Analysis of the ocular surface functional unit in episodic migraine.

AIM: Migraine is a chronic neurovascular disease that affects the trigeminovascular system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate corneal subbasal nerve fibers, dendritic cells and to measure tear film parameters in migraine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 87 eyes of 44 patients suffering from migraine with a mean age of 33.23 ± 11.41 years were included in our study. 25 age-matched controls (mean age of 30.16 ± 12.59 years; P = 0.162) were recruited. The corneal subbasal plexus and the dendritic cells (DC) were analyzed using in vivo confocal microscopy (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II Rostock Cornea Module; Heidelberg Engineering GmbH), and the tear film was imaged using LacryDiag (Quantel Medical, France). RESULTS: Regarding the subbasal nerve fibers of the cornea, none of the examined parameters differed significantly in migraine patients from controls. We found a significant increase in the corneal DC density (P < 0.0001) and DC area (P < 0.0001) in migraine patients compared to healthy volunteers. DC density showed a positive correlation with the monthly attack frequency (r = 0.32, P = 0.041) and the DC area a negative correlation with corneal nerve branch density (r = -0.233, P = 0.039), nerve fiber length (r = -0.232, P = 0.04) and total branch density (r = -0.233, P = 0.039). Using LacryDiag a significant loss of Meibomian gland area could be detected on the superior eyelid (P = 0.005) in migraine. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the presence of neuroinflammation in the cornea of migraine patients affecting the peripheral trigeminal system. Dendritic cells surrounding the subbasal plexus may be involved in the activation and modulation of pain in migraine.

Pre-Ophthalmoscopic Quantitative Biomarkers in Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess whether retinal microvascular or corneal nerve abnormalities occur earlier in diabetes mellitus (DM) and to identify imaging biomarkers in order to help prevent the subsequent irreversible retinal and corneal complications. Methods: The study comprised 35 eyes of 35 healthy volunteers and 52 eyes of 52 patients with type 1 and type 2 DM. Swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography, and in vivo corneal confocal microscopy were performed in both groups. Corneal sub-basal nerve plexus and vessel density (VD) of superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) were evaluated. Results: All corneal sub-basal nerve fiber parameters were decreased in patients with DM compared with healthy subjects and the difference was significant for each result except for nerve fiber width (P = 0.586). No significant correlation was obtained between any nerve fiber morphology parameters and disease duration or HbA1C. VD in SCP was significantly decreased in the superior (P < 0.0001), temporal (P = 0.001), and nasal quadrant (P = 0.003) in the diabetes group. In DCP, only superior VD (P = 0.036), decreased significantly in the diabetes group. Ganglion cell layer thickness in the inner ring showed a significantly lower value in patients with DM (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our results implicate a more pronounced and earlier damage to the corneal nerve fibers compared to the retinal microvasculature in patients with DM. Translational Relevance: In DM, an earlier and more pronounced damage to the corneal nerve fibers was observed compared to the retinal microvasculature.

Ocular Manifestations of Hurler-Scheie Syndrome: Recurrence of Host Disease in the Corneal Transplant.

Introduction: Hurler-Scheie syndrome is a type of mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS). In MPS I the decreased activity of alpha-L-iduronidase lysosomal enzyme leads to glycosaminoglycan (GAG) deposition in the intra- and extracellular matrix. Excessive amounts of GAG can accumulate in most layers of the cornea, including epithelial cells, stromal keratocytes, and endothelial cells. Case Presentation: A 25-year-old female patient suffering from Hurler-Scheie syndrome with multiple ocular manifestations is reported. Due to significant bilateral corneal opacification, penetrating keratoplasty was performed on both eyes. Histopathologic examination of the corneal buttons showed disorganized collagen fibers with heterogenous thickness and many granule-containing keratocytes with excessive cytoplasm. Despite receiving enzyme replacement therapy, in vivo confocal microscopy revealed characteristic vacuoles in the basal epithelium and corneal stroma 96 months after transplantation. High resolution anterior segment optical coherence tomography demonstrated hyperreflective opacities superficial and deeper in the stroma which was consistent with recurrence of host disease in the graft. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented Hurler-Scheie syndrome case of recurrence after penetrating keratoplasty demonstrated by in vivo confocal microscopy. Additionally, this patient manifested severe ocular involvement of MPS which might be an explanation of the progressive course of corneal opacification after transplantation.

