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Hong Kyun Kim,1 Kyoung Yul Seo,2 Kyung Chul Yoon,3 Chul Young Choi,4 Tae-Young Chung,5 Joon Young Hyon,6 Alexis Rendon,7 Hyun Seung Kim8 1Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea; 2Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine; Cornea Dystrophy Research Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; 4Department of Ophthalmology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 5Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 6Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea; 7Alcon Vision LLC, Fort Worth, TX, USA; 8Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Hyun Seung Kim, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Email sara514@catholic.ac.krPurpose: This study assessed post-market clinical outcomes of the Clareon monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) preloaded in the AutonoMe Delivery System in a real-world setting of Korean patients.Methods: This prospective, multicenter, single-arm study in Korea was conducted from July 2020 to December 2021. Patients were ≥ 20 years old with unilateral or bilateral cataracts who received Clareon IOLs (CNA0T0) preloaded in an automated injector system. Best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) and uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA) were evaluated under photopic conditions. Surgeon delivery system preference was assessed using a survey questionnaire. Glistenings, surface haze, adverse events, posterior capsule opacification (PCO), and Nd:YAG capsulotomy rates were also assessed during the 12-month postoperative follow-up.Results: Mean ± SD monocular BCDVA was 0.02 ± 0.11 and 0.00 ± 0.10 logMAR at 1 month and 12 months, respectively. BCDVA of 0.2 logMAR or better was achieved by 94.4% and 99.1% of eyes at 1 month and 12 months after implantation, respectively. Mean monocular UCDVA was 0.11 ± 0.14 and 0.07 ± 0.13 logMAR at 1 month and 12 months, respectively. UCDVA of 0.3 logMAR or better was achieved by 97.4% of eyes at 12 months after implantation. Preparation of the automated injector system was rated as “very easy” or “easy” and CNA0T0 IOL delivery was rated as “very controllable” or “controllable” by all surgeons. Only grade 0 glistenings and no surface haze were observed during the 12-month follow-up. No clinically significant PCO or Nd:YAG capsulotomy were reported throughout the study; clinically nonsignificant PCO was reported in 23% of eyes.Conclusion: This 12-month real-world study of the CNA0T0 IOL and the automated injector system demonstrated excellent visual outcomes and high surgeon satisfaction.Keywords: visual acuity, intraocular lens delivery, glistenings, surface haze, surgeon’s preference questionnaire

In recent years, third-generation solar cells have experienced a remarkable growth in efficiency, making them a highly promising alternative energy solution. Currently, high-efficiency solar cells often use top electrodes fabricated by thermal evaporation, which rely on high-cost and high energy-consumption vacuum equipment, raising significant concerns for mass production. This study develops a method for fabricating silver electrodes using the screen-printing process, aiming to achieve solar cell production through an all-solution coating process. By selecting appropriate blocking-layer materials and optimizing the process, we have achieved device efficiencies for organic photovoltaics (OPVs) with screen-printed silver electrodes comparable to those with silver electrodes fabricated by thermal evaporation. Furthermore, we developed a method to cure the silver ink using near-infrared (NIR) annealing, significantly reducing the curing time from 30 min with hot air annealing to just 5 s. Additionally, by employing sheet-to-sheet (S2S) slot-die coating, we scaled up the device area and completed module development, successfully verifying stability in ambient air. We have also extended the application of screen-printed silver electrodes to perovskite solar cells (PSCs).

