months of follow-up after completion of the oral azithromycin treatment. Patients' clinical data at the time of diagnosis and last follow-up visit were statistically compared. Results: Twenty-nine children (58 eyes, mean age of 6.51 years) were included. The mean time of oral azithromycin use was 5.87 weeks (range: 4 to 10 weeks). Clinical symptoms and signs and visual acuity were significantly improved after treatment. The mean fluorescein staining and corneal neovascularization grades and meibomian gland secretion and meibomian gland plugging scores also improved after treatment (P <.001). Eyelid distortion or fornix shortening was not observed. At the last follow-up visit, all patients were stable with treatment only with daily eyelid hygiene, topical cyclosporine, and artificial tears. Conclusions: Long-term, low-dose oral azithromycin combined with topical antibiotic and anti-inflammatory agents is an effective treatment option for pediatric patients with chronic severe bilateral blepharokeratoconjunctivitis. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(5):358–364.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, latanoprost-loaded polyvinyl alcohol (PVA/LAT) nanofibers were developed as an ocular drug delivery system for glaucoma treatment. The nanofibers were constructed via electrospinning and crosslinked by glutaraldehyde. The characterization studies were conducted by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller analyses, water contact angle measurements, and also swelling and degradation studies. The PVA/LAT nanofibers crosslinked with 0.5% glutaraldehyde solution for 20 min had a cumulative release of 52% for 23 days. The results demonstrated that the PVA/LAT nanofibers have a usage potential as an ocular drug delivery system for glaucoma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to describe a new technique of indirect cyclopexy in the treatment of cyclodialysis. Cases who had cyclodialysis for more than 3 h of extent and were resistant to medical treatment underwent flanged prolene cyclopexy (FPC) technique. Five cases were included in this study. Mean duration between the initial surgery and FPC was 4.6 ± 4.3 months. Hypotony maculopathy was present in all cases. All cases underwent FPC in combination with pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection. Circumferential FPC was applied in four cases, while focal FPC was performed in one case. Postoperatively, no complications occurred, visual acuity increased in four cases, and cyclodialysis closed in all cases. In the follow-up, silicone oil was removed in three cases, but silicone oil could not be removed in two cases with ongoing hypotony. Preliminary results showed that FPC is a promising technique in the surgical treatment of cyclodialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present nanoscale friction measurements performed on sputter-deposited high entropy alloy (HEA) sulfide thin films [(VNbTaMoW)S2] via atomic force microscopy. The results reveal (i) the influence of deposition time on the film morphology and (ii) the presence of isolated areas of low friction on film surfaces. We compare the friction results on HEA sulfide thin films with those on a prototypical solid lubricant, sputter-deposited molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and find that they are superior in terms of lubricative performance. Variable temperature x-ray diffraction, performed up to 973 K, reveals that HEA sulfide thin films exhibit improved oxidation resistance when compared with MoS2 films. Combined, our results show that HEA sulfide thin films have considerable potential as oxidation-resistant solid lubricant coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomic-scale characteristics of surfaces, including their structure, chemical reactivity, and electronic properties, determine their roles in multiple fields of science and technology, e.g., as coatings, catalysts, and device components. As such, it is of utmost importance to study the atomic arrangement and atomic-scale physico-chemical properties of surfaces in real space in a robust and reliable manner. A powerful technique for achieving this goal is scanning probe microscopy (SPM). Here, we present an overview of SPM-based techniques for atomic-resolution surface imaging and spectroscopy and highlight selected advances in the field. We also discuss current challenges of SPM-based techniques for atomic-resolution surface studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: To evaluate the results of mitomycin-C(MMC)-augmented viscocanalostomy in patients with open-angle glaucoma.METHODS: This retrospective study included 104 patients who underwent viscocanalostomy surgery between December 2007 and March 2014. Pre- and postoperative intraocular pressure(IOP), number of glaucoma medications, visual acuity, complications, adjunctive procedure(laser goniopuncture and/or glaucoma medication), and success rate were recorded. Complete success was defined as IOP≤21 mmHg without additional medication, and qualified success was defined as IOP≤21 mmHg with or without glaucoma medication.RESULTS: Mean preoperative IOP was 27.5±9.2 mmHg and mean postoperative IOP was 14.5±6.6 mmHg at the last visit(PP=0.726). Qualified success was achieved in 106(86.9%)eyes and complete success was achieved in 62(50.8%)eyes. Laser goniopuncture was performed in 43(35.2%)eyes and glaucoma medication usage rate was 49.1%. The mean postoperative followup period was 27.29±16.78(1-79)mo.CONCLUSION:Although viscocanalostomy is a safer option due to low complication rates and stable visual acuity, without laser goniopuncture(LGP), surgical success rate is still very low. Further comparative studies are necessary to evaluate the contribution of MMC to viscocanalostomy surgery.