Corneal Cellular and Neuroinflammatory Changes After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate corneal cellular and ultrastructural changes and to quantify the neuroinflammatory process in patients after mild severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. METHODS: Thirty patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection and 41 age-matched controls were examined. All subjects underwent in vivo confocal microscopy of the corneal cell layers and subbasal nerve fibers with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II. Semiautomated analysis of basal epithelial, anterior and posterior stromal keratocyte, and endothelial cell density was performed. Dendritic cell (DC) density and area were also calculated, and subbasal nerve plexus morphology was analyzed. RESULTS: The posterior stromal keratocyte density was significantly lower in patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection ( P = 0.0006). DC density in the central cornea was significantly higher in patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection ( P = 0.0004). There was a significant difference in the DC area between the 2 groups ( P < 0.0001). Significantly altered subbasal nerve fiber morphology was detected in patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with healthy volunteers ( P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal cellular and ultrastructural changes demonstrated in this study suggest neuroinflammatory consequences of COVID-19 in the cornea in the absence of ophthalmoscopic alterations.

Analysis of microvascular and neurodegenerative complications of mild COVID-19.

PURPOSE: To examine retinal and corneal neurodegenerative and retinal microvascular changes in patients after mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 disease compared to age-matched controls. METHODS: Thirty-five (35) patients after PCR-proven SARS-CoV-2 infection and 28 age-matched controls were enrolled. Swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography, and in vivo corneal confocal microscopy were performed in both groups. Corneal subbasal nerve plexus was quantified. Vessel density for superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) and structural OCT parameters were recorded. RESULTS: Significantly lower nerve branch density (P = 0.0004), nerve fiber area (P = 0.0001), nerve fiber density (P = 0.0009), nerve fiber length (P < 0.0001), and total nerve branch density (P = 0.002) values were observed in patients after COVID-19 compared to healthy controls. VD of the temporal SCP was significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.019). No other SCP and DCP vessel density parameter differed significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that peripheral neurodegenerative changes may occur even after mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. No relevant microvascular changes were seen with OCT angiography and structural OCT parameters did not show any signs of optic neuropathy in post-COVID patients. In vivo confocal microscopy seems to be an important tool in monitoring peripheral neuropathy in patients after COVID-19.

Acute central retinal artery occlusion: Proposed therapeutic approach for ocular stroke / Akut arteria centralis retinae elzáródás; Az ocularis stroke induló terápiás programja

Összefoglaló. Az agy és a szem vascularis katasztrófái számos esetben egymáshoz társuló vagy egymást elore jelzo kórképek. Az arteria centralis retinae occlusio az ér rekanalizációjának hiányában a retina szöveteinek irreverzibilis károsodását okozza. Sem a nemzetközi, sem a hazai stroke-irányelvek nem foglalkoznak az ocularis stroke problémakörével, annak ellenére, hogy az arteria centralis retinae occlusio okozta retinalis ischaemia minden tekintetben megfelel az akut ischaemiás stroke definíciójának. Az eddig rendelkezésre álló irodalmi adatok alapján arteria centralis retinae occlusio esetén az intravénás thrombolysis 4,5 órán belül alkalmazva növeli a szignifikáns mértéku visusjavulás esélyét. Az országban jelenleg 4 centrum (Pécsi Tudományegyetem, Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Debreceni Egyetem, Semmelweis Egyetem) tervezi az ocularis stroke kezelésében a thrombolysis bevezetését. A maradandó látásromlás és a szekunder cerebrovascularis események megelozése érdekében elengedhetetlen az alapellátásban és a társszakmákban dolgozó kollégákkal való szoros együttmuködés. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(47): 1871-1875. Summary. Vascular events of the brain and the eye may occur concomitantly or sequentially. In the absence of recanalization, central retinal artery occlusion causes irreversible damage to the retinal tissues. Even though retinal ischemia secondary to central retinal artery occlusion meets the definition of acute ischemic stroke, neither the international nor the Hungarian stroke guidelines mention ocular stroke. Based on the available literature, intravenous thrombolysis of the central retinal artery within 4.5 hours of occlusion can increase the odds of significant vision improvement. Currently 4 centers (University of Pécs, Debrecen, Szeged, and Semmelweis University) are planning to introduce thrombolysis in the treatment of ocular stroke. To prevent permanent visual loss and secondary cerebrovascular events, timely intervention requires the collaboration between general practitioners and other specialties. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(47): 1871-1875.

