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Purpose: To describe epidemiology, causes, treatments and outcomes of all ocular injuries in southern Finland among people aged 61 and older. Methods: All new ocular trauma patients, admitted to the Helsinki University Eye Hospital, during 1 year in 2011–2012. The data were from hospital records and prospectively from patient questionnaires. The follow‐up time was 3 months. Results: The incidence for ocular injuries among the elderly was 38/100 000/year. From 118 patients 69% were men. The mean age was 70.9 years old (median 67). The hospitalization rate was 14%. Injury types were minor traumas (48%), contusions (22%), chemical injuries (10%), eyelid wounds (8%), open globe injuries (OGI; 7%) and orbital fractures (5%). The injuries occurred at home (58%), institutions (12%) and in other public places (12%). The main causes of ocular injury were falls (22%), sticks (19%), superficial foreign bodies (18%) and chemicals (12%). All OGI and 88% of contusions needed a lifelong follow‐up. A permanent visual or functional impairment occurred in 15 (13%) patients. Of these 53% were OGI, 40% contusions and 7% chemical injuries. The causes of permanent injuries were falls (seven cases, 47%), work tools, sports equipment, sticks, chemicals and eyeglasses. The incidence for legal blindness was 2.3/100 000. Conclusion: Minor trauma was the most frequent type, and home was the location of the most occurred eye injuries. Falls were the most frequent and serious cause, but behavioural causes were not significant. Preventive measures should be directed towards the main identified causes and risk factors of the eye injuries in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To determine the current population-based epidemiology, treatment, use of resources and outcomes of children's eye injuries in Finland. Methods The study included all new patients, 16 years of age or under, with ocular or orbital traumas taken into care to the Helsinki University Eye Hospital (population base 1.5 million people) in 1 year. The follow-up period was 3 months. Results Two hundred and two children's eye injuries were treated. The eye injury incidence was 5.2-8.3 per 10 000 per year, including all minor and major eye traumas. Eye injury most likely occurred at the junior high school age (13-16 years). Thirty-three percentage of accidents took place at home and 24% at school or in day care. The most common causes were sports equipment (15%), contact with human body (12%) and superficial foreign bodies (11%). Excluding minor injuries, contusion was the most common diagnosis ( n = 60, 30%). Eighty-seven percentage of contusion patients were estimated to need lifelong follow-up due to elevated glaucoma risk. Nine percentage of all patients had a permanent disability. Guns, fireworks, tools and pellet guns were relatively the most dangerous objects. Pellet guns caused 6% of eye injuries, 36% of them causing permanent impairment. The number of outpatient visits was altogether 443, inpatient days were 49, and 60 children had major surgeries. Conclusions Use of protective eyewear would have prevented or diminished eye traumas caused by pellet gun, floorball, most of the firework and in many superficial foreign body. The use of pellet guns and protective eyewear should be more supervised. Fireworks and tools are not suitable toys for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To describe epidemiology, causes, treatments and outcomes of ocular injuries in adults aged 17 to 60 in southern Finland. Methods All new ocular trauma patients admitted to the Helsinki University Eye Hospital ( HUEH), during 1 year in 2011-2012. The data were from hospital records and prospectively from patient questionnaires. The follow-up time was 3 months. Results The incidence for ocular injury was 88/100 000/year. From 831 trauma patients, 80% were men, 34% were work-related injuries, and 11% were assaults. Most of the injuries were minor traumas (54%). Contusions (22.5%) and chemical injuries and burns (13%) were common. Fractures (5%), lid wounds (3%), open globe injuries ( OGI, 2%) and optic nerve injuries (0.5%) were rare. The main causes of ocular injury were superficial foreign bodies (33%), chemicals (13%), body parts (13%) and sports equipment (10%). The most dangerous objects were needles, stones, pellet guns, tools and guns. No patient with OGI used protective eyewear. All OGI and most of contusions needed a lifelong follow-up. Permanent impairment (73 patients, 9%) was caused most often by body parts, sports equipment and work tools. Conclusion A typical ocular trauma patient was a man aged 31-45 with a minor trauma caused by a foreign body at work and a final visual acuity of 20/20. Most common serious injuries were contusion, OGI or fracture at home or at work and were caused by a body part, sport equipment or work tool. Factors causing common and serious eye injuries provide the targets for protective measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs4073 in the interleukin-8 (IL-8) promoter region with the diagnosis and age of onset of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in association with the known genetic risk factors for AMD and tobacco smoking. Methods: Medical records, smoking history and angiograms or fundus photographs of 301 patients with exudative AMD, 72 patients with dry AMD and 119 control subjects were analysed retrospectively. The