Topical Solution for Retinal Delivery: Bevacizumab and Ranibizumab Eye Drops in Anti-Aggregation Formula (AAF) in Rabbits.

PURPOSE: Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a blinding retinal disease. Monthly intravitreal anti-VEGF antibody injections of bevacizumab (off-label) and ranibizumab (FDA approved) are the standard of care. Antibody aggregation may interfere with ocular absorption/distribution. This study assessed topical delivery of dilute antibodies to the posterior segment of rabbit eyes using a novel anti-aggregation formula (AAF). METHODS: Bevacizumab, or biosimilar ranibizumab was diluted to 5 mg/ml in AAF. All rabbits were dosed twice daily. Substudy 1 rabbits (bevacizumab, 100 µl eye drops): Group 1 (bevacizumab/AAF, n = 6); Group 2 (bevacizumab/PBS, n = 7) and Vehicle control (AAF, n = 1). Substudy 2 rabbits (ranibizumab biosimilar/AAF, 50 µl eye drops): (ranibizumab biosimilar/AAF, n = 8). At 14.5 days, serum was drawn from rabbits. Aqueous, vitreous and retina samples were recovered from eyes and placed into AAF aliquots. Tissue analyzed using AAF as diluent. RESULTS: Bevacizumab in AAF permeated/accumulated in rabbit aqueous, vitreous and retina 10 times more, than when diluted in PBS. AAF/0.1% hyaluronic acid eye drops, dosed twice daily, provided mean tissue concentrations (ng/g) in retina (29.50), aqueous (12.34), vitreous (3.46), and serum (0.28 ng/ml). Additionally, the highest concentration (ng/g) of ranibizumab biosimilar was present in the retina (18.0), followed by aqueous (7.82) and vitreous (1.47). Serum concentration was negligible (< 0.04 ng/ml). No irritation was observed throughout the studies. CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab and ranibizumab, in an AAF diluent eye drop, can be delivered to the retina, by the twice daily dosing of a low concentration mAb formulation. This may prove to be an adjunct to intravitreal injections.

Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones Improve the Quality of Ophthalmic Exams in Patients With Hearing Loss: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: This study tests the utilization of Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones in improving the quality of eye exams in patients with hearing loss. This prospective study was approved on ethical standards by the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Institutional Review Board (Approval No. 22-0079) and registered with the National Institutes of Health (NCT05420038). METHODS: UTMB patients above 55 years of age were screened for hearing loss using soundcheck audiometry. Twenty-nine subjects answered pre-recorded ophthalmic exam questions that solicited precise responses. As controls, subjects were randomly administered half of the questions via headphones and half via a smartphone at normal speech volume (60 decibels). Points were awarded for responses demonstrating comprehension, and a post-exam survey was collected. RESULTS: Collectively, the mean score was 1.79 with headphones versus 0.96 with control on the Amsler grid segment and 1.90 with headphones versus 0.97 with control on education questions (p=0.001). Between red zone and yellow zone hearing loss patients, the more severe red zone group answered significantly better in both Amsler (1.78 versus 0.50; p=0.0003) and education questions (1.88 versus 0.44; p<0.0001) with headphones. The yellow zone group answered better with headphones overall but failed to reach significance. Post-exam survey indicated that 28 of 29 patients (97%) preferred the headphones during ophthalmic exams. CONCLUSION: Patients with hearing loss demonstrated better comprehension with Bluetooth headphones. These low-cost devices show great promise at improving effective, compassionate communication between providers and hearing loss patients.

Ocular screening for chronic graft-versus-host disease in patients with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates ocular manifestations of graft-versus-host disease in patients following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Preferred practice pattern guidelines are proposed for ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGHVD) detection. METHODS: The Epic electronic medical record database at UTMB was screened using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), codes for bone marrow transplants, stem cell transplants, and complications of bone marrow transplants and stem cell transplants. We identified 50 patients with the ICD-10 codes that were seen at UTMB between 2000 and 2021. Patients who received an HSCT and follow-up care with UTMB were included in this study. Thirty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria, whereas 12 patients were excluded because they had no diagnosis of HSCT or did not follow-up with UTMB. RESULTS: Of the 38 patients in our cohort, 23.7% (n = 9) were noted to have oGVHD. As many as 89% of the patients with oGVHD presented with an ocular surface disease including keratoconjunctivitis sicca, meibomian gland dysfunction, and dry eye syndrome. Systemic GVHD also was found in 44% of the patients with oGVHD. Only 29% (n = 11) of the study population had referrals to ophthalmology. Most referrals (55%) were made within 1 year of getting the HSCT. None of the patients in our cohort received an ocular screening before HSCT. CONCLUSIONS: Many post-HSCT patients lack routine ophthalmic care. Regularly assessing post-HSCT patients for early signs and symptoms of oGVHD may limit adverse outcomes. Management of oGVHD should involve a multidisciplinary team approach.

