Iris-claw intraocular lens for aphakia: Can location influence the final outcomes?

PURPOSE: To describe the demographic data, evaluate the long-term refractive and anatomical outcomes, and report the incidence of complications of anterior iris (prepupillary) and posterior iris (retropupillary) fixation of the Artisan aphakia iris-claw intraocular lens (IOL). SETTING: Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Spain. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Patients who had iris-claw IOL implantation were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (prepupillary) and Group 2 (retropupillary). The corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), anatomical changes, endothelial cell count (ECC), presence of cystoid macular edema (CME), and operative and postoperative complications were determined. RESULTS: The study comprised 95 eyes of 95 patients. Fifty-seven patients had prepupillary implantation and 38 patients had retropupillary implantation. Indications for surgery were IOL luxation or subluxation (n = 24), lens luxation or subluxation (n = 17), trauma (n = 15), aphakia (n = 30), and other (n = 9). The CDVA improved significantly in both groups and there were no differences between them. A significant ECC reduction was observed in both groups, with no differences between them. The incidence of CME was 16.1% (21.8% in the prepupillary group and 7.9% in the retropupillary group at 3 months and 8 months, respectively), although the difference was not statistically significant. Other postoperative complications were rare and no differences were found between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of location, the iris-claw IOL provided good visual outcomes with few complications. However, prepupillary IOL implantation seemed to contribute to greater endothelial cell loss and earlier onset of CME.

Preclinical characterization and clinical evaluation of tacrolimus eye drops.

Severe allergic ocular diseases as atopic keratoconjunctivitis can induce corneal damage due to inflammatory substances released from giant papillae. Tacrolimus eye drops are one of the current therapeutic alternatives for its treatment. This work is aimed at developing and characterizing a 0.03% tacrolimus ophthalmic formulation, which was introduced in three types of vehicles (BBS, PVA and Hyaluronic Acid). For this, we have performed in vitro (stability studies) and in vivo assays (corneal permanence time measured directly by Positron Emission Tomography) of three potential formulations. Next, the best formulation was selected, and its toxicological profile and clinical effectiveness have been evaluated. The biopermanence studies (direct measurements and PET/CT) showed that the formulations with PVA and Hyaluronic Acid present more retention time on the ocular surface of rats than PBS. From the stability study, we have determined that tacrolimus with PVA in cold storage is the best option. Tacrolimus with PVA has shown lower cytotoxicity than cyclosporine at early times. On the other hand, the pilot study performed has shown significant improvements in patients, with no noticeable adverse reactions. Based on stability, biopermanence, safety and clinical effectiveness studies, we concluded that tacrolimus-PVA eye drops are a suitable candidate for its clinical application in inflammatory ophthalmology diseases.

Hidrogel oftálmico de cisteamina para el tratamiento de la cistinosis ocular / Cysteamine ophthalmic hydrogel for the treatment of ocular cystinosis

La cistinosis ocular es una enfermedad rara que se caracteriza por el depósito de cristales de cistina a nivel corneal, los cuales dificultan la visión de los pacientes. La cisteamina oral se administra en forma de cisteamina, pero esta no alcanza la córnea debido a la falta de vascularización corneal, por lo que es necesaria la aplicación tópica ocular. El objetivo del presente trabajo es determinar la estabilidad de un hidrogel oftálmico de cisteamina, potencialmente formulable en servicios de farmacia hospitalaria, conservado este bajo diferentes condiciones de almacenamiento durante un periodo de 30 días. Los parámetros físicos y químicos evaluados han sido la osmolalidad, el pH y la concentración de cisteamina, siendo esta última valorada mediante un método de cromatografía líquida de ultra alta presión, empleando un detector de masas en tándem (UPLC-MS/MS). Los ensayos descriptivos se han basado en la medición de la transparencia y los ensayos microbiológicos en la realización de pruebas de esterilidad. Los resultados obtenidos permiten concluir que el hidrogel de cisteamina es estable durante un periodo de 30 días, recomendándose que su conservación sea en nevera (AU)

