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Background and Objectives : Vision impairments and related blindness are major public health problems. The prevalence of eye disease and barriers to optimal care markedly vary among different geographic areas. In the Abruzzo region (central Italy), an epidemiological surveillance on the state of ocular health in the population aged over 50 years was performed in 2019. Materials and Methods : Participants were sampled to be representative of the region's inhabitants. Data were collected through a telephone interview and an eye examination. Prevalence of cataract, glaucoma, retinopathy, and maculopathy was assessed. The Cohen's kappa (k) was used to measure the agreement between the presence of eye disease and awareness of the disease by the participants. Results : Overall, 983 people with a mean age of 66.0 ± 9.5 years were included in the study. The prevalence of cataracts, glaucoma, maculopathy, and retinopathy was 52.6%, 5.3%, 5.6%, and 29.1%, respectively. Among the total of the affected people, those aware of their condition were 21.8% (k = 0.12, slight agreement) for cataract, 65.4% (k = 0.78, substantial agreement) for glaucoma, 7.1% (k = 0.10, slight agreement) for maculopathy, and 0% for retinopathy (k = -0.004, agreement lower than that expected by chance). Refractive defects were corrected in the vast majority of participants. Conclusion : In the Abruzzo region, about two thirds of citizens aged 50 years or over suffer from cataract, glaucoma, retinopathy, or maculopathy, which are recognized as leading causes of blindness. Many people with eye disease do not know they have it. These data can be used by clinicians and policymakers to undertake clinical, political, and social actions.

Introduction: Few months after the COVID-19 pandemic burst, many aspects of the human life, including education, dramatically changed. Because of the lockdown measures taken to limit the virus spread in Italy, in-person teaching and learning have been interrupted in all health care disciplines and readapted in virtual formulae., Methods: As academic ophthalmology departments, we had to maintain the educational needs of medical and orthoptic students, internships, surgical training of residents, as well as to cover the scientific update of health care personnel (HCPs), and the continuation of research and academic activities. To assure these needs we ideated an educational strategy and a team, which was then translated on a multichannel virtual platform created with Microsoft Teams., Results: In this platform there were 21 channels organized in a public view mode, open to all Team members, or in private view mode to separate non-permanent HCPs, internships, residents, and students' tasks, from permanent HCPs tasks. Virtual channels were dedicated to provide theoretical lessons, clinical cases, surgical video, internal meetings and webinar, to offer news from scientific societies, requests of appointments from biomedical companies, links with ophthalmological websites, to move forward research projects, to participate at institutional academic duties, and to obtain feedbacks from users. Residents continued their training on surgery using a surgical simulator, after consulting an agenda uploaded into the dedicated virtual channel., Conclusion: These positive initial results should represent a boost to rapidly proceed with the development of even more versatile virtual learning solutions, given that the forecasts for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic are not encouraging.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss and disability. Effective management of DR depends on prompt treatment and would benefit from biomarkers for screening and pre-symptomatic detection of retinopathy in diabetic patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression which are released in the bloodstream and may serve as biomarkers. Little is known on circulating miRNAs in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and DR. Here we show that DR is associated with higher circulating miR-25-3p (P = 0.004) and miR-320b (P = 0.011) and lower levels of miR-495-3p (P < 0.001) in a cohort of patients with T2DM with DR (n = 20), compared with diabetic subjects without DR (n = 10) and healthy individuals (n = 10). These associations persisted significant after adjustment for age, gender, and HbA1c. The circulating levels of these miRNAs correlated with severity of the disease and their concomitant evaluation showed high accuracy for identifying DR (AUROC = 0.93; P < 0.001). Gene ontology analysis of validated targets revealed enrichment in pathways such as regulation of metabolic process (P = 1.5 × 10 -20 ), of cell response to stress (P = 1.9 × 10 -14 ), and development of blood vessels (P = 2.7 × 10 -14 ). Pending external validation, we anticipate that these miRNAs may serve as putative disease biomarkers and highlight novel molecular targets for improving care of patients with diabetic retinopathy.