Novel tactile bottle neck adaptor facilitates eye drop adherence in visually impaired patients.

PURPOSE: To test the use of Ring-IT, a novel 3D tactile bottle neck adaptor in topical eye drop adherence in visually impaired patients. METHODS: Bottle neck ring adaptors with either one, two or three protrusions with cube or sphere endings were designed. In phase 1, low vision was simulated in healthy subjects (n=20) with a 20/200 vision simulator; while in phase 2, visually impaired patients (n=26; 20/70 or worse) were recruited. Subjects were randomised to six combinations of varying protrusions and shapes on medication bottles and asked to identify these traits at different presentations. Responses and time to identify were recorded. RESULTS: Phase 1: 98.3% of subjects correctly identified the number of protrusions. Mean time to identify was 4.5±6.1 s. Identification success for cube and sphere end pieces were 91.7% and 73.3%, with average time for identification of 9.9±7.6 and 10.9±9.0 s. In phase 2, 92.3% of subjects correctly identified the number of protrusions. Mean time to identify was 6.0±3.0 s. Identification success for cube and sphere end pieces were 78.2% and 74.4%; with average time for identification of 7.5±4.8 and 8.5±5.6 s, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ring-IT was identified with accuracy and speed by both low vision simulated subjects, and by patients with true limited visual capabilities. These tactile bottle neck ring adaptors can be used as an assistive low vision aid device and may increase eye drop regimen adherence in visually impaired patients.

Racial Disparities in Cataract Surgery Timeline and Intraocular Lens Selection: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: There is a significant amount of literature focusing on racial inequities in utilization rates and intraoperative complications of cataract surgery. Unfortunately, little is known about racial disparities regarding the timeline of cataract surgery and intraocular lens (IOL) selection. This study investigated whether black patients have a different preoperative and postoperative cataract surgery timeline and IOL selection than white patients. Methods: A total of 10,235 patients (83.47% white) were retrospectively identified from a tertiary academic center who underwent cataract surgery between 2015 and 2022. Each patient's best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit lamp findings, and surgical timeline were recorded. IOL selection was categorized as standard or premium. Results: Black patients had significantly worse mean ± SD preoperative logMAR BCVA than white patients (0.47 ± 0.55 vs. 0.58 ± 0.70, respectively; P = 0.0117) and were significantly less likely to receive surgery within 120 days of referral (RR, 0.71 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.64-0.79]; P < 0.0001). White patients were 25%, 24%, and 29% less likely to follow-up than black patients at postoperative day 1, day 7, and day 30, respectively (P < 0.0001). White patients were 6.09 (95% CI, 3.49, 10.63) times more likely to receive a premium IOL compared to black patients (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Black patients experienced more delays with receiving cataract surgery but are more adherent with postoperative follow-up. Black patients were far less likely to receive a premium IOL than white patients. Translational Relevance: Increased awareness of racial inequities in cataract surgery may improve the delivery of eye care to minority groups.

Assessment of Visual Acuity Outcomes in Ocular Syphilis Treated With Adjunctive Topical or Oral Steroids.

