Exfoliation syndrome and exfoliation glaucoma: Current perspectives and clinical paradigms.

Exfoliation syndrome and exfoliation glaucoma comprise a unique age-related ocular aggregopathy characterized by the accumulation of protein complex aggregates in different ocular structures. Recent literature and studies have expanded our knowledge of the clinical characteristic features, phenotypical variations, and molecular pathophysiology associated with disease onset or development of glaucoma. Despite years of studies on the various epidemiological, clinical, and molecular facets of the disease, the exact mechanism of disease onset, formation of aggregates, and the events that trigger the development of glaucoma marking irreversibility in the disease remains elusive. This review elaborates on the existing and new insights that we have gained over the years and highlights gaps in the knowledge about the disease that need future exploration.

Healing responses at the angle after micro-invasive glaucoma surgery-an AS-OCT study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate structural alterations and healing responses in the trabecular meshwork region with optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) following after gonioscopy assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) and microincisional trabeculectomy (MIT). METHODS: 73 eyes of 67 patients (M:F = 45:22) with ≥6 months of follow-up after MIT (n = 41) or GATT (n = 32) with or without combined cataract surgery were included for this prospective study. The angle as seen on AS-OCT at 1, 3, 6 months after surgery were evaluated for structural alterations like peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS), hyphema, and hyperreflective scarring responses. The scarring was graded according to the linear extent measured from the centre of the trabecular meshwork (TM) gutter to the sclera/cornea as mild (<250µ), moderate (250-500µ), and severe(˃500µ), while the pattern of scarring was graded as open saucer/gutter, closed gutter, and trench pattern. The association of the need for medication or surgical outcome and clinical variables and AS-OCT parameters including the pattern and severity of scarring were analysed using multivariate regression. RESULTS: All eyes achieved significant reduction of IOP and number of medications with a final IOP of 15±3.2mm Hg at a mean follow-up of 8±32. months. While mild scarring was seen more common in MIT, severe scarring was seen in >65% of GATT eyes compared to 31% of MIT eye, p<0.001. An open saucer was equally seen in MIT and GATT while the trench pattern was more commonly seen in GATT eyes (>50%). Severe scarring in a trench pattern seemed to predict the need for medications for IOP control, though they independently did not seem to influence the final IOP or surgical outcome. CONCLUSION: A severe form of scarring in a trench pattern on AS-OCT predicted the need for glaucoma medications after MIGS surgery. Regular monitoring of the scarring responses by AS-OCT and clinical examination are necessary to identify those at need for medications after MIGS.

Risk factors for exfoliation glaucoma - Current evidence and perspectives.

Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) and exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) represent a complex matrix of ocular age-related neurodegenerative changes. Numerous decades of research on this disease entity have highlighted the unique clinical features of ocular protein-complex aggregates, which lead to tissue dysfunction of the ocular outflow channels, leading to irreversible optic nerve damage and glaucoma. While genetic studies have reported several genes associated with XFS and XFG, numerous studies have shown their association with common systemic diseases such as ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents, and hypertension. Environmental factors are also reported to play a role in the disease pathogenesis by epigenetic control of gene expression and partly explain the difference in the prevalence rates of the disease process. Despite the identification of possible triggers for the disease onset or for the development of glaucoma, the exact mechanisms or the role of several reported risk factors in disease pathogenesis remain a mystery. This review comprehensively evaluated the several risk factors in XFS and XFG while discussing the interactive interplay between the risk factors that determine the disease onset or phenotype in XFS and XFG.

All-trans retinoic acid induces durable tumor immunity in IDH-mutant gliomas by rescuing transcriptional repression of the CRBP1-retinoic acid axis.

Diffuse gliomas are epigenetically dysregulated, immunologically cold, and fatal tumors characterized by mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH). Although IDH mutations yield a uniquely immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, the regulatory mechanisms that drive the immune landscape of IDH mutant (IDHm) gliomas remain unknown. Here, we reveal that transcriptional repression of retinoic acid (RA) pathway signaling impairs both innate and adaptive immune surveillance in IDHm glioma through epigenetic silencing of retinol binding protein 1 (RBP1) and induces a profound anti-inflammatory landscape marked by loss of inflammatory cell states and infiltration of suppressive myeloid phenotypes. Restorative retinoic acid therapy in murine glioma models promotes clonal CD4 + T cell expansion and induces tumor regression in IDHm, but not IDH wildtype (IDHwt), gliomas. Our findings provide a mechanistic rationale for RA immunotherapy in IDHm glioma and is the basis for an ongoing investigator-initiated, single-center clinical trial investigating all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in recurrent IDHm human subjects.

Outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve surgery performed by glaucoma fellows - A large retrospective study from Eastern India.

PURPOSE: Teaching and training of glaucoma fellows on the technique of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation surgery is very important. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical outcomes and complications of AGV surgery performed by glaucoma fellows of a tertiary eye center from eastern India. METHODS: This was a retrospective study based on electronic medical records. Thirty-five eyes operated with AGV by five glaucoma fellows from January 2016 to November 2020 were included. Best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and number of antiglaucoma medications (AGMs) were the study outcome measures. RESULTS: The mean (±standard deviation) age of the patients was 40.5 (±19.7) years. The follow-up period was 24.37 (±13.01) months. Both complete success (IOP <21 mmHg without additional AGM) and qualified success (IOP <21 mmHg with an additional AGM) were achieved in eight eyes each (22.8%). Failure of the surgery was noted in 19 eyes (54.3%) as there was a need for repeat surgery for IOP control in 12 eyes and a persistent IOP spike (IOP >21 mmHg with AGM beyond 3 months) in seven eyes. Despite a high rate of failure of the primary surgery, with the consultants' intervention, there was statistically significant improvement in vision and IOP in all patients ( P < 0.01) at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: AGV implantation is a challenging surgical skill to be acquired by the glaucoma fellows.

An Interprofessional Approach to Aural Rehabilitation for Adults with Hearing Loss and Cognitive Concerns.

Individuals with hearing loss are at risk for cognitive decline. The traditional approach to audiological care does not typically involve a team approach that addresses cognitive concerns. While cognitive screening is within the scope of practice in audiology, audiologists are not typically trained in interpreting screening results or providing rehabilitation that supports cognitive health. However, as growing evidence shows that hearing loss is tied to cognitive decline, a team approach is required to support whole-person care. Speech-language pathologists, who specialize in optimizing communication, are best situated to collaborate with audiologists to provide holistic aural rehabilitation. Audiologists and speech-language pathologists who partner to support a client's communication skills and social relationships play an important role in the life of an individual with hearing loss. In this perspective, we describe relevant background information about hearing loss and cognition and present an interprofessional approach to aural rehabilitation for adults with hearing loss who have cognitive concerns. We also discuss implications for future research.

Real-world health-related quality of life outcomes for patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma treated with adjuvant anti-PD1 therapy.

BACKGROUND: While adjuvant therapy with anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (anti-PD1) for patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma has been shown to improve recurrence-free survival, the overall survival benefit remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the impact of adjuvant anti-PD1 therapy on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma METHODS: Data was used from two melanoma registries in Australia and the Netherlands. Patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma treated with adjuvant anti-PD1 who completed a baseline and at least one post-baseline HRQOL assessment were included. HRQOL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Established thresholds were used for interpreting changes in QLQ-C30 scores. RESULTS: 92 patients were included. Mean symptom and functioning scores improved or remained stable at 12 months compared to baseline. However, a substantial proportion of patients experienced a clinically significant decline in role (39%, µ = -50.8), social (41%, µ = -32.7), or emotional (50%, µ = -25.1) functioning at 12 months compared to baseline. Younger patients were more likely to experience clinically significant deteriorations in role (OR=1.07, 95% CI: 1.02-1.13, p < 0.01) and social (OR=1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.11, p = 0.013) functioning. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma who received adjuvant anti-PD1 experienced clinically significant declines in role, social and emotional functioning at 12 months compared to baseline. This highlights the HRQOL issues that may arise during adjuvant anti-PD1 therapy which may require supportive care intervention.