In this narrative-review, we report the most recent data from the literature of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV). Myopic CNV is the most frequent sight-threatening complication of pathologic myopia. The natural course of mCNV can result in expanding macular atrophy and /or fibrosis, leading to irreversible visual loss after 5 years. Retinal multimodal imaging is mandatory for early diagnosis and monitoring of the disease during treatment. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy is recommended as the first-line treatment option for mCNV. Prompt treatment of active mCNV with intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy has been demonstrated to be effective in terms of visual outcome improvements reducing the occurrence of late-stage complications., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Purpose: In this pilot study we reported variation of superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexuses flow in macular and near/mid periphery regions in healthy subjects using widefield swept source-optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA)., Methods: In this prospective, cross-sectional study, enroled subjects were imaged with an SS-OCTA system (PLEX Elite 9000, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA, USA). OCTA scans were taken in primary and extremes of gaze and a montage was automatically created. Quantitative analysis was performed in the macular and peripheral regions. In addition, SCP and DCP variables were further investigated in distinct fields within these three different regions., Results: Fifty-five young healthy subjects (55 eyes) were enroled. The retinal periphery displayed a higher SCP perfusion density (39.6 ± 1.7% and 40.7 ± 1.4%, P < 0.0001) and SCP vessel diameter index (3.5 ± 0.2 and 3.6 ± 0.2, P < 0.0001), in comparison with the macular region. At the DCP level, the retinal periphery was characterized by a lower perfusion density (41.6 ± 3.7% and 37.9 ± 2.9%, P < 0.0001) and vessel length density (14.6 ± 6.0% and 9.9 ± 2.6%, P < 0.0001). In the analysis investigating the DCP in the retinal periphery, the temporal sector was characterized by a reduction in perfusion density, vessel length density, and vessel diameter index. In univariate analysis, the retinal thickness was found to have a significant direct relationship with DCP perfusion density (P < 0.0001), but not with SCP perfusion density (P = 0.712)., Conclusions: We report quantitative mapping of the SCP and DCP in healthy individuals. The DCP perfusion appears to have a wide topographical variation, which is strictly dependent on the retinal thickness.

Purpose: To compare the corneal tissue trauma after the use of an automated preloaded injector and a manual injector and assess scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) features of both injector cartridges., Setting: Ophthalmology Clinic and Laboratory of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy; DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical study METHODS: Forty eyes of 40 patients for phacoemulsification were divided into two groups: implantation of intraocular lens was performed with AutonoMe automated delivery system (AutonoMe group: 20 eyes) and Monarch III injector system (Monarch group: 20 eyes). In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) were performed before surgery, at 1 h, 1 day and 1 month post-operatively. In addition, SEM and AFM were performed on cartridges of both injector systems after injection of the IOL., Results: A greater increase in central corneal thickness and corneal thickness at the incision site were observed in Monarch group versus AutonoMe group 1 h and 1 day post-operatively (p < 0.05). Endothelial cell count loss was significantly higher in Monarch group compared with AutonoMe group (p < 0.05) at 1 and 24 h. AS-OCT showed less endothelial misalignment at 30 days (p < 0.05), and IVCM showed less tunnel inflammation at all time points (p < 0.05) in AutonoMe group compared with Monarch group; roughness analysis at AFM of the AutonoMe cartridge was significantly lower compared to Monarch D cartridge (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: The AutonoMe injector provided less corneal tissue trauma compared with Monarch III injector. The AutonoMe cartridge showed lower roughness at AFM compared to the Monarch D cartridge.

