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Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a prevalent retinal disease predominantly occurs in Asians that shares some similarities seen in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Recent large multicenter clinical trials on intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents and photodynamic therapy (PDT) have shed lights on the management of PCV. The Taiwan National Health Insurance had granted limited anti-VEGF agents and PDT for patients with PCV after the approval of required data submission, especially fundus angiography, optical coherence tomography, and visual acuity. In order to best utilize these limited resources for the patients, an expert meeting was held to provide updated Taiwan consensus recommendations for the management of PCV, including initial therapy selection, assessment of treatment response, re-treatment/rescue treatment, and determination of treatment extension/follow-up schedule. An algorithm for treatment allocation under both initial and re-treatment setting was proposed. Further mechanistic and clinical studies are required to investigate the prognostic factors and optimal treatment protocols that will improve healthcare quality and reduce burden of disease and treatment for patients with PCV. Keywords: Choroidal neovascularization, PCV, Photodynamic therapy, Vascular endothelial growth factors, Wet age-related macular degeneration

SummaryNocturnal lagophthalmos is the inability to close the eyelids during sleep. It may be physiological but can cause significant symptoms in some patients. The spectrum of the disease ranges from minimal corneal epithelial changes, which may heal later in the daytime, to corneal ulcers after severe exposure. There are a variety of predisposing factors for lagophthalmos, which can be grouped as proptosis/eye exposure etiologies, palpebral insufficiency etiologies, and idiopathic etiology. The diagnosis is easily missed in subjects having nocturnal lagophthalmos with normal voluntary lid closure (idiopathic). A diagnosis of such cases can usually be made from a detailed history and careful slit lamp examination. A focused clinical evaluation for lagophthalmos in patients complaining of redness, dryness or eye irritation, especially after sleep, will identify most cases. The optimal treatment usually depends on the cause of lagophthalmos. It may include topical agents, lid taping at night or ocular surgery to correct lid malpositioning. This article reviews the incidence, clinical presentations, etiology, diagnosis, examination, and treatments of nocturnal lagophthalmos.

Oxidation of SiC powder in compacts of SiC/alumina/zirconia was studied between 1000 and 1200°C in air for up to 10 h. The thermogravimetric analysis showed that the weight gain due to passive SiC powder oxidation became significant at temperatures ⩾937°C. After oxidation, the particle usually consisted of a SiC core surrounded by a layer of amorphous silica. However, the amorphous layer would crystallize into cristobalite if the powders were oxidized at 1200°C for a longer time (⩾8 h). The oxidation rate decreased if cristobalite formed. The square of weight gain fraction after oxidation was linearly proportional to the oxidation time when the weight gain fraction was less than 0.34. The activation energy of the oxidation of SiC powders was estimated to be 213.1 kJ/mol.