Rare Immune-Related Adverse Events (irAEs): Approach to Diagnosis and Management.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionised the treatment landscape across many solid organ malignancies and form part of routine clinical practice in many tumours. As indications for monotherapy, doublet therapy and combination approaches with chemotherapy and targeted agents expand, clinicians must be aware of the wide range of possible immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Common toxicities, including rash, colitis, hepatitis and pneumonitis are well described in the literature, and have established diagnostic and management algorithms. Rarer toxicities, often with an incidence of less than 1%, are less defined. These syndromes can be poorly recognised, may take on a fulminant course and do not have established or evidence-based diagnostic and management strategies. As such, patients may experience increased morbidity, mortality and poorer outcomes, related both to these irAEs as well as how the treatment of these may affect the management of their underlying malignancy. In this review, we aim to explore the incidence, potential biomarkers, pathogenesis, diagnostic work-up and clinical sequelae of a selection of uncommon irAEs, with a focus on myocarditis, neurological and haematologic syndromes. Further prospective research is required to accurately define the incidence and pathogenesis of these conditions, with the aim of increasing clinician awareness of rare irAEs and to assist with a more personalised and mechanism-based approach to these syndromes.

Histopathologic correlates of trabecular meshwork in microincisional trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To report the histopathologic correlates of trabecular meshwork (TM) specimens procured by microincisional trabeculectomy (MIT) for different severities of glaucoma (early glaucoma: visual field mean deviation [MD] <-6 dB, moderate glaucoma: MD from - 6 to - 12 dB, and advanced glaucoma: MD <-12 dB). METHODS: TM specimens from four patients undergoing MIT with or without cataract surgery were analyzed by routine histopathology for structural changes. The number of cells, the number of cells with spindle-shaped nuclei suggestive of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), and the distance between the trabecular beams were calculated using different tools on freely available ImageJ software using the line or pint/count tool. RESULTS: The TM specimens procured from two early and two advanced glaucoma cases showed decreasing cellularity and decreased compact arrangement of the trabecular beams in severe disease stages. The number of cells and preserved architecture in all four specimens were evident, with > 50 cells being present per section in all four cases despite the glaucoma being of advanced disease stage in two patients. CONCLUSION: The TM specimens obtained from MIT can be utilized for downstream analysis using different molecular methods for studying the molecular events in the tissue from early to severe glaucoma.

Trabeculectomy with concurrent intravitreal bevacizumab in neovascular glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of concurrent intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection with trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C (MMC) in neovascular glaucoma (NVG). METHODS: Patients with NVG who underwent trabeculectomy with concurrent IVB (group 1) and those who underwent IVB sequentially, followed by trabeculectomy with MMC (group 2) in 1-2 weeks between January 2021 and August 2022, were included in this retrospective hospital-based study. The need for medications for intraocular pressure (IOP) control at 6 months in the two groups was the primary outcome measured and compared between the groups. The association of the need for medications postoperatively with clinical variables was assessed using stepwise multivariate regression statistics. RESULTS: We finally included 40 patients ( n = 12 in group 1, n = 28 in group 2) with no significant differences in presenting age between groups. The IOP at 1 day and 1 week were not significantly different between groups though the IOP at 1, 3, and 6 months. IOP was lower in group 1 eyes with the 6-month IOP, being significantly lower in group 1, P = 0.05. Three eyes in group 1 and 11 eyes in group 2 required anti-glaucoma medications in the postoperative period. Multivariate regression identified preoperative IVB >3 (ß =0.7, P < 0.001) and recurrent vitreous hemorrhage (ß = 0.7, P = 0.004) as prognostic factors ( R2 = 40.6%) determining the need for anti-glaucoma medication (AGM) postoperatively in both groups. CONCLUSION: Concurrent IVB with trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C is a feasible alternative in patients with NVG with refractory high-presenting IOP. This may serve to address raised IOP as well as retinal ischemia, thereby improving surgical success rates in the most challenging NVG cases.

'Intraoperative predictors for clinical outcomes after microinvasive glaucoma surgery".

