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Background/Aim. Corneal cross-linking (CXL) treatment shows the best results in stabilizing the cornea and stopping the progress of the ectatic process. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of CXL on the keratoconus regarding higher-order aberrations (HOAs) and potential improvement of visual function. Methods. In 19 patients, a standard epithelium-off CXL was performed with an energy density of three mW/cm2 for half an hour. The cornea was examined by Pentacam topography before CXL and one and six months after CXL. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), topographic data, and aberrations were collected. Results. A significant reduction in vertical coma was observed from preoperative -1.03 ± 1.89 to -0.74 ± 1.73 (p = 0.004) six months after CXL, and in spherical aberration from preoperative -0.22 ± 1.05 to -0.08 ± 1.13 (p = 0.002) six months after CXL. Root mean square (RMS) HOAs six months after CXL also significantly reduced from 2.31 ± 1.82 to 2.26 ± 1.84 six months after CXL (p = 0.001). BCVA improved from preoperative 0.43 ± 0.15 to 0.71 ± 0.19 six months after surgery (p < 0.001). Conclusion. CXL is a very potent treatment method for keratoconus, which significantly reduces certain corneal wavefront aberrations, especially vertical coma, spherical aberration, and RMS, and leads to a significant improvement in visual acuity.

Background: Techniques for the preparation of grafts for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) can be classified into those that involve the manual dissection of the Descemet membrane (DM) and those that use an injection of a liquid or a gas to achieve a separation of the DM from the posterior corneal stroma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the liquid bubble technique. Methods: The success rate of the technique was calculated retrospectively using the operating reports. Video files for each graft preparation were retrieved and the time, number of injections, and number of injections sites required for the hydrodissection were measured. The number of cases in which a manual dissection of the Descemet membrane was necessary was recorded. Information on donor age and graft preservation time were retrieved from the eye bank file. Results: In 58 cases, the success rate was 98.3%. In the 28 procedures where a video was available, the median time for hydrodissection was 4.4 min. The median number of injection sites was 2, with a median number of injections of 3.5. Manual dissection as a rescue technique was performed in 25% of cases, with one case resulting in graft tears. The mean graft diameter was 7.6 mm. The mean donor age was 66 years, and the mean graft storage time was 22 days. Conclusions: The liquid bubble technique can be a fast and valuable choice for DMEK graft preparation, especially in centers where the tissue is prepared in the operating theater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degenerative ocular conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions, and myopic degeneration, have become a major public health problem and a leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs seem to be an effective and safe treatment for these conditions. Ranibizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody antigen-binding fragment, which inhibits all biologically active isoforms of VEGF-A, is still the gold standard treatment for the majority of these pathological entities. In this review, we present the results of the most important clinical trials concerning the efficacy and safety of ranibizumab for the treatment of degenerative ocular conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Conjunctival cysts are usually asymptomatic but they can cause foreign body sensation and contribute to dry eye disease. The purpose of this case report is to describe the presentation and treatment of an infected inclusion cyst of a conjunctival nevus in a healthy 36-year-old patient., Case Presentation: A healthy 36-year-old man presented to the emergency department for redness and pain in his left eye for 1 day. Slit-lamp examination revealed a conjunctival hyperemia and a conjunctival nevus with 4 inclusion cysts, one of which was filled with purulent material. Fluorescein staining of the conjunctival epithelium was negative. Α mini-incision of the white cyst was performed using a 30 G needle, followed by bimanual drainage and topical treatment with tobramycin and moxifloxacin drops every 3 h for a week. A swab of the purulent drainage was positive for gram-positive flora. One week after the drainage of the cyst, the patient was asymptomatic and on slit-lamp examination, the 4 inclusion cysts were filled with a transparent liquid, there was not any vessel dilation and fluorescein staining was negative., Conclusion: Conjunctival inclusion cysts, although considered benign, can become infected and form a conjunctival abscess. A mini-incision on the slit lamp combined with bimanual drainage and followed by topical antibiotic drops seems to be a safe and effective treatment., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Macular edema (ME) is the leading cause of visual loss in uveitis and may persist long after ocular inflammation has been resolved. Local steroids are the first line treatment for uveitis and uveitic ME. Dexamethasone intravitreal implant (OZURDEX ® ; Allergan, Inc., CA, USA) has been used to treat diabetic ME and ME secondary to retinal vein occlusion. Recent studies have also demonstrated that Ozurdex may be effective treatment for patients with persistent uveitic ME. In this review, we present the results of the real word studies concerning the efficacy and safety of Ozurdex for the treatment of uveitic ME.

Diabetic macular oedema (DMO) is a common complication of diabetic retinopathy and may lead to severe visual loss. In this review, we describe the pathophysiology of DMO and review current therapeutic options such as macular laser photocoagulation, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents, and steroid implants with a focus on the new fluocinolone acetonide implant, ILUVIEN®. The results of the Fluocinolone Acetonide in Diabetic Macular Edema (FAME) studies are also presented together with the results of real-world studies to support the clinical use of ILUVIEN® in achieving efficient resolution of DMO and improving vision and macular anatomy in this challenging group of patients.

This series of case reports describes six eyes from five patients that underwent intraocular lens (IOL) exchange with scleral-fixated IOLs for cystoid macular oedema associated with iris-fixated IOLs between 2005 and 2015. Macular oedema was assessed using ocular coherence tomography (OCT). The six eyes in this series were treated by IOL removal and implantation of a scleral -sutured IOL with four points of fixation in the sulcus. Visual acuity improved in all six eyes. On OCT, macular oedema resolved after 3 months in all eyes. There were no surgical complications from the IOL exchange. One eye had a pupilloplasty and another had a diaphragm IOL to treat a major iris impairment from prior surgeries. The cause of cystoid macular oedema in these cases remains controversial but has been well recognized in eyes with iris-sutured IOLs. The absence of sutures with posterior fixation of an iris claw IOL prevents progressive corneal endothelial cell loss but does not prevent macular oedema, even in vitrectomized eyes. In conclusion, macular oedema resolved and visual acuity improved after implant exchange with a secondary scleral-fixated IOL in these cases. This procedure should be considered as a solution to persistent symptomatic cystoid macular oedema from an iris-fixated implant.

Today there are different options for correcting presbyopia by corneal laser procedure, but all of them have their benefits and compromises. The Monovision is a pseudoaccommodation procedure which works with an anisometropy of up to 2 D. The smaller the anisometropy is the faster a neuroadaptation will be achieved. There could be a decrease of binocularity. The monovision is not well supported by all patients, thus it is important to simulate this correction by contact lenses before surgery. The PresbyLASIK is a corneal multifocal solution for presbyopia correction for emmetropic, myopic and hyperopic eyes. It is a true presbyopia procedure where both eyes will be treated for far, intermediate and near. The disadvantage and compromise is that in some cases there could be a loss of uncorrected visual acuity. The corneal inlay is a solution for emmetropic, presbyopic patients who have a strong intention to read without glasses. The disadvantages could be some side effects as halo, glare, decrease of contrast and far vision. All procedures are potentially reversible in case the patient does not support the correction. An enhancement is possible for Monovision and PresbyLASIK., Competing Interests: Die Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)