associations of IL-8 rs4073 A→T, CFH rs1061170 T→C, ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T and C3 rs2230199 C→G SNPs with the presence of AMD and with the age of onset of exudative AMD were analysed. Results: Younger age of exudative AMD onset was associated with the homozygous AA genotype of IL-8 rs4073 (p = 0.009, Mann-Whitney U-test), CC genotype of CFH rs1061170 (p = 0.016), TT genotype of ARMS2 rs10490924 (p = 0.001) and with current smoking (p = 0.002). The risk alleles C in CFH rs1061170 (p < 0.0001, Pearson chi-square) and T in ARMS2 rs10490924 (p < 0.0001), as well as smoking (p < 0.0001), were more prevalent in AMD patients compared with controls. No association was found between the IL-8 rs4073 genotype and the presence of AMD. Conclusion: Out of the factors associated with the earlier onset of exudative AMD, only the genotype of IL-8 rs4073 did not appear as a risk factor for AMD in general. IL-8 may have a role in accelerating the development of the choroidal neovascularization in exudative AMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) is an acquired and potentially handicapping cornea degenerative disease that is highly prevalent in certain rural communities around the world. It predominantly affects males over their forties. It has many other names such as Bietti's band-shaped nodular dystrophy, Labrador keratopathy, spheroidal degeneration, chronic actinic keratopathy, oil droplet degeneration, elastoid degeneration and keratinoid corneal degeneration. CDK is characterized by the haziness and opalescence of the cornea's most anterior layers which go through three stages with increasing severity. Globular deposits of different sizes may be histopathologically observed under the corneal epithelium by means of light and electron microscopy. The coalescence and increased volume of these spherules may cause the disruption of Bowman's membrane and the elevation and thinning of the corneal epithelium. The exact aetiology and pathogenesis of CDK are unknown, but they are possibly multifactorial. The only treatment in CDK advanced cases is a corneal transplantation, which in different impoverished regions of the world is not an available option. Many years ago, the clinical and histological aspects of this disease were described in several articles. This review highlights new scientific evidence of the expanding knowledge on CDK's pathogenesis which will open the prospect for new therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To refine the diagnostic criteria for peripheral hypertrophic subepithelial corneal degeneration (PHSD) and characterize its clinical phenotype, histopathology and immunohistochemical features. Methods: Diagnostic criteria were refined on the basis of literature data. Fourteen patients (13 women and one man; median age 52 years, range 33-66) were identified based on these criteria. Keratectomy specimens were evaluated via routine and immunohistochemical stainings. The main outcome measures were symptoms, clinical phenotype, immunological status and histopathologic results. Results: We defined the diagnostic criteria of typical PHSD as elevated circumferential and perilimbal subepithelial fibrosis with focal superficial corneal neovascularization, which were supported by female sex (93%), bilaterality (86%), the centre being in the upper quadrants (81%) and irregular astigmatism of two dioptres or more. The typical symptoms were reduced vision (86%) and the symptoms of ocular surface disease (64%). Light microscopy showed fibrosis with abundant collagen deposition but no inflammation in all patients. An immunohistochemical analysis of nine patients showed uniform staining for vimentin in three distinct types of fibroblasts in variable proportions: keratocytelike cells that were positive for CD34, myofibroblasts that were positive for smooth muscle actin (SMA) and fibroblasts that were negative for CD34 and SMA. Small numbers of CD68-positive macrophages were also found. Conclusions: Peripheral hypertrophic subepithelial degeneration is characteristic of middle-aged women, in whomit is typically a bilateral idiopathic degeneration of the cornea associated with ocular surface disease and reduced vision. The fibrotic lesions probably undergo remodelling, inducing changes in corneal contour. A smouldering low-grade inflammation favouring low TGF-β1 concentrations is postulated as the primary pathological process leading to PHSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

. Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of keratectomy in treating irregular astigmatism caused by peripheral hypertrophic subepithelial corneal degeneration (PHSD) and to study the possible underlying immunological risk factors. Materials and methods: Patients (14 eyes) with diagnosed PHSD were treated with superficial keratectomy with or without the assistance of phototherapeutic keratectomy (VisX S4; VisX Inc., Santa Ana, CA, USA). Thirteen patients were subjected to analysis of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genes, complement C4 gene numbers and total plasma immunoglobulin levels. Immunological risk factors between patients and a control group comprising 150 individuals were compared. Results: The mean preoperative best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved from 0.16 ± 0.22 (LogMAR scale range 0-0.7) to 0.06 ± 0.13 (−0.1-0.4) (p < 0.01). The mean preoperative astigmatism decreased significantly from 3.8 ± 2.1 D (range 1.2-8.2) to 2.1 ± 1.4 (range 0.6-5.0, p = 0.02) based on corneal topography. The HLA-B*44 allele and the ancestral haplotype (AH) 8.1 were found significantly more often in PHSD patients than in controls (both p = 0.03). No differences in the C4 genes were found. Conclusions: Astigmatism secondary to PHSD can be effectively treated with keratectomy. Peeling of the fibrotic tissue reduced astigmatism and improved visual performance. We suggest that HLA-B*44 allele and AH 8.1 haplotype are immunological factors predisposing to the development of PHSD. The consequent disruption/alteration of the limbal barrier may lead to corneal peripheral fibrous formation inducing astigmatism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