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical applicability of intraoperative predictors for surgical outcomes after gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) and microincisional trabeculectomy (MIT). METHODS: Consecutive patients with primary, or secondary glaucoma (trauma, aphakic, or status post-retinal surgeries) with uncontrolled IOP>21mm Hg, who were scheduled to undergo GATT or MIT with or without significant cataract surgery, at a tertiary eye centre in East India between September 2021 to March 2023, were included. All surgeries were done by a single surgeon. Blanching and Trypan blue (0.4%) staining after intracameral injection using a 25 canula, were analysed in each video. The extent/pattern of blanching and blue staining in each eye was analysed objectively using an overlay of a circle with 12 sectors and a protractor tool to quantify the degrees or quadrants of blanching/staining. Multivariate regression was used to identify predictors for surgical success or the need for medications after surgery. RESULT: Of 167 eyes that were included (male: female- 134: 33), 49 eyes and 118 eyes underwent GATT and MIT, respectively, with 81 of 167 eyes undergoing concurrent cataract surgery. All eyes had a significant reduction in the number of medications after surgery. Blanching was seen in 154 of 167 eyes in a mean of 2±1.8 quadrants with 41% of eyes showing a blanching effect in >3 quadrants. Of 99 of 167 eyes where Trypan blue staining was assessed, staining in a venular, diffuse haze, or reticular pattern of staining was seen in 73 eyes, 26 eyes showed blue staining in >2 quadrants, with 16% staining in >3 quadrants. Surgical success was not predicted by the quadrants of blanching, blue staining, or other clinical variables (age, visual field, baseline intraocular pressure, type of surgery). The variables significantly predicting the need for medications included blanch (r = -0.1, p = 0.03), and blue staining (r = -0.1, p = 0.04) in <2 quadrants. CONCLUSIONS: Blanching and Trypan blue staining in >2 quadrants after GATT or MIT can serve as surrogate predictors for the need for medications. However more studies are mandated to find predictors for surgical success after GATT or MIT.

Visual Field Progression After Glaucoma Surgery in Pseudoexfoliation versus Primary Glaucoma.

Purpose: To compare visual field progression in severity-matched pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (XFG) and primary glaucoma after intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction by filtering surgery. Methods: Patients with XFG (n=32), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG, n=33) or primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG, n=28) that underwent routine cataract and glaucoma filtering surgery by the same surgeon (APR) between May 2017 and September 2021, were included for this prospective study. Rate of progression (ROP) was determined using guided progression analysis and compared between XFG and primary glaucoma. Multivariate regression was done to analyse the factors responsible for progression in each group. Results: Visual field progression after surgery was noted in 48 eyes (n=11 XFG, 18 POAG and 19 PACG eyes) at a mean follow-up of 10±5.6 months after surgery with RVI seen in 18 of 48 eyes. The final IOP (p=0.8) and mean ROP (p=0.09) were not significantly different between XFG and primary glaucoma. The XFG eyes had a greater number of eyes (36%) showing an ROP worse than -5dB/yr, with 45% of eyes showing an IOP spike >5mm Hg, and a higher mean IOP spike between visits. The ROP in eyes with RVO and >5mm Hg IOP spikes was greater in XFG than in POAG or PACG. In the multivariate analysis, higher IOP fluctuations >5mm Hg, and associated retinal vein occlusions (RVO) were significant factors for visual progression greater than -5dB/year (R2=53.5%) in POAG and XFG eyes. Age, gender, baseline MD, and number of medications before surgery or at final follow-up did not influence visual progression rates in either group. Conclusion: A higher IOP fluctuation >5mm Hg and associated RVO were the significant factors predicting visual field progression after filtering surgery in XFG and POAG eyes. Control of both IOP-dependent and -independent mechanisms of VF progression is therefore essential in these eyes.

Development of a Medical Complexity Score for Pediatric Aerodigestive Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a complexity scoring system to characterize the diverse population served in pediatric aerodigestive clinics and help predict their treatment outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: A 7-point medical complexity score was developed through an iterative group consensus of relative stakeholders to capture the spectrum of comorbidities among the aerodigestive population. One point was assigned for each comorbid diagnosis in the following categories: airway anomaly, neurologic, cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal, genetic diagnoses, and prematurity. A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients seen in the aerodigestive clinic who had ≥2 visits between 2017 and 2021. The predictive value of the complexity score for the selected outcome of feeding progression among children with dysphagia was analyzed with univariate and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: We analyzed 234 patients with complexity scores assigned, showing a normal distribution (Shapiro Wilk P = .406) of the scores 1-7 (median, 4; mean, 3.50 ± 1.47). In children with dysphagia, there was waning success in the improvement of oral feeding with increasing complexity scores (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51-0.84; P = .001). Tube-fed children with higher complexity scores were incrementally less likely to achieve full oral diet (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.40-0.89; P = .01). On multivariable analysis, neurologic comorbidity (OR, 0.26; P < .001) and airway malformation (OR, 0.35; P = .01) were associated with a decreased likelihood to improve in oral feeding. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a novel complexity score for the pediatric aerodigestive population that is easy to use, successfully stratifies diverse presentations, and shows promise as a predictive tool to assist in counseling and resource use.