PURPOSE: There is no consensus surrounding adjunctive steroid use in the treatment of ocular syphilis. We evaluated clinical outcomes of patients with ocular syphilis who were treated with penicillin plus either topical or oral steroids. METHODS: Nine male patients aged 26 to 72 years with a diagnosis of ocular syphilis were retrospectively identified (18 eyes). All patients were treated with penicillin and adjunctive topical or oral steroids. Visual acuity reported as the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) and slit lamp findings were documented at presentation, short-term follow-up (<7 days after initiating therapy), and long-term follow-up (day 7+). Visual acuity outcomes were compared between eyes treated with topical versus oral steroids as well as eyes treated simultaneously with adjunctive steroids and penicillin versus patients treated with steroids after penicillin. RESULTS: At short-term follow-up, the mean logMAR (SD, Snellen fraction) visual acuity for eyes treated with topical steroids 0.93 (0.53, 20/170) was significantly lower than that for the oral steroid group 0.23 (0.09, 20/110; p=0.0075). Similarly, at long-term follow-up, the topical steroid group had a significantly lower visual acuity of 0.75 (20/112) compared to a visual acuity of 0.07 (20/25) for the oral steroid group (p=0.0022). Moreover, the oral steroid group displayed significant improvement in visual acuity at long-term follow-up compared to baseline while the topical steroid group did not demonstrate the same effect (p=0.0406 and p=0.5945, respectively). Initiation of steroid treatment simultaneously with penicillin did not result in better visual acuity than delayed steroid treatment (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Steroids are an effective adjunctive treatment for patients with ocular syphilis. Oral steroids may be superior to topical steroids for improving visual function, especially in patients with a severe inflammatory component. Patients treated with oral or topical steroids and penicillin simultaneously did not demonstrate better visual acuity outcomes than patients treated with oral or topical steroids after penicillin was initiated.

The Injection Practice Patterns of Retina Specialists in Managing Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: To compare the PRN anti-VEGF injection patterns of four retina specialists with respect to the visual and anatomic outcomes in the management of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Medical records of patients who received bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept anti-VEGF injections (years 2010-2020) by four retina specialists were reviewed for frequency, injection intervals, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and central macular thickness, center involved (CMT) for statistical analysis. Outcomes measured were change in logMAR BCVA and CMT from the first to last injection visit. Results: Out of 137 AMD patients, 172 eyes were injected by four retina specialists in PRN fashion. Although all four specialists started the injection at similar baseline BCVA and CMT (p > 0.1), significant differences in mean injection number (9.0, p = 0.0001), injection intervals (5.06 weeks, p = 0.001), and total length of treatments (53.3 weeks, p = 0.0001) were observed. The mean change in logMAR BCVA between the first and last injection was -0.05, -0.22, 0.07, and 0.06 for the four specialists, respectively (p = 0.031), and the mean change in CMT was -53.3, -41.4, -72.7, and -21.9 µm (p = 0.41), respectively. Conclusion: Despite similar baseline criteria for injections by the retina specialists, different anti-VEGF injection regimens were practiced resulting in variations in BCVA and CMT outcomes. This suggests a need in establishing a universally adoptable injection regimen with possible integration of the confounding factors to reduce burden on both patients and retina specialists.

CXCR3 deletion aggravates corneal neovascularization in a corneal alkali-burn model.

Corneal neovascularization can cause devastating consequences including vision impairment and even blindness. Corneal inflammation is a crucial factor for the induction of corneal neovascularization. Current anti-inflammatory approaches are of limited value with poor therapeutic effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new therapies that specifically modulate inflammatory pathways and inhibit neovascularization in the cornea. The interaction of chemokines and their receptors plays a key role in regulating leukocyte migration during inflammatory response. CXCR3 is essential for mediating the recruitment of activated T cells and microglia/macrophages, but the role of CXCR3 in the initiation and promotion of corneal neovascularization remains unclear. Here, we showed that the expression of CXCL10 and CXCR3 was significantly increased in the cornea after alkali burn. Compared with WT mice, CXCR3-/- mice exhibited significantly increased corneal hemangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis after alkali burn. In addition, exaggerated leukocyte infiltration and leukostasis, and elevated expression of inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factor were also found in the corneas of CXCR3-/- mice subjected to alkali burn. With bone marrow (BM) transplantation, we further demonstrated that the deletion of CXCR3 in BM-derived leukocytes plays a key role in the acceleration of alkali burn-induced corneal neovascularization. Taken together, our results suggest that upregulation of CXCR3 does not exhibit its conventional action as a proinflammatory cytokine but instead serves as a self-protective mechanism for the modulation of inflammation and maintenance of corneal avascularity after corneal alkali burn.