Comparison of various intraocular lens formulas using a new high-resolution swept-source optical coherence tomographer.

PURPOSE: To compare vergence, artificial intelligence, and combined intraocular lens (IOL) calculation formulas using a new swept-source optical coherence tomographer (SS-OCT) and to analyze their performance based on manifest and estimated refractive outcomes of cataract surgery. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary. DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis. METHODS: Optical biometry readings of patients who underwent uneventful cataract removal and implantation of a monofocal acrylic IOL were used to predict IOL power with Barrett Universal II (BUII), Haigis, Hoffer Q, Holladay 1, Radial Basis Function (RBF) 2.0, Kane, Ladas Super Formula, and SRK/T. All the implanted IOLs were calculated by using the Haigis formula. The arithmetic prediction error and median and mean absolute refractive errors for all formulas were computed. The percentage of eyes within ±0.25 diopters (D), ±0.50 D, and ±1.0 D of prediction error was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 95 eyes of 95 patients with a mean age of 68.80 ± 7.57 years were included. There was a statistically significant difference in absolute prediction error across the 8 IOL calculation formulas (P < .0001). Haigis showed the lowest mean absolute error, and it differed significantly from the BUII, Hoffer Q, Holladay 1, Ladas, RBF 2.0, and SRK/T formulas (P < .05). In terms of eyes within ±0.25 D, ±0.50 D, and ±1.0 D of prediction error, the Haigis formula showed the overall best performance. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that a recently developed SS-OCT provided accurate ocular biometry measurements before cataract surgery, and the Haigis formula incorporated in its software enabled precise calculation of IOL refractive power.

Subjective health expectations of patients with age-related macular degeneration treated with antiVEGF drugs.

BACKGROUND: Subjective expectations regarding future health may influence patients' judgement of current health and treatment effects, as well as adherence to therapies in chronic diseases. We aimed to explore subjective expectations on longevity and future health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treated with antiVEGF injections and analyse the influencing factors. METHODS: Consecutive AMD patients in two ophthalmology centres were included. Demographics, clinical characteristics and informal care utilisation were recorded. Current health was evaluated by the EQ-5D generic health status questionnaire and time trade-off (TTO) methods. Happiness was measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Subjective life-expectancy and expected EQ-5D status at ages 70, 80 and 90 were surveyed. T-test was applied to compare subgroups and Pearson correlations were performed to analyse relationships between variables. RESULTS: One hundred twenty two patients were involved (females 62%) with a mean (SD) age of 75.2 (7.9) years and disease duration of 2.9 (2.5) years. The majority were in AREDS-4 state, the better eye's ETDRS was 64.7 (15.4). EQ-5D and TTO revealed moderate deterioration of health (0.66 vs. 0.72, p = 0.131), happiness VAS was 6.3 (2.2). Correlation between EQ-5D and ETDRS was moderate (R = 0.242, p < 0.05) and having both versus one eye in AREDS-4 resulted lower TTO (0.68 vs. 0.83; p = 0.013). Subjective life-expectancy did not differ significantly from statistical life-expectancy and had no significant impact on TTO. The self-estimated mean EQ-5D score was 0.60, 0.40 and 0.24 for ages 70, 80 and 90 which is lower than the population norm of age-groups 65-74, 75-84 and 85+ (0.77, 0.63 and 0.63, respectively). Age, gender, current EQ-5D, need for informal care and happiness were deterministic factors of subjective health expectations. CONCLUSION: AMD patients with antiVEGF treatment have comparable HRQOL as the age-matched general public but expect a more severe deterioration of health with age. Older patients with worse HRQOL have worse subjective expectations. Exploring patients' health expectations provides an opportunity for ophthalmologists to correct misperceptions and improve the quality of AMD care. Further studies should provide evidences on the relationship between subjective expectations and actual health outcomes, and on its impact on patients' AMD-specific health behaviour.