Purpose: To report variation of choriocapillaris flow in peripapillary, macular, and near- and mid-periphery regions in healthy participants using widefield swept-source (SS) OCT angiography (OCTA)., Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study., Participants: Fifty healthy participants., Methods: Healthy young participants were imaged with the SS OCTA system (PLEX Elite 9000; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc, Dublin, CA). OCT angiography scans were obtained in primary and extreme gazes and a montage was created automatically. The en face choriocapillaris images then were exported to ImageJ software version 1.50 (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD), and a semiautomated algorithm was used for subsequent quantitative analysis., Main Outcome Measures: Quantitative analysis of the choriocapillaris performed in 3 different regions: (1) peripapillary, (2) macular, and (3) periphery. In addition, choriocapillaris variables were investigated further in distinct fields within these 3 different regions., Results: Fifty eyes (50 participants) were included in the analysis. Mean age ± standard deviation was 25.2±5.1 years (median, 24.5 years; range, 20.0-40.0 years). The peripapillary region exhibited the greatest total signal void area (P < 0.0001 vs. the macular region; P < 0.0001 vs. the peripheral region). Within the macular region, the foveal area exhibited a greater total signal void area in comparison with both the parafoveal area (P = 0.009) and the perifoveal area (P = 0.015). In the analysis investigating the near- and mid-periphery region, the temporal sector was characterized by a lower total signal void area compared with both the superior and inferior areas (P = 0.016 and P = 0.003, respectively)., Conclusions: We report quantitative mapping of the choriocapillaris in healthy individuals. Choriocapillaris perfusion seems to have a wide topographic variation., (Copyright © 2019 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To investigate the efficacy and safety of ranibizumab (RZB group) and dexamethasone implant (DEX group) intravitreal treatments in patients with treatment-naïve center involved diabetic macular edema (DME) by means of functional and morphological assessments., Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 50 eyes of 50 patients with DME treated either with RBZ or DEX. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and microperimetry were evaluated at baseline and during a 6-month follow-up. In addition, central macular thickness (CMT) by means of structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retinal capillary plexus density and choriocapillary density by means of OCT angiography were assessed in all cases., Results: Functional and morphological parameters significantly improved during the study period in both groups. BCVA improved significantly in both groups with a greater increase in the DEX group compared to the RBZ group ( P =0.030). Microperimetry significantly differed during follow-up between the two treatments ( P =0.031). In both groups CMT significantly decreased ( P <0.001) without statistically significant differences between the two groups. A statistically significant increase of deep capillary plexus density was detected in both groups at 30d after therapy. The retreatment rate was 0.70±0.10 and 0.65±0.10 in the RBZ group and 0.65±0.10 and 0.50±0.11 in DEX group at 120 and 180d respectively. Two out of 25 patients in DEX group showed intraocular pressure increase requiring hypotonic eye drops., Conclusion: Both treatments are very effective for DME treatment during 6mo of follow-up with a lower retreatment rate in DEX group., (International Journal of Ophthalmology Press.)

Purpose: Choroideremia is a rare degenerative retinal disease that causes incurable blindness. It occurs as a result of the deficiency of the X-linked CHM gene, which encodes the Rab escort protein 1 (REP1). Gene therapy has been developed to treat CHM using adeno-associated viral vectors and is currently undergoing clinical trials. Expression of the CHM gene is ubiquitous throughout the retina, and it is therefore important to identify which retinal layers are affected in the disease process. The purpose of this study was to assess in particular the choriocapillaris using optical coherence tomography angiography because this layer is difficult to see with conventional imaging techniques., Methods: Six men with choroideremia were identified and underwent standardized optical coherence tomography angiography as part of an ethics-approved clinical study and were compared with age-matched control subjects., Results: The choriocapillaris appeared normal in regions where the retinal pigment epithelium remained intact, but it was deficient elsewhere. The outer retinal vasculature showed significant changes peripherally but also some changes centrally. The inner retinal vasculature appeared unaffected by the disease process., Conclusion: Choroideremia is a disease in which the choriocapillaris maintains a normal structure until the loss of the overlying retinal pigment epithelium. The inner retina also appears not to be affected at the vascular level. Although this study is limited by the small number of patients eligible for inclusion in the study, the observations support the concept of targeting gene therapy to the retinal pigment epithelium and outer retina because there is no evidence of independent degeneration of the choriocapillaris.

Purpose: To evaluate superficial capillary plexus (SCP) changes occurring after internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling for the treatment of idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM)., Methods: A total of 15 eyes of 15 patients affected by idiopathic ERM (eight males and seven females; mean age 59.8 ± 9.6 years) were enrolled in the study. Patients were treated with pars plana vitrectomy followed by ERM and ILM peeling. Subjects were evaluated at baseline and at the week-1 and month-1 follow-up visits. At each visit, patients were evaluated with a complete ophthalmologic evaluation, which included imaging with optical coherence tomography angiography., Results: Overall, the SCP vessel density was 43.0 ± 3.0% at baseline and was stable throughout the follow-up (40.0 ± 4.0% at week-1 and 41.0 ± 4.0% at month-1 follow-up visits; p = 0.087 and p = 0.426, respectively). Nevertheless, the SCP vessel density was reduced at week-1 visit in both the superior and inferior sectors. In these sectors, the superficial vessel density was still reduced at the month-1 follow-up visit., Conclusions: We observed a reduction in the SCP vessel density occurring after pars plana vitrectomy with ILM peeling. The reduction is referred to those areas where other changes (e.g., swelling of the arcuate nerve fiber layer) have been already described. In theory, superficial vessel density modifications may be due to the direct surgical trauma to the inner retina, where the superficial plexus is contained, during the ILM grasping.