. Purpose: Angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a multifactorial process regulated by hypoxia-induced growth factors and inflammatory cytokines. In addition to the angiogenic switch, the proteolytic processing and altered synthesis of the extracellular matrix are critical steps in this disease. This study was performed to evaluate the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9), angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-1 and Ang-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), erythropoietin (EPO) and transforming growth factor-β1 (totalTGFβ1) in the vitreous of diabetic eyes undergoing vitrectomy compared with control eyes operated because of macular hole or pucker. Methods: Prospective consecutive controlled observational study performed in the unit of vitreoretinal surgery in Finland during the years 2006-2008. Vitreous samples were collected before the start of the conventional 3-ppp vitrectomy. Vitreous MMP-2 and MMP-9, Ang-1 and Ang-2, VEGF, EPO and TGFβ1 concentrations were measured from 69 patients with Type 1 or 2 diabetes and 40 controls. Results: Comparison of eyes with DR with controls revealed that the mean vitreous concentrations of proMMP-2 (p = 0.0015), totalMMP-2 (p = 0.0011), proMMP-9 (p = 0.00001), totalMMP-9 (p < 0.00001), Ang-2 (p < 0.00001), VEGF (p < 0.00001), EPO (p < 0.00001) and totalTGFβ1 (p = 0.000026) were significantly higher in the former group. A multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested intravitreal Ang-2 concentration being the key marker of PDR (p = 0.00025) (OR = 1507.9). Conclusion: The main new finding is that the intravitreal concentrations of Ang-2 correlated significantly with MMP-9, VEGF, EPO and TGFβ1 levels in diabetic eyes undergoing vitrectomy. Thus, these factors could promote retinal angiogenesis synergistically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

. Purpose: To prospectively study the effect of refractive surgery in the primary visual cortex of adult anisometropic and isometropic myopic patients. Methods: Two anisometropic and two isometropic myopic patients were examined with multifocal functional magnetic resonance imaging technique (mffMRI) before refractive surgery and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months postoperatively. Two controls without refractive surgery were also examined with mffMRI in the beginning and in the end of the study. Anisometropic patients had only their more myopic eye operated to correct the anisometropia. The myopic isometropic patients had their both eyes operated. Results: Operated anisometropic eyes showed 65% reduced amount of active voxels in foveal data at 12 months postoperatively compared with the preoperative situation. In unoperated anisometropic eyes, the corresponding value was 86% and in myopic patients and controls 31% and 1%, respectively. To confirm this finding, the number of activated voxels representing the innermost ring of the stimulus was also calculated, and an exactly similar phenomenon was encountered in the anisometropic patients. Both anisometropic patients improved the best-spectacle-corrected visual acuity in the operated eye after refractive surgery. Conclusion: Our results suggest that plastic changes may take place in the primary visual cortex of anisometropic adult patients after refractive surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

. Purpose: Climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) is an acquired corneal disease characterized by progressive scarring of the cornea. In several corneal diseases, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are upregulated during the degradation of epithelial and stromal tissues. We investigated the levels, degree of activation and molecular forms of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-8 and MMP-13 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in tear fluid of patients with CDK. Methods: Seventeen CDK patients and 10 controls living in Argentine Patagonia received a complete eye examination, and MMPs and TIMP-1/2 were determined by immunofluorometric assay (IFMA), gelatin zymography and quantitative Western immunoblot analysis in tear samples. Results: The MMPs were detected mostly in their latent forms. The levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were found to be significantly elevated in CDK patients, whereas latent and active MMP-8 levels were significantly enhanced in controls. There was no significant difference in the level of MMP-13. TIMPs were found as part of complexes, and the TIMP-1 levels were significantly lower in patients than controls. Conclusion: Elevated MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels have been implicated in the failure of corneal re-epithelialization, and enhanced MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in CDK patients suggest that these MMPs may play a role in corneal scarring in CDK. Elevated levels of MMP-8 suggest a defensive role for this MMP in inflammatory reactions associated with recurring corneal traumas. Decreased expression of TIMP-1 in CDK patients suggest deficient antiproteolytic shield likely to render the corneas of CDK patients vulnerable to enhanced MMPs. Overall, these data suggest a mechanistic link between MMPs and TIMP-1 level in cornea and tears with corneal scarring in CDK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

. Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the visual and refractive outcome of visually impaired adults treated with refractive surgery (photorefractive keratectomy or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis). Methods: We searched a refractive surgery database comprising 1716 mildly visually impaired patients [best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) on a logMAR scale ≤ −0.1 (Snellen ≤ 0.8)] who had undergone either PRK or LASIK ( n = 96). PRK patients who had visits at 5-7, 8-13 and 14-24 months postoperatively were selected. Eleven patients and nine PRK control myopic patients were found (cohort 1). From the same database, 41 visually impaired patients and 54 controls who had a postoperative control at 14-24 months postoperatively were chosen. These patients formed cohort 2. Results: Preoperatively, in cohort 1, the mean BSCVA on a logMAR scale was −0.15 ± 0.13 (Snellen 0.73 ± 0.16) in visually impaired patients and 0.04 ± 0.02 (Snellen 1.11 ± 0.17) in myopic controls. At 14-24 months postoperatively, the mean BSCVA improved to 0.05 ± 0.04 (Snellen 1.13 ± 0.10) in visually impaired patients and 0.05 ± 0.08 (Snellen 1.13 ± 0.21) in control patients. In cohort 2, preoperatively the mean BSCVA on a logMAR scale was −0.15 ± 0.12 (Snellen 0.74 ± 0.14) in visually impaired patients and 0.01 ± 0.03 (Snellen 1.04 ± 0.10) in myopic controls. At 14-24 months postoperatively, the mean BSCVA improved to 0.02 ± 0.07 (Snellen 1.06 ± 0.16) in visually impaired patients and 0.06 ± 0.06 (Snellen 1.15 ± 0.16) in control patients. Conclusion: Refractive surgery improves BSCVA in visually impaired patients, possibly through plastic changes in the visual cortex. Consequently, refractive surgery may be used successfully for the treatment of visually impaired adults to enhance their visual acuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the morphology, corneal topography and sensitivity in individuals with Dystrophia Helsinglandica. This autosomal dominant corneal disease is characterized by recurrent corneal erosive episodes and progressive subepithelial fibrosis not significantly affecting visual acuity. Methods: The corneas of nine affected and nine unaffected individuals were examined using slit-lamp biomicroscopy, in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) and videokeratography. Corneal mechanical sensitivity was also measured using a non-contact esthesiometer. Results: Slit-lamp biomicroscopy revealed that the affected individuals represented different stages of corneal changes, from a nearly normal cornea to subepithelial fibrosis of the central cornea. Corneal changes in affected individuals did not significantly decrease the best spectacle-corrected visual acuity. In vivo confocal microscopy detected morphological changes in the epithelium and stroma. Subepithelial opacity formation including altered keratocytes could be found in the anterior stroma in all affected eyes. With the exception of two eyes (one affected and one unaffected), all videokeratographies showed irregular astigmatism. Corneal sensitivity was significantly lower in affected individuals (p = 0.01). Age and corneal sensitivity showed no correlation. Conclusion: The main morphological findings in affected individuals were discrete and progressive subepithelial fibrosis, in the in vivo confocal microscope corresponding to optically dense extracellular matrix and activated keratocytes. Subbasal nerve morphology was changed in the affected family members who also showed a decreased corneal sensitivity. The findings are per se not specific to the disease. The changes probably reflect a healing response to erosive events on the corneal surface influenced by the genotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that examines atopic dermatitis (AD) as risk factor for intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) extrusion. The study included patients treated with ICRS at the Helsinki University Eye Hospital that developed corneal melts necessitating ICRS removal. It suggests that patients with a history of AD/AKC treated with ICRS implantation should be performed by femtosecond laser-assisted system.

The article discusses a study on the combined use of corneal cross-linking (CXL) and human amniotic membrane transplantation for the treatment of pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) keratitis. Its aim is to achieve faster recovery and add the beneficial antimicrobial and fibrosis inhibiting properties of amniotic membrane to the antimicrobial and cornea strengthening effects of CXL. It concludes that the combined treatment can be used in the primary treatment of serious vision-threatening PA keratitis.