Outcomes of "Complex" Cataract Surgeries Performed by Long-Term Glaucoma Fellows in a Tertiary Eye Centre from Eastern India.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of operating on "complex cataracts" by the glaucoma fellows. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study done at a tertiary referral eye care centre in eastern India. After obtaining IRB approval, a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent "complex" cataract surgery by one of four long-term (2 years) glaucoma fellows between January 2016 and November 2020 was conducted. 'Complex' was defined as cataracts complicated with pseudoexfoliation syndrome, phacodonesis with or without blunt ocular trauma, posterior polar cataract, small pupil, co-existent corneal opacity or uveal coloboma, post-glaucoma filtering surgery, post-vitreoretinal surgery, co-existent glaucoma or post-laser iridotomy and monocular patients. Results: Out of a total of 677 eyes done by the glaucoma fellows during the study period, 83 eyes had complex cataract surgery and completed the six-week post-operative follow-up. Intraoperative surgical complications like posterior capsular rent or vitreous loss were noted in 36 of the cases. Thirty of the eyes were left aphakic. Despite a high rate of complications, the LogMAR best-corrected visual acuity (mean ± standard deviation) improved from the preoperative level of 1.7 (±0.5) to 1.0 (± 0.8) at post-operative six weeks, significant at p < 0.001. As far as the surgeon's experience was concerned-less than or more than a year since joining the fellowship-there was statistically no difference in the final visual acuity. The group with greater experience had shorter surgical time and lesser complications though this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: This is the first study in the literature reporting the outcomes of "complex" cataract surgery performed by glaucoma fellows. Though high rates of postoperative complications were noted in this study, the mean best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly in all eyes after the surgery.

'Microincisional trabeculectomy for glaucoma".

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of microincisional trabeculectomy (MIT), a new technique of ab-interno trabeculectomy. METHODS: Consecutive patients with open-angle glaucoma identified from the hospital database that underwent MIT with or without cataract surgery between September 2021 to June 2022 at a tertiary eye centre in East India, were screened. Those with a follow-up of < 6 months or with incomplete data were excluded. MIT was done ab-interno using microscissors and microforceps in 2-4 clock hours of the nasal angle via a temporal incision. The intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction at 6 months, and reduction in the number of medications after surgery were analysed. Surgical success (IOP>6 and <22 mm Hg), complications, angle features on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT), and the need for additional surgeries were analysed. RESULTS: We included thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with open-angle glaucoma (including n = 9 eyes that underwent concurrent cataract surgery) with a preoperative mean IOP of 22 ±11.1 mm Hg and visual field index of 47±37.9%. All eyes achieved >30% IOP reduction, with a final IOP of 14±6.9 mm Hg at 6 months. Surgical success in 31 of 32 eyes with complete success seen in 28 eyes with none of the eyes requiring >1 medication for IOP control. Hyphema was seen in 4 eyes, while transient IOP spikes at 1 day-1 month were seen in 5 eyes, none of which required any additional interventions. One eye with persistent raised IOP at 1 month required incisional trabeculectomy for uncontrolled IOP with 2 medications. CONCLUSION: MIT, a new technique of ab-interno trabeculectomy, is effective in terms of IOP control and reduction in the number of medications while having fewer complications. Long-term studies comparing the efficacy of MIT with incisional trabeculectomy, or other procedures are warranted in the future.