Ocular cystinosis is a rare disease characterised by the deposit of cystine crystals on the corneal surface, which hinder patients' eyesight. Oral cysteamine is given as cysteamine; however, it does not reach the cornea due to the lack of corneal vascularization making necessary its administration by the topical ocular route. The aim of the present study is to determine the stability of an ophthalmic hydrogel of cysteamine, which can be potentially prepared at hospital pharmacy departments, under different preservation conditions during a follow-up of 30 days. Different physical and chemical parameters were evaluated: osmolality, pH and cysteamine concentration, which has been measured by a method of ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS). Descriptive assays were also performed, such as transparency measurement and microbiological assays in order to verify its sterility. The obtained results allow us to conclude that the cysteamine hydrogel is stable during 30 days, being recommendable its preservation in refrigerated conditions (AU)

[Cysteamine ophthalmic hydrogel for the treatment of ocular cystinosis]. / Hidrogel oftálmico de cisteamina para el tratamiento de la cistinosis ocular.

Ocular cystinosis is a rare disease characterised by the deposit of cystine crystals on the corneal surface, which hinder patients' eyesight. Oral cysteamine is given as cysteamine; however, it does not reach the cornea due to the lack of corneal vascularization making necessary its  administration by the topical ocular route. The aim of the present study is to  determine the stability of an ophthalmic hydrogel of cysteamine, which can be  potentially prepared at hospital pharmacy departments, under different preservation conditions during a follow-up of 30 days. Different physical  and chemical parameters were evaluated: osmolality, pH and  cysteamine concentration, which has been measured by a method of ultra  performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS).  Descriptive assays were also performed, such as transparency measurement and  microbiological assays in order to verify its sterility. The obtained results  allow us to conclude that the cysteamine hydrogel is stable during 30 days,  being recommendable its preservation in refrigerated conditions.

La cistinosis ocular es una enfermedad rara que se caracteriza por el depósito de  cristales de cistina a nivel corneal, los cuales dificultan la visión de  los pacientes. La cisteamina oral se administra en forma de cisteamina, pero  esta no alcanza la córnea debido a la falta de vascularización corneal, por lo que  es necesaria la aplicación tópica ocular. El objetivo del presente trabajo es  determinar la estabilidad de un hidrogel oftálmico de cisteamina, potencialmente  formulable en servicios de farmacia hospitalaria, conservado  este bajo diferentes condiciones de almacenamiento durante un periodo de 30  días. Los parámetros físicos y químicos evaluados han sido la osmolalidad, el pH  y la concentración de cisteamina, siendo esta última valorada mediante un  método de cromatografía líquida de ultra alta presión, empleando un detector de  masas en tándem (UPLC-MS/MS). Los ensayos descriptivos se han basado  en la medición de la transparencia y los ensayos microbiológicos en la realización  de pruebas de esterilidad. Los resultados obtenidos permiten  concluir que el hidrogel de cisteamina es estable durante un periodo de 30 días,  recomendándose que su conservación sea en nevera.

Ligneous conjunctivitis: a clinicopathological, immunohistochemical, and genetic study including the treatment of two sisters with multiorgan involvement.

Ligneous conjunctivitis (LC) is a rare disease characterized by wood-like pseudomembranes developing on the ocular and extraocular mucosae secondary to plasminogen (PLG) deficiency. In this paper, we report two cases of LC in two sisters of 57 and 62 years of age that presented with recurrent, bilateral pseudomembranes on conjunctiva and a history of consanguinity and deafness. Pseudomembranes showed superficial and/or subepithelial deposits of eosinophilic amorphous hyaline, amyloid-like material with a variable proportion of granulation tissue, and inflammatory cells. The eosinophilic deposits were negative for Congo red stain, immunoreactive for fibrinogen, and consistently negative for amyloid A component, transthyretin, beta(2)-microglobulin, albumin, fibronectin, collagen type IV, vimentin, and cytokeratins. Among inflammatory cells, a percentage of positivity of roughly 60% for lymphocytes T (CD3+) and 40% for lymphocytes B (CD8+), with a relation of cytotoxic/helper (CD8/4) T cells of 3:2, was found. In one case, nasal polyps and recurrent gastric peptic ulcer were also characterized by the same subepithelial hyaline deposits. A novel homozygous point mutation c.1856 C>T was found in exon 15 of the PLG gene in both patients. Amniotic membrane transplantation was done in one case with promising results.