Evaluation of the effect of topical tacrolimus 0.03% versus cyclosporine 0.05% in the treatment of dry eye secondary to Sjogren syndrome.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of topical application of tacrolimus 0.03% eyedrops versus cyclosporine 0.05% in Sjogren syndrome subjects with severe dry eyes. DESIGN: A prospective single-blinded simply randomized controlled study. METHODOLOGY: 60 Sjogren patients were randomized intoGroup A: 30 patients were instructed to put tacrolimus 0.03% eyedrops in one eye for 6 months and placebo eyedrops in the other eye, (N = 30, 44.9 ± 12.58 years).Group B: 30 patients were instructed to put cyclosporine 0.05% eyedrops in one eye for 6 months and placebo eyedrops in the other eye (N = 30, 49.4 ± 12.92 years).Main outcome measures: Patients were evaluated at day 0, 90, and 180 for Ocular Surface Disease Index Questionnaire (OSDI), frequency of use of artificial tears, average fluorescein tear break up time (TBUT), ocular surface staining scores, Schirmer I test, meibum quality, and expressibility scores. RESULTS: Upon comparing both eyedrops, the mean value of OSDI decrease was 38.25 ± 18.29% versus 31.69 ± 18.57% (p-value 0.09), SICCA score decrease was 2.97 ± 1.92 versus 2.27 ± 2.02 (p-value 0.124) the decrease in artificial tear substitute use was 3.90 ± 2.22 versus 3.63 ± 1.92 (p-value 0.616), increase in Schirmer I values were 4.10 ± 4.21 and 4.26 ± 2.00 (p-value 0.590) in eyes treated with tacrolimus and cyclosporine respectively. Neither of them affected meibum quality or expressibility scores. CONCLUSION: Both tacrolimus and cyclosporine significantly improved patient symptoms, frequency of artificial tears use and ocular surface staining compared to placebo-controlled eyes. However, no significant difference regarding the efficacy of both eyedrops at the end of 6 months treatment of severe dry eyes of Sjögren syndrome patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT03865888.

Optical coherence tomography angiography reveals progressive worsening of retinal vascular geometry in diabetic retinopathy and improved geometry after panretinal photocoagulation.

PURPOSE: To quantify vessel tortuosity and fractal dimension of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) of the macula in different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR), and following panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS: 75 eyes of 75 subjects were divided into five groups; healthy controls, diabetes with no clinical DR, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and patients who received PRP for PDR (PDR+PRP).For vessel tortuosity, SCP slabs from 3x3 mm macular OCTA scans were processed using imageJ (NIH, USA), where large perifoveal vessels were traced and their length was measured with tortuosity calculated as the ratio between the actual length and the straight Euclidean length. For fractal dimension, SCP slabs were processed and imported to Fractalyse (ThéMA, France), where box-counting analyses produced fractal dimension values. RESULTS: We found a significant difference in vessel tortuosity and fractal dimension between the five groups (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.001both). NPDR and PDR had significantly more tortuous vessels and lower fractal dimension compared to healthy controls (Tukey HSD: p = 0.02, 0.015,0.015 and <0.001, respectively). Fractal dimension was also significantly lower in NPDR and PDR compared to eyes with no clinical DR (p <0.001 both), and in PDR compared to NPDR (p = 0.014). Following PRP, vessel tortuosity was significantly lower and fractal dimension was higher in PDR+PRP compared to PDR (p = 0.001 and 0.031, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We used macular OCTA scans to demonstrate significantly higher perifoveal large vessel tortuosity, and lower fractal dimension in NPDR and PDR compared to healthy controls. Vessel tortuosity shows more dramatic normalization than fractal dimension and could be explored as a sensitive marker for successful PRP.