Secondary Syphilis Presenting as Bilateral Simultaneous Papillitis in an Immunocompetent Individual.

Ocular syphilis is a common presentation for patients with secondary or tertiary syphilis and usually includes posterior uveitis or panuveitis, though a myriad of symptoms have been associated. We report the case of a 58-year-old Caucasian male who presented with fast-progressing vision loss and a new onset of floaters in both eyes. An initial fundus exam revealed only bilateral optic disc edema, and neurological evaluation was negative. Subsequent ophthalmology evaluation in the clinic revealed a ragged retinal pigmented epithelium on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and posterior placoid chorioretinitis, raising suspicion of syphilis. Intravenous penicillin therapy was immediately initiated based on high clinical suspicion of ocular syphilis while awaiting lab confirmation, which was later confirmed as a new syphilis infection. He was subsequently given oral prednisone 48 hours into penicillin therapy for a significant posterior inflammatory response in both his eyes. His visual recovery was drastic due to the timely use of oral steroids. Classical findings such as ragged retinal pigmented epithelium on OCT and posterior placoid chorioretinitis demonstrate strong clinical suspicion of ocular syphilis. Oral prednisone when used timely with penicillin therapy in special situations such as bilateral severe posterior uveitis, panuveitis, or optic neuritis may aid in a faster and smoother visual recovery. A high index of clinical suspicion of ocular syphilis should be maintained in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection presenting with uveitis, posterior placoid morphology, or optic disc edema. Oral prednisone may be an effective adjuvant treatment for immunocompetent patients who mount a strong inflammatory response to ocular syphilis infection.

Video Game Warm-Up May Suggest Improvement in Ophthalmic Surgical Simulator Performance in Surgically Naïve Students.

Purpose: Long-term video game play and its effects on the skills used in surgical simulators have been previously studied, but little information is available about short-term video game warm-ups and subsequent ophthalmic surgical simulation performance. In this study, we hypothesize that a video game warm-up will improve performance on the Eyesi Ophthalmic Surgical Simulator. Methods: Twenty medical students with no prior surgical simulation experience were recruited for the study. Information regarding prior video game experience was gathered, and half of the participants were then randomly assigned to play a video game session prior to Eyesi performance. All subjects completed three sets of Eyesi modules, and the scores and time to completion were recorded. Bivariate analysis including Fisher's Exact test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The warm-up group scored higher in Navigation, Bimanual, and Forceps modules (33.6, 39.7, 7.2, respectively) compared to non-warm-up group (27.3, 27.3, 3.6, respectively). In addition, average times (sec) were lower (310.5, 117.4, 229.2, respectively) compared to non-warm-up group (321.9, 163.3, 235.8, respectively). It was also observed that significantly more participants in the warm-up group had reported a history of spending >15 hours per week playing video games compared to the non-warm-up group (80% vs 20%, p=0.0402). Conclusion: In our pilot study, there appears to be a positive trend between video game warm-up and Eyesi simulation performance; however, no statistically significant difference was observed due to lower power. This trend can be explained by a greater collective video game experience within the warm-up group, mechanical factors (increased flexibility and grip strength after playing video games) and feeling more relaxed after the video game warm-up. Larger follow-up studies are needed to further investigate the relationship between short-term video game use on ophthalmic surgical simulation performance.

Blepharoconjunctivitis and Otolaryngological Disease Trends in the Context of Mask Wearing during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) Purpose: In 2020, wearing of face masks was mandated in the United States in an effort to lessen transmission of the novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic; however, long-term mask wearing may present with unintended side-effects in both ophthalmic and otolaryngologic clinical practice. This study aims to examine if mask wearing increased the incidence of primarily chalazion, blepharoconjunctivitis, and rhinitis occurrence during the mask-mandated COVID-19 pandemic period. (2) Methods: Medical records from tertiary academic center clinics were analyzed for incidence of ophthalmic and otolaryngologic diagnoses of interest (blepharoconjunctivitis- and rhinitis-related disorders). Data were collected from a pre-pandemic (March 2019-February 2020) and a mid-pandemic window (March 2020-February 2021) during which widespread mask mandates were implemented in Texas. Comparison was performed using a t-test analysis between incidence of chosen diagnoses during the described time periods. (3) Results: Incidence of ophthalmic disorders (primarily blepharoconjunctivitis and chalazion) in the pre-pandemic versus mid-pandemic windows did show a significant difference (p-value of 0.048). Similarly, comparison of otolaryngologic diagnoses (primarily rhinitis and related conditions) between the two time periods showed a significant difference (p-value of 0.044) as well. (4) Conclusion: Incidence of the chosen ophthalmic and otolaryngologic disorders did increase during periods of mask mandates. While these findings are preliminary, further studies are warranted to understand other factors that may have played a role in eye and nose pathology.