Purpose: To report clinical features of Susac's syndrome (SS) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)., Methods: Case report., Results: A 25-year-old Caucasian female with a history of non-pulsatile migraine, tinnitus, and verbal apraxia complaining of peripheral scotoma in left eye due to branch retinal arteriole occlusion (BRAO) was diagnosed as having SS after audiometric test, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and multimodal retinal imaging. Fundus biomicroscopy and fluorescein angiography (FA) revealed the presence of retinal ischemia in the area of BRAO. The OCTA images showed decreased vascular perfusion of both superficial and deep plexuses in the area of the occluded arteriole with increase of vascular density values after treatment with intravenous glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide, and aspirin., Conclusions: OCTA offers a valid alternative to the standard invasive FA, evaluating vascular perfusion in all capillary plexuses, and monitoring retinal microvascular flow changes during the course of BRAO, without dye injection.

Aim: To investigate foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and parafoveal vessel densities (PRVD) by means of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in diabetic patients with or without diabetic retinopathy (DR) and to assess the reproducibility of FAZ and PRVD measurements., Methods: Sixty diabetic patients (60 eyes) with different stage of DR (graded according to the International Clinical Severity Scale for DR) and 20 healthy subjects underwent FAZ area and PRVD measurements using OCTA by two experienced examiners. FAZ area in all patients was also assessed using fluorescein angiography (FA)., Results: In subject with proliferative DR and with moderate-severe non proliferative DR, FAZ area was significantly increased compared to healthy controls ( P =0.025 and P =0.050 respectively measured with OCTA and P =0.025 and P =0.048 respectively measured with FA). OCTA showed significantly less inter-observer variability compared to FA. Concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) for FAZ area measurements was 0.829 (95%CI: 0.736-0.891) P <0.001 with FA and 1.000 (95%CI: 0.999-1.000) P <0.001 with OCTA. CCC was 0.834 (95%CI: 0.746-0.893) P <0.001 and 0.890 (95%CI: 0.828-0.930) P <0.001 for parafoveal superficial and deep vessel density measurements, respectively., Conclusion: OCTA shows progressive increase of FAZ area and reduction of PRVD in both superficial and deep plexus at increasing DR severity. FAZ area and PRVD measurements using OCTA are highly reproducible.

The aim of this study was to evaluate corneal tissue trauma after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and phacoemulsification (femtophaco surgery) compared to FLACS and nanolaser emulsification (all laser surgery). This is a prospective nonrandomized clinical study conducted at the Ophthalmology Clinic, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Italy, involving forty-two eyes of 42 patients candidates to cataract surgery. Patients were enrolled in two groups: femtophaco surgery (group 1 with 21 eyes) and all laser surgery (group 2 with 21 eyes). Main outcome measures included uncorrected visual acuity and distance corrected visual acuity, corneal endothelial cell count, and corneal thickness at the tunnel site and at the center of the cornea. Best correct visual acuity was not significantly different between the two groups. Postoperatively, a significant decrement of endothelial cell count at the center of the cornea was observed in group 1 compared with preoperative values at 90 days (p < 0.001) while t remained stable in group 2. The central corneal thickness showed a statistically significant increase for both groups that reached a maximum thickness at 7 days and then returned to presurgery levels after 90 days for group 1 and after 60 days for group 2. The tunnel corneal thickness showed a statistically significant increase for both groups that reached a maximum thickness at 7 days, which did not return to presurgery level for group 1 but did return to presurgery levels after 60 days for group 2. All laser surgery induced lower central endothelial cell loss and lower increase of corneal thickness compared to femtophaco surgery.

Purpose: To investigate vessel changes occurring after aflibercept injections in treatment-naive exudative age-related macular degeneration patients., Methods: Fifteen eyes of 15 patients affected by wet age-related macular degeneration were enrolled in the study. All the patients had a diagnosis of Type 1 choroidal neovascularization and were treated with 3 monthly aflibercept intravitreal injections (IVI). Subjects were evaluated by means of optical coherence tomography angiography at baseline, the day after the first injection and one month after both the first and the second IVI. At last, all the patients were followed up to 2 months after the third IVI., Results: Foveal superficial vascular plexus flow density was 29.01% (21.13-37.32%) at baseline and was significantly reduced as soon as 1 month after the first IVI (median: 20.78%; interquartile range: 14.75-23.13%; P = 0.017). Parafoveal superficial vascular plexus flow density was 47.09% (44.91-51.72%) at baseline and significantly decreased as soon as 1 month after the second IVI (median: 44.40%; interquartile range: 41.59-49.29%; P = 0.034). Choroidal neovascularization lesion area remained stable throughout the follow-up. Nevertheless, interestingly, choroidal neovascularization flow area was significantly reduced as soon as the next day the first IVI (median: 0.37 mm and interquartile range: 0.27-0.72 mm at baseline; median: 0.30 mm and interquartile range: 0.24-0.64 mm at 1 day after the first IVI; P = 0.047)., Conclusion: Intravitreal aflibercept injections are associated with a significant change in native retinal and choroidal vasculature. Moreover, the treatment did not cause a reduction in lesion area, but rather reduced the flow in the choroidal neovascularization.