Clinical trials and electrophysiologic studies demonstrated increased perceptual sensitivity in patients suffering from migraines. At least, one triggering factor is described in 85% of migraine patients. The aim of this report was to investigate the relationship between contact lens (CL) usage and migraine attacks in two cases. Two patients who were diagnosed with migraine reported that the frequency of migraine attacks increased after they switched to using CL with different base curves (BCs). These two patients, who began using CL with different BCs experienced discomfort and dryness of the eye. The ocular complaints were followed by migraine attacks. CL intolerance was also developed during migraine attack in one of the cases. The frequency of migraine attacks decreased and allodynia relieved significantly when flatter BCs were selected. CL related stimulus could have triggered the migraine attack. CLs should be well fitted in migraine patients with allodynia.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the short- and long-term static and dynamic pupillary responses of patients recovered from coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) using quantitative infrared pupillography. Methods: This study included patients who recovered from COVID-19 (Group 1) and age- and gender-matched controls (Group 2). A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed at 1 month and 6 months after the diagnosis of COVID-19. Photopic, mesopic, and scotopic pupil diameters (PDs) were measured using a quantitative infrared pupillography which was integrated into Scheimpflug/Placido photography-based topography system. PDs at 0, 2nd, 4th, and 6th seconds, and average pupil dilation speeds at 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th seconds were recorded. Results: Eighty-six eyes of 86 patients (Group 1: n=42; Group 2: n=44) were included. While the mean photopic, mesopic, and scotopic PDs were significantly larger in the COVID-19 group than the control group in the 1st month (p=0.035, p=0.017, p=0.018, respectively), no statistically significant difference was found in the 6th month. Besides, average pupil dilation speeds and PDs at the 0, 2nd, 4th, and 6th seconds were not statistically significantly different between the two groups in the 1st month and 6th month. Conclusion: PDs were significantly larger in COVID-19 patients in all light intensities in the 1st month after COVID-19. However, pupillary dilation was transient, and no significant difference was found in the 6th month. We suggest that the transient pupillary dilation may be secondary to the autonomic nervous system dysfunction and/or optic nerve and visual pathways alterations following COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results of atomic-force-microscopy-based friction measurements on Re-doped molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). In stark contrast to the widespread observation of decreasing friction with increasing number of layers on two-dimensional (2D) materials, friction on Re-doped MoS2 exhibits an anomalous, i.e. inverse, dependence on the number of layers. Raman spectroscopy measurements combined with ab initio calculations reveal signatures of Re intercalation. Calculations suggest an increase in out-of-plane stiffness that inversely correlates with the number of layers as the physical mechanism behind this remarkable observation, revealing a distinctive regime of puckering for 2D materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report aims to describe a modified continuous suturing technique for firm fixation of a human amniotic membrane graft in a patient with persistent epithelial defect (PED) after a chemical eye injury. As a result of this technique, the amniotic membrane (AM) was firmly fixed to the corneal surface with eight continuous and locked episcleral sutures that resembled an octagon graft. This technique was performed in a 14-year-old patient with PED after a chemical corneal burn. Three weeks after the surgery, the PED was completely healed. This simple continuous suturing technique can allow firm and stable fixation of AM grafts on the ocular surface in cases of PED after chemical burn. It may prevent early loss of the graft and facilitate corneal epithelial wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To define a haptic modification technique to increase the overall length of the intraocular lens (IOL) and evaluate the postoperative outcomes of patients in whom this technique was applied. Materials and Methods: The preoperative and postoperative characteristics of patients who underwent modified IOL implantation into the sulcus between May 2019 and December 2019 were evaluated. Modified Sensar AR40e lenses with hydrophobic acrylic optic and polymethylmethacrylate haptics were implanted to all eyes. Before implanting the IOL, the haptics were grasped with two toothless forceps and bent to elongate the total diameter of the IOL from 13.0 mm to 14.5 mm. Results: The study included 11 eyes of 11 patients who underwent modified three-piece IOL implantation into the sulcus due to insufficient capsular support. The mean age of the patients was 53.9±12.2 years. The mean axial length was 24.13±1.93 mm. Sulcus implantation was required due to aphakia in 9 eyes and IOL dislocation in 2 eyes. No haptic breakage occurred during the IOL modification technique or implantation. The mean preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.88±1.1 logMAR, while postoperative BCVA was 0.28±0.30 logMAR. No IOL dislocation or decentration was observed during 6-month postoperative follow-up. Conclusion: The larger diameter lenses obtained with this inexpensive and easily applicable technique may allow a more stable sulcus implantation in eyes with inadequate capsular support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]