Concentration-associated pathology of alkali burn in a mouse model using anterior segment optical coherence tomography with angiography.

Pathological features of alkali concentration-associated burn were studied using non-invasive anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). Alkali burn was induced in C57BL/6J mice (n = 20) by placing filter paper soaked in 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 M NaOH for 30s on the right eye (left eye control). Longitudinal imaging was performed with AS-OCT/OCTA and fluorescein angiography over 14 days, after which eyes were enucleated at 7 and 14 days for histology and immunofluorescence. Concentration-associated corneal swelling was maximal at 0.5M, increasing linearly in a concentration-dependent fashion at 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 M NaOH, to levels of 50%, 100%, and 175% of control, respectively. At 0.1M, corneal swelling and surface erosions were prominent, while at 0.25M, deep tissue damage, limbal neovascularization, and stromal haze were evident at 7 days. At 0.5M and 1M, severe exacerbation of the corneal swelling, angle closure, Descemet's membrane detachment, hyphema, and profuse central neovascularization were noted as early as day 3, which further progressed to inflammation, fibrosis, and opacity by day 7. We conclude that alkali concentration-dependent burn intensity biomarkers can be assessed by non-invasive AS-OCT/OCTA, distinguishing between mild, moderate, and severe ocular injury, with potential relevance toward clinical utilization in human eyes.

Effect of topical bovine colostrum in wound healing of corneal surface after acute ocular alkali burn in mice.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of bovine colostrum (BC) in the regeneration of corneal epithelial cells on an ocular alkali burn model. Twenty-four C57BL/6 mice were categorized into two gender/age-matched groups for treatment. Two days after inducing a corneal alkali burn in all left eyes with 4 µl of sodium hydroxide 0.15 mol/l, both eyes of group 1 were treated with BC 4 times per day, and both eyes of group 2 were treated with isotonic saline solution (SS). The epithelial defect was photographed and measured by fluorescein staining on days two, four, seven, and ten. Ocular burn damage was assessed with a pre-established classification in clock hours from the limbus. After 10 days both eyes were processed, half of the group's corneas were assessed histopathologically, and the other half was used for pro/anti-inflammatory cytokine quantification using ELISA. BC treated (Group 1) corneas revealed significantly improved fluorescein staining score for limbal involvement when compared to SS treated (Group 2) corneas at days 4 (p = 0.013), 7 (p < 0.001), and 10 (p < 0.001), respectively. No differences were noted in limbal involvement at day 2 between the two groups (p > 0.99). The overall change (difference in slope) in fluorescein staining for limbal involvement between days 2 and 10 was -0.1669 (p = 0.006). Histologic examinations and cytokine measurements of group 2 demonstrated a strong inflammatory component compared to group 1. Our data indicates that topical application of BC facilitates corneal re-epithelialization and wound healing by suppressing the inflammatory process in an ocular alkali burn model.

Vision Loss as Presenting Symptom in Testicular Cancer: A Morbid Case Report.

Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy in men 20-40 years old and most commonly metastasizes to the lung, liver, and brain. Choroidal metastasis from testicular cancer is exceedingly rare, and only few cases have been described in the literature. We report a patient who presented with painful unilateral vision loss as the initial presenting symptom of metastatic testicular germ cell tumor (GCT). A 22-year-old Latino man presented with a 3-week history of progressive central vision loss and dyschromatopsia, accompanied by intermittent, throbbing ocular, and periocular pain, in the left eye. Associated symptom was remarkable for abdominal pain. Examination of the left eye disclosed light perception vision and a large choroidal mass in the posterior pole involving the optic disk and the macula with associated hemorrhages. Neuroimaging showed a 2.1-cm lesion in the posterior globe of the left eye, and B-scan and A-scan ultrasonography findings were consistent with choroidal metastasis. Systemic workup revealed a mass in the left testicle with metastasis to the retroperitoneum, lungs, and liver. Biopsy of a retroperitoneal lymph node showed a GCT. Visual acuity worsened from light perception to no light perception 5 days following initial presentation. Several cycles of chemotherapy were completed, including salvage therapy; however, these treatments were unsuccessful. While vision loss due to choroidal metastasis as the initial presenting symptom of testicular cancer is rare, clinicians should consider metastatic testicular cancer in the differential diagnoses in patients with choroidal tumors, especially in young men.

Barriers to Low-Vision Rehabilitation Services for Visually Impaired Patients in a Multidisciplinary Ophthalmology Outpatient Practice.

Low-vision rehabilitation (LVR) has significant benefit in improving the quality of life of visually impaired patients. However, these services are highly underutilized in ophthalmology practices. A quality improvement study was performed to investigate barriers to LVR services for patients at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) between 2010 and 2020. Low vision was defined as the best corrected visual acuity of 20/70 or worse in the better-seeing eye or a visual field less than 20 degrees. Potential subjects were screened (n = 577) from the electronic medical record using International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes for legal blindness, impaired vision, and low vision. Chart review identified 190 subjects who met criteria for low-vision analysis. Patients who received LVR referrals to attend at least one LVR service visit from the eligible subjects were contacted for participation in phone interviews regarding their LVR experience. Practicing eye care providers (ECPs) at UTMB completed a questionnaire to capture their referral patterns. Of the eligible subjects, 64% were referred to LVR services by ECPs. Reported patient barriers included mental health issues (76%), denial of need for low-vision aid (71%), poor physical health (67%), lack of transportation (57.1%), and lack of referrals (36%). EPCs reported patient's overall health (67%), older age (44%), lack of social support (44%), poor cognitive function (44%), and low likelihood of follow-up (44%) as barriers to referring patients to LVR. This study identified several modifiable barriers that can be addressed to access LVR services for low-vision patients. Changing referral patterns, eliminating variations in referral criteria, and increasing patient awareness and knowledge of LVR resources may tremendously improve the quality of life of low-vision patients.

FK506 Treatment Prevents Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning in Organ-Transplanted Glaucoma Patients: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study.

Purpose This is a retrospective study of primary open-angle glaucoma patients treated with the immunosuppressor FK506 (tacrolimus) after an organ transplant. We assessed whether FK506 might be a potential neuroprotector adjuvant in glaucoma therapy. Patients and methods Organ transplant patients treated with FK506 for one or more years between 2006 and 2017 at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) were enrolled. Those selected were patients older than or equal to 50 years of age and had an ophthalmological eye examination with or without diagnostic tests for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Sixty-one eligible subjects were included in the study and matched with the non-FK506 control group for age, gender, race, and follow-up visits. Results A lower incidence of POAG was noted in the FK506-treated patients (15%) when compared to the non-FK506 group (22%), though not significant (p=0.34). Among POAG subjects, the average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness decreased at a rate of 1.4 µm per year (p=0.0001) in the non-FK506 control patients versus 0.4 µm per year (p=0.34) in the FK506 patients. The superior and inferior RNFL quadrants in the control non-FK506 group had a thinning of 2.2 µm and 2.3 µm per year, respectively, (p=0.003 and p=0.0001), while in the FK506 patients, there was no significant loss. In addition, RNFL thinning in nasal and temporal quadrant also showed less reduction in FK506-treated subjects but was not statistically significant (p=0.68 and p=0.93). Conclusion FK506 therapy offers a new promising avenue for neuroprotection in POAG patients and needs to be investigated further for use in conjunction with conventional glaucoma treatments.