Purpose: To use immunohistochemical staining to evaluate corneal inflammation and apoptosis induced after femtosecond laser incisions or manual incisions., Setting: Ophthalmology Clinic, University G. d'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy., Design: Experimental study., Methods: Ninety human cadaver corneas were cut manually or with the femtosecond laser at different energies and analyzed by immunohistochemistry after 5 minutes or 4 hours. The corneas were divided into 5 groups: untreated (Group 1), cut manually (Group 2), and treated with the femtosecond laser with increasing energies (Groups 3 to 5; 3.0 μJ, 6.0 μJ, and 15.0 μJ, respectively)., Results: At 5 minutes, increased expression of interleukin (IL)-18 was observed in the femtosecond laser groups compared with the manual group (P < .01). Interferon gamma (IFNγ) positivity was significantly higher in Groups 4 and 5 than in Group 2 and between Groups 3 and 4 (P < .05). The terminal uridine deoxynucleotidyl nick end-labeling (TUNEL) positivity increased with higher energy (Group 2 versus Group 4 and Group 2 versus Group 5; P < .05). After 4 hours, IFNγ positivity was higher in Group 5 than in Group 2 (P = .0021) and between Group 5 and Groups 3 and 4 (P < .05). No sign of IL-18 positivity was found after 4 hours in any sample. Group 5 showed significant higher TUNEL positivity than all other groups (P < .0001)., Conclusion: The femtosecond laser technique at high energies induced a higher corneal inflammatory response and a higher corneal cell apoptosis than the manual technique., Financial Disclosure: None of the authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned., (Copyright © 2016 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To describe the variable ocular phenotype associated with a heterozygous mutation in the BEST1 gene., Methods: Clinical and genetic assessment was performed in five members of the same family. Molecular genetic analysis of the BEST1 gene was performed by direct sequencing. Extensive ophthalmic examination included color fundus imaging, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, electro-oculography (EOG), and full-field electroretinography (ERG). The main outcome measures were BEST1 mutations, imaging, and electroretinography findings., Results: All affected family members carried a single heterozygous c.614T>C (p.I205T) mutation in exon 5 of the BEST1 gene. The 46-year-old proband showed nanophthalmos with chorioretinal atrophy in the macula, extensive coarse hyperpigmentation in the (mid) peripheral retina with tractional vitreous strands. Full-field ERG revealed nonrecordable cone and rod responses, and EOG showed an absent light rise. The daughter and son of the proband showed a phenotype resembling autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy, including short axial lengths, cystoid fluid collections, and shallow serous subretinal fluid accumulation on spectral domain optical coherence tomography throughout the macula in combination with mild retinal pigment epithelium changes. The son of the proband also showed subretinal yellowish deposits inferiorly in the macula as well as outside the temporal vascular arcade, that were hyperfluorescent on fundus autofluorescence, similar to those seen in autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy. Full-field ERG revealed a reduced rod and cone response and a markedly reduced or absent EOG light peak in both brother and sister of the proband., Conclusion: The clinical spectrum of bestrophinopathy may encompass severe ocular phenotypes that affect the development and function of the entire eye. A clinical picture similar to autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy can also be caused by a single heterozygous mutation in the BEST1 gene, such as the c.614T>C (p.I205T) variant in this family.

Purpose: Retinal structural changes in a case of spontaneous resolution of vitreomacular traction (VMT) syndrome were followed by means of multimodal retinal imaging approach., Methods: Confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) including digital infrared and blue reflectance (BR) imaging and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were performed in a young man with VMT syndrome., Results: At the time of diagnosis, multimodal retinal imaging documented outer retina abnormalities linked to VMT. At 1 month follow-up visit, improvement of best-corrected visual acuity and resolution of metamorphopsia were accompanied by documentation of VMT resolution and outer retina restoration., Conclusions: Both cSLO and SD-OCT imaging, particularly BR and en face OCT adapted to the outer plexiform layer contour, allowed to depict outer retina changes in the course of VMT resolution. A strict correlation between topographic BR images and en face OCT scans was evident.