Cataract versus combined surgery in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

Purpose: Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (XFG) is often associated with a higher rate of intraoperative complications and failure. This study aims to compare the long-term clinical and surgical outcomes of cataract surgery alone versus combined surgery in XFG. This was a retrospective: comparative case series. Methods: All patients with XFG who underwent either cataract surgery alone [group 1: either phacoemulsification, PHACO/small-incision cataract surgery (SICS), n = 35] or combined surgery (group 2: phacotrabeculectomy, PHACOT or SICS + trabeculectomy, n = 46) from 2013 to 2018 by a single trained surgeon were screened and recalled for a detailed clinical examination, including Humphrey visual field analysis at 3-monthly intervals for a minimum of 3 years. Surgical success (intraocular pressure, IOP, <21 mm Hg and >6 mm Hg with (qualified success) or without medicines, complete success, survival rates, visual field changes, and need for additional procedures/medicines for IOP control were compared between groups. Results: A total of 81 eyes of 68 patients with XFG were included in this study (groups 1-35 eyes and groups 2-46 eyes each). Both groups achieved 27-40% IOP reduction from preoperative IOP levels, P < 0.001. Surgical success rates were similar in both groups (complete success 66% vs 55%, P = 0.4), qualified success 17% vs 24%, P = 0.8, in groups 1 and 2). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a marginally better survival rate for group 1, 75% (55-87%), than group 2, 66% (50-78%), at 3 and 5 years which was not significantly different. The number of eyes that progressed at 5 years after surgery (5-6%) was similar in both groups. Conclusion: Cataract surgery can be as effective as combined surgery in XFG eyes with regards to final visual acuity, long-term IOP profile, and visual field progression, and complications/survival rates are comparable between the two procedures.

A Feedback Loop between TGF-ß1 and ATG5 Mediated by miR-122-5p Regulates Fibrosis and EMT in Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells.

Autophagy is a cell's evolutionary conserved process for degrading and recycling cellular proteins and removing damaged organelles. There has been an increasing interest in identifying the basic cellular mechanism of autophagy and its implications in health and illness during the last decade. Many proteinopathies such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease are reported to be associated with impaired autophagy. The functional significance of autophagy in exfoliation syndrome/exfoliation glaucoma (XFS/XFG), remains unknown though it is presumed to be impaired autophagy to be responsible for the aggregopathy characteristic of this disease. In the current study we have shown that autophagy or ATG5 is enhanced in response to TGF-ß1 in human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells and TGF-ß1 induced autophagy is necessary for increased expression of profibrotic proteins and epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT) through Smad3 that lead to aggregopathy. Inhibition of ATG5 by siRNA mediated knockdown reduced profibrotic and EMT markers and increased protein aggregates in the presence of TGF-ß1 stimulation. The miR-122-5p, which was increased upon TGF exposure, was also reduced upon ATG5 inhibition. We thus conclude that TGF-ß1 induces autophagy in primary HTM cells and a positive feedback loop exists between TGF-ß1 and ATG5 that regulated TGF downstream effects mainly mediated by Smad3 signaling with miR-122-5p also playing a role.

Evaluating perspective and quality of life of glaucoma patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in India: Results of a telephone survey.

Purpose: The past few years have been difficult in the lives of most glaucoma patients in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to find out patients' perspective and disruption of their quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting a telephone survey among glaucoma patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving the glaucoma patients of a tertiary eye care hospital in India. Patients who had completed at least five years of follow-up before 2020 were randomized by a random number generator. A validated (forward-backward translation and completed pilot analysis) set of 14 questionnaires was administered to the patients, the latter of whom were telephonically interviewed by one of the investigators in February 2022. The entire data was audio-recorded. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used. Results: Out of 1141 patients with >5 years of follow-up, 103 were selected by randomization. A large group of 46 patients (44.6%) admitted to glaucoma affecting their daily activities. Only 12 (11.6%) admitted to being irregular with their drops. Thirty-four (33%) patients felt that their glaucoma was deteriorating and 31 (30.1%) had fear of blindness. Ninety-five patients (92.7%) felt that they were safe under the care of the treating doctor. There were 46 (44.6%) out of 103 patients who did not turn up for follow-up for six months or more. Lockdown (36.2%) and travel-expenses (27.6%) were the two most common reasons for the loss to follow-up visits. Conclusion: Nearly half of the long-term glaucoma patients were lost to follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Glaucoma affecting daily lives and fear of losing vision turned out to be significant observations in the telephone survey. This fear seemed to be ameliorated by the majority still feeling safe by being in touch with their doctor for continued care even during the COVID-19 pandemic.