Longitudinal Assessment of Alkali Injury on Mouse Cornea Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose: Chemical burns due to alkalis cause extensive damage to the ocular surface leading to blindness. Assessment of ocular burn could be challenging due to severe opacity, inflammation, and angiogenesis. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) may provide fast, non-invasive deep tissue visualization of pathology with high sensitivity in conjunction with slit-lamp analysis. Methods: C57-BL/6J mice were anesthetized with ketamine/dexmedetomidine, and corneal alkali burn was induced (n = 6) by placing filter paper soaked in 1-M sodium hydroxide for 30 seconds on the right eye while the left eye was kept as control. Longitudinal imaging was done with AS-OCT/OCTA and fluorescein angiography at various time intervals for 14 days. Results: AS-OCT showed characteristic pathological changes in alkali-burned eyes with high sensitivity. Although OCT/OCTA showed three-dimensional and cross-sectional views of the anterior chamber and angiogenesis, fluorescein angiography showed nascent vessels with active leakage. Corneal swelling progressively increased by 125.26% on day 12 with a high prevalence of epithelial bullae, stromal cysts, stromal splitting, and Descemet's membrane detachment. Neovascularization was noted as early as day 4 in the burned eyes by both methods. Severe corneal opacity and anterior chamber inflammation were also detected by AS-OCT/OCTA. Conclusions: AS-OCT/OCTA is a promising, noninvasive, high-resolution imaging modality that can provide both qualitative and quantitative information regarding deep tissue pathology at a structural level. Translational Relevance: Noninvasive AS-OCT/OCTA and fluorescein methods show promise in clinical pathology evaluation for ocular injury management and prognostic indications, as the early presence of Descemet's membrane detachment and corneal swelling appears to be correlated with the severity and localization of corneal neovascularization.

Change in Refractive Error Associated With the Use of Cannabidiol Oil.

Cannabinoid (CBD) products have gained popularity since their legalization in 2018, causing a plethora of unregulated CBD products to be sold in the United States. These products are available in various combinations for topical and oral consumption, claiming credit for potentially improving various diseases. In this report, we present a newfound case reporting a shift in refraction that may be associated with the regular use of CBD oil supplements. A 57-year-old woman with a history of diabetes mellitus type 2, hyperlipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, with no change in medications, diet, or lifestyle was found to have a hyperopic shift in vision with the recent daily addition of CBD oil intake. This case report highlights the possible association of CBD oil and vision changes after regular consumption of CBD oil in an otherwise stable patient. Further study is required to understand the mechanisms of CBD oil-associated shift in refractive error. Because the patient is diabetic and the refraction shift was hyperopic, other etiologies, such as un-noted lenticular change, cannot be ruled out. CBD products are unregulated and marketed in many mixed forms, and thus can cause unforeseen effects on susceptible individuals. This warrants Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation of such products and extensive research before considering them for therapeutic usage.

Impact of Injection Protocol Selection by Retina Specialists on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema.

Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections are the current gold standard for treating diabetic macular edema (DME). However, injection practice patterns of retina specialists have varied markedly based on physician discretion. This retrospective study analyzes the impact of injection protocol selection on change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) in 170 eyes treated by 4 retina specialists practicing a pro re nata (PRN) strategy between 2010 and 2020. DME patients received an average of 7.25 injections every 6.24 weeks over 56.6 weeks. There were significant differences between retina specialists in mean number of injections (p = 0.0001) and mean length of treatment (p = 0.0007) but not in mean interval between injections. Over the treatment period, average change in BCVA was -0.053 logMAR, and average change in CMT was -51.1 µm, neither of which had significant differences between retina specialists. BCVA and CMT at initial visit were found to be significantly associated with improved BCVA and CMT over the treatment period (p < 0.001). Number of injections administered and interval between injections were not found to be significant factors affecting change in BCVA or CMT. Despite significant differences in injection dosing regimen, retina specialists achieved similar outcomes in change in BCVA and CMT over the treatment period.

A case of comorbidities highlighting cerebral stroke, vision impairment, and dementia.

This case report is of a two-time stroke survivor with significant health comorbidities. This report highlights A.R.'s pre-existing, non-neurological vision impairments, stroke-related vision impairments, in addition to cognitive impairment and possible dementia. Information including her past medical history, current functional status, and battery of assessments that were used in the acute care hospital are detailed. Conclusions include the need for comprehensive, valid, and adapted assessments especially when comorbidities are present. We suggest that cognitive assessments that do not rely on vision may have improved the test accuracy in this case.