Purpose: To compare the features of capsulotomy obtained during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with those of continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) obtained using a standard manual technique., Setting: Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy., Design: Prospective randomized clinical study., Methods: Candidates for cataract extraction were randomized into 1 of 3 groups as follows: Lensx femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery capsulotomy (laser group 1), Lensar femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery capsulotomy (laser group 2), and manual CCC (manual group)., Results: Each group comprised 30 eyes (30 patients). The capsulotomies in laser group 1 and laser group 2 showed significantly better circularity than the manual CCCs at 7 days (P<.001). There was a significant correlation between the intended versus achieved capsulotomy size in the 2 laser groups. Both laser groups had better intraocular lens (IOL) centration than the manual group at all timepoints (P<.001). Between-group differences in uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities were not statistically significant. The residual spherical equivalent and mean absolute error were statistically significantly smaller in the 2 laser groups than in the manual group (P=.038) and increased significantly over time in all the groups (P<.001)., Conclusions: Femtosecond laser capsulotomies showed better circularity with more predictable size than manual CCCs. In addition, IOL centration was better immediately after surgery and over time with better refractive results in the 2 laser groups., (Copyright © 2014 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of vision loss in the working-age adults. It affects a third of diabetics. Diabetic macular edema, an advanced complication of DR, develops in nearly 7% of diabetic patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a novel group of non-coding small RNAs that post-transcriptionally control gene expression by promoting either degradation or translational repression of target messenger RNA. They are implicated in a large variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes, including glucose homeostasis, angiogenesis and modulation of inflammatory response. MiRNAs also play a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and the related micro- and macrovascular complications. The purpose of this review is to describe the potential role of miRNAs in diabetes and evaluate their implication in DR. MiRNAs involved in the modulation of glucose metabolism (insulin secretion and sensitivity) and MiRNAs playing a role in the pathogenesis of DR with their potential target genes are reviewed. Understanding MiRNAs implication in DR could be helpful for developing new gain- or loss- of -function strategies in order to establish effective treatments and reduce the rate of visual disability due to progression of retinopathy., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To report a case of macular pseudohole (MPH) development after sustained-release dexamethasone intravitreal implant for chronic macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)., Methods: A 70-year-old man with cystoid macular edema (CME) due to CRVO underwent sustained-release dexamethasone intravitreal implant. En face optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed before and after treatment., Results: One month after dexamethasone intravitreal implant, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved from 1.0 to 0.5 logMAR. At 2 months, BCVA decreased from 0.5 to 1.3 logMAR. En face OCT detected the development of MPH due to exacerbation of centripetal vitreomacular transverse tractional forces on the overlying retina., Conclusions: Macular pseudohole seems to be a complication of intravitreal therapy in patients with coexisting vitreomacular traction. En face OCT gives useful information to understand the mechanism of MPH development after sustained-release dexamethasone intravitreal implant.

Purpose: To use scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate capsulorhexis-cut quality obtained during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery at different energy settings and evaluate whether there are differences between this technique and a standard manual technique., Setting: Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy., Design: Prospective nonrandomized single blinded study., Methods: Sixty capsulorhexes obtained using the conventional manual technique and the femtosecond laser with different laser energy settings were divided into 5 groups as follows: Group 1 (12 capsulorhexes) obtained with the manual technique and Groups 2 to 5 (each with 12 capsulorhexes) obtained with the femtosecond laser at 7.0 μJ, 13.5 μJ, 14.0 μJ, and 15.0 μJ, respectively. All samples were evaluated using SEM to compare the thickness along the capsulorhexis edge and the overall irregularity of the cut surface., Results: Capsulorhexes obtained with the femtosecond laser at all energy settings were perfectly circular with negligible deformation. Group 1 and Group 2 had a significantly higher thickness and lower thickness, respectively, of the capsulorhexis edge than the other 3 groups (P<.001). There was also a statistically significant correlation between the degree of irregularity and increasing energy (P<.001)., Conclusions: The use of the femtosecond laser in cataract surgery resulted in better capsulorhexis geometry and circularity than the manual capsulorhexis. The cut surface was smoother in the manual group. In the femtosecond laser groups, the degree of irregularity was higher at increasing energy settings., Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned., (Copyright © 2013 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)