Two-year outcome of partial lacrimal punctal occlusion in the management of dry eye related to Sjögren syndrome.

PURPOSE: To analyze the influence of thermal partial punctal occlusion on the ocular surface of dry eye related to Sjögren syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-seven eyes of 19 patients (3 male and 16 female; 49.11 ± 14.33 years old) with keratoconjunctivitis sicca were enrolled in this study. Superior and inferior partial occlusion were performed in both eyes under topical anesthesia using thermal cautery with a sterile tip to obtain lacrimal punctum smaller than 0.5 mm. Schirmer I, break-up-time, diameter of lacrimal puncta, corneal fluorescein, and rose Bengal staining scores were analyzed before and after 24 weeks and after 24 months of the procedure. All measurements were performed under controlled climate. RESULTS: The average lacrimal punctum diameter before the procedure was 0.65 ± 0.134 mm. All lacrimal puncta were successfully reduced to less than 0.5 mm after 4 weeks of the procedure. The average Schirmer I test values improved statistically after 24 weeks and maintained stable after 24 months. Average break-up-time, rose Bengal, and fluorescein staining score values improved statistically after 24 weeks and improved even more after 24 months. Average Schirmer I test, break-up-time, rose Bengal, and fluorescein staining scores showed significant improvement (p < 0.0001) after 24 months of partial thermal punctal occlusion. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that reducing the punctum diameter to 0.5 mm can improve vital staining scores, break-up-time, and Schirmer I test in dry eye related to Sjögren syndrome.

Clinical treatment of ocular Demodex folliculorum by systemic ivermectin.

PURPOSE: To report clinical outcomes of the treatment of ocular Demodex folliculorum with oral ivermectin. DESIGN: Noncomparative, interventional case series. METHODS: Setting. Institutional. Study Population. Twenty-four eyes of 12 patients (3 male and 9 female; mean age ± standard deviation, 50.4 ± 21.0 years) with refractory posterior blepharitis with the presence of D. folliculorum in lash samples were enrolled in this study. Intervention. Patients were instructed to take 1 dose of oral ivermectin (200 µg/kg). All patients were instructed to repeat the treatment after 7 days. Main outcome measures. Tear meniscus height, Schirmer I test results, noninvasive tear film break-up time (BUT), quantification of the absolute number of D. folliculorum found in the lashes, and corneal fluorescein and rose bengal staining scores were obtained from all patients 1 day before and 28 days after treatment. RESULTS: Statistical improvement was observed in the absolute number of D. folliculorum found in the lashes after the treatment with oral ivermectin. Average values of Schirmer I test results and tear film break-up time improved statistically after the treatment of oral ivermectin. No statistical improvement was observed in average lacrimal meniscus height or value of corneal fluorescein and rose bengal staining after treatment with oral ivermectin. CONCLUSIONS: Ivermectin successfully reduced the number of D. folliculorum found in the lashes of patients with refractory blepharitis. Oral ivermectin may be very useful as a complement in the treatment of D. folliculorum infestation with ocular manifestation, especially in cases of unsuccessful treatment related to patient compliance.

[Clinical correlation between structural and functional assessment in glaucoma: Armaly cup to disk ratio and Brusini glaucoma staging system]. / Correlação clínica entre estrutura e função no glaucoma: classificação estrutural de Armaly e o sistema de estadiamento funcional de Brusini.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between Armaly's structural systems with Brusini's functional staging in glaucomatous patients. METHODS: Seventy-eight eyes of forty-two patients with primary open-angle glaucoma underwent visual field testing with the Humphrey Field Analyzer II (program SITA 24-2) and optic disc evaluation with the 78D Volk lens by two independent observers. Optic disc was stratified according to cup/disc ratio (C/D), from 0.1 to 1.0. Mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) values from each eye were plotted on Brusini's staging system to derive a value for glaucoma severity. Both cup/disc ratio and Brusini's values were plotted on a diagram to assess correlation (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient). Armaly's values were logged in a logarithmic figure and the data plotted on a diagram with Brusini's values for each patient. RESULTS: Armaly's and Brusini's systems dysplayed a poor correlation (rho=0.340). Both unlogged and logged, Armaly's versus Brusini's plots resulted in a linear and weak correlation. CONCLUSION: Despite the weak correlation, Armaly's structural system and Brusini's staging system provided non-independent measures for glaucoma evaluation.