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We systematically reviewed published research on dry eye disease and its association with higher order aberrations (HOAs). The purpose of this review was to first determine if an association between tear film metrics and HOAs exists and second to determine if the treatment of dry eyes can improve tear film metrics and HOAs together. A search was conducted in Entrez PubMed on 25 April 2021 using the keywords "higher order aberrations" and "dry eye". The initial search yielded 61 articles. After publications were restricted to only original articles measuring HOA outcomes in patients with dry eye, the final yield was 27 relevant articles. Of these 27 papers, 12 directly looked at associations and correlations between dry eyes and HOA parameters. The remaining 15 studies looked at dry eye interventions and HOA outcomes and parameters. There is clear evidence demonstrating that dry eyes and HOAs have an association, and that the tear film is one of the most important factors in this relationship. There is also a direct correlation between tear film metrics and HOAs. Improvements in HOAs with dry eye interventions provide further evidence to support the intricate relationship between the two. Despite the clear association between HOAs and dry eye disease, further research is still required in the realm of clinical application as dry eye interventions vary depending on many factors, including patient severity and eye drop viscosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate the effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides in the treatment and/or prevention of diseases of different etiologies and systems. Methods. We performed an Entrez PubMed literature search using keywords "lycium", "barbarum", "polysaccharides", "anti-fibrotic", "anti-apoptotic", "anti-oxidizing", "anti-aging", "neuroprotection", "metabolism", "diabetes", "hyperlipidemia", "neuroprotection", and "immunomodulation" on the 14th of August 2018, resulting in 207 papers, of which 20 were chosen after filtering for 'English language' and 'published within 10 years' as well as curation for relevance by the authors. Results. The 20 selected papers included 2 randomized control trials (1 double-blinded RCT and 1 double-blinded placebo-controlled RCT), 11 in vivo studies, 5 in vitro studies, 1 study with both in vivo and in vitro results, and 1 chemical study. There is good evidence from existing studies on the antifibrotic, antioxidizing, neuroprotective, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides. However, there is a need for further studies in the form of large-scale clinical trials to support its use in humans. There is also significant potential for LBP as a safe and effective topical treatment in ocular surface diseases, owing to promising in vitro results and a lack of demonstrated toxic effects to corneal epithelial cells. Conclusion. Results from existing studies suggest that LBP is a promising therapeutic agent, particularly in the management of liver disease, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. One major limitation of current research is a lack of standardization and quality control for the LBP used. The availability of research-grade LBP will inevitably promote future research in this field worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising success of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) therapies in ocular disease has stimulated the use of such treatments in the surgical management of pterygium. We reviewed the literature to better understand the safety and efficacy of the adjunctive role of anti- VEGF treatments for pterygium excision. Without surgery, anti- VEGF alone may favourably alter symptoms and vascularity, but does not cause pterygium regression. Some evidence supports the use of anti- VEGF as an adjuvant therapy to surgery, especially when using a higher dose and a more frequent dosing regimen. Overall, anti- VEGF is generally safe and well tolerated in patients with pterygium. Currently, the evidence does not conclusively support the use of anti- VEGF in pterygium surgery. However, further research may guide unanswered questions regarding the interaction between VEGF and other factors responsible for pterygium growth. In addition, the optimal route and dosage of anti- VEGF administration is not yet known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]