One-Year Results of Stab Incision Glaucoma Surgery and Radiofrequency-Assisted Stab Incision in Management of Open-Angle Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to evaluate the surgical outcome of stab incision glaucoma surgery (SIGS) and compare it with radiofrequency-assisted stab incision in the treatment of uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective, interventional study included 50 eyes who were assigned into two equal groups: Group A underwent stab incision procedure with preoperative subconjunctival (SC) mitomycin-C (MMC) and Group B underwent radiofrequency-assisted technique without MMC. Intraoperative and postoperative complications, visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and bleb status were evaluated up to 12 months. RESULTS: Mean preoperative IOP in Group A was 26.96 ± 2.42 reduced to 13.43 ± 2.31 while in Group B was 27.20 ± 3.57 reduced to 15.48 ± 3.68 mmHg (P < 0.001) with a mean reduction of 50.61% ± 8.42% and 43.56% ± 12.83%, 12 months postoperatively in Groups A and B, respectively. Non-basal peripheral iridectomy was the most encountered intraoperative complication in 8 eyes (32%) and 9 eyes (36%) and hypotony was the most reported postoperative complication in 5 eyes (20%) and 9 eyes (36%) in Groups A and B, respectively. Flat bleb area had been reported at the end of follow-up time in 3 eyes (13%) and 7 eyes (30%) in Groups A and B, respectively. Complete success rate was 52.2% and 28.6% while qualified success rate was 28.8% and 42.9% in Groups A and B, respectively. CONCLUSION: SIGS with SC MMC is an effective and safe procedure in IOP lowering, while radiofrequency-assisted stab incision had high incidence of subconjunctival scarring and ostium closure.

Steroid-induced ocular hypertension in the pediatric age group.

PURPOSE: Comparing the effects of topical Rimexolone versus Dexamethasone and Rimexolone versus Fluorometholone on the intraocular pressure in children <13 years. METHODS: A total of 40 patients (80 eyes) undergoing bilateral recession strabismus surgery were divided into two groups. Group A included 20 children (40 eyes); for each, one eye was randomized to receive 1% Rimexolone and the fellow eye received 0.1% Dexamethasone. Group B included 20 children (40 eyes); for each, one eye was randomized to receive 1% Rimexolone and the fellow eye received 0.1% Fluorometholone. Patients received eye drops for two consecutive weeks. Preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure values for weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 were measured. The ocular-hypertensive response of all patients was categorized as either high, intermediate or low (Armaly-Becker Classification). RESULTS: After a 2-week treatment for both groups, peak and maximal intraocular pressure changes were reached. Changes were significantly higher in the Dexamethasone-treated eyes than in the Rimexolone- and Fluorometholone-treated eyes, which had a comparable change. (Week 2 intraocular pressure Group A: 14.15 ± 3.23 mmHg vs 17.95 ± 4.27 mmHg; Group B: 15.1 ± 2.27 mmHg vs 15.2 ± 2.73 mmHg). In both groups, the increase was statistically significant compared to the baseline intraocular pressure (preoperative intraocular pressure Group A: 13.2 ± 3.53 mmHg vs 13.1 ± 3.43 mmHg; Group B: 12.55 ± 2.98 mmHg vs 12.15 ± 3.31 mmHg). Intraocular pressure returned to near preoperative values over the following four consecutive weeks (Week 6 intraocular pressure Group A: 12.25 ± 2.67 mmHg vs 12.55 ± 2.95 mmHg; Group B: 12.15 ± 2.8 mmHg vs 12.00 ± 2.75 mmHg). None of the patients were high responders. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone caused a higher elevation in intraocular pressure than Rimexolone and Fluorometholone in children. The ocular-hypertensive response was transient after the 2-week course.

Phaco Prechop versus Divide and Conquer Phacoemulsification: A Prospective Comparative Interventional Study.

PURPOSE: To compare two phaco techniques, namely Phaco Prechop and Divide and conquer, basically during their early learning curves. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 50 patients divided into 2 groups, each including 25 patients; group (A) where phaco Prechop was performed, and group (B) in which divide and conquer was performed. The mean effective ultrasound time, mean endothelial cell count, mean endothelial cell loss, corneal thickness, intraoperative complications, and the best corrected visual acuity were reported in the two groups both preoperative and postoperative. RESULTS: The mean effective ultrasound time in group A was 19.36 ± 8.51 seconds, and in group B, it was 24.44 ± 7.86 seconds with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.033). The mean endothelial cell count 3 months postoperative in group A was 2139.88 cells/mm(2). In group B, the mean endothelial cell count 3 months postoperative was 2087.08 cells/mm(2). The difference between the two groups was statistically insignificant (P = 0.558), however The difference in endothelial cell loss 3 months postoperatively between the two groups was statistically significant. (P = 0.001). Four cases in groups A (16%) had posterior capsular rents compared to three cases (12 %) in group B. Postoperative best corrected visual acuity in group B was 6/12 or better in 88% of cases as compared to 92% in group A with no statistical difference. CONCLUSION: Early cataract surgical cases performed with the Phaco Prechop and divide and conquer techniques showed comparable results and complications. However the former technique utilized less phaco time and energy without significant effect on the final surgical outcome.