Purpose: This study reports a case of Crohn's disease-associated keratopathy that progressed with disease activity., Observations: A 29-year-old man diagnosed with Crohn's disease and receiving systemic adalimumab therapy, presented with an irregular epithelial surface, superior corneal opacity, subepithelial infiltration, pannus with new vessel ingrowth, and punctate epithelial erosions in both corneas. Changes in ophthalmological findings were checked during regular outpatient follow-ups. We also compared the stool calprotectin values obtained at a gastrointestinal clinic during the course of keratopathy. By analyzing the trend of fecal calprotectin levels in this patient, we found that keratopathy worsened as fecal calprotectin levels increased. Corneal neovascularization and infiltration improved as the fecal calprotectin levels decreased., Conclusions and Importance: The mechanism of Crohn's disease-associated keratopathy has not been identified but appears to be related to the autoimmune mechanism of Crohn's disease. Managing Crohn's activity by referring to the gastroenterology department should be considered to relieve Crohn's disease-associated keratopathy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. There are no financial interests/personal relationships for this article., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Mechanomyography (MMG) may be used to quantify very small motor responses resulting from muscle activation, voluntary or involuntary. The purpose of this study was to investigate the MMG mean peak amplitude (MPA) and area under the curve (AUC) and the corresponding mechanical responses following delivery of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the knee extensors. Fourteen adults (23 ± 1 years) received single TMS pulses at intensities from 30-80 % maximum stimulator output to elicit muscle responses in the relaxed knee extensors while seated. An accelerometer-based sensor was placed on the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle bellies to measure the MMG signal. Pearson correlation revealed a positive linear relationship between MMG MPA and TMS intensity for RF (r=0.569; p<0.001) and VL (r=0.618; p<0.001). TMS intensity of ≥60 % maximum stimulator output produced significantly higher MPA than at 30 % TMS intensity and evoked measurable movement at the knee joint. MMG MPA was positively correlated to AUC (r=0.957 for RF and r=0.603 for VL; both p<0.001) and knee extension angle (r=0.596 for RF and r=0.675 for VL; both p<0.001). In conclusion, MMG captured knee extensor mechanical responses at all TMS intensities with the response increasing with increasing TMS intensity. These findings suggest that MMG can be an additional tool for assessing muscle activation., (© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

Background: Around the world, individuals are living longer, but an increased average lifespan does not always equate to an increased healthspan. With advancing age, the increased prevalence of ageing-related diseases can have a significant impact on health status, functional capacity, and quality of life. It is therefore vital to develop comprehensive classification and staging systems for ageing-related pathologies, diseases and syndromes. This will allow societies to better identify, quantify, understand, and meet the healthcare, workforce, wellbeing, and socioeconomic needs of ageing populations, while supporting the development and utilisation of interventions to prevent or to slow, halt or reverse the progression of ageing-related pathologies., Methods: The foundation for developing such classification and staging systems is to define the scope of what constitutes an ageing-related pathology, disease or syndrome. To this end, a consensus meeting was hosted by the International Consortium to Classify Ageing-Related Pathologies (ICCARP), on February 19 th , 2024, in Cardiff, UK, and was attended by 150 recognised experts. Discussions and voting were centred on provisional criteria that had been distributed prior to the meeting. The participants debated and voted on these. Each criterion required a consensus agreement of ≥70% for approval., Results: The accepted criteria for an ageing-related pathology, disease or syndrome were: Develops and/or progresses with increasing chronological age.Should be associated with, or contribute to, functional decline, or an increased susceptibility to functional decline.Evidenced by studies in humans., Conclusions: Criteria for an ageing-related pathology, disease or syndrome have been agreed by an international consortium of subject experts. These criteria will now be used by the ICCARP for the classification and ultimately staging of ageing-related pathologies, diseases and syndromes.

Importance: Taking ω-3 supplements has been associated with a reduction in symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) associated with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). However, a recent relatively large clinical trial concluded that treating DED with ω-3 consumption was ineffective, potentially warranting additional investigations., Objectives: To investigate the effect of re-esterified triglyceride (rTG) ω-3 fatty acid supplementation on DED associated with MGD., Design, Setting, and Participants: This double-masked, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial was conducted at 7 institutions from September 2020 to January 2023. Patients with DED associated with MGD were included and randomly assigned to the ω-3 group (received 1680 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 560 mg of docosahexaenoic acid), whereas those in the grape-seed group received 3000 mg of grape-seed oil daily., Interventions: rTG ω-3 Fatty acid supplementation vs grape-seed oil., Main Outcome Measures: The primary end point was the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) from baseline to 6 and 12 weeks. The safety parameters were visual acuity and intraocular pressure change., Results: A total of 132 patients (mean [SD] age, 50.6 [13.8] years; 103 female [78.0%]) were included in this study. The mean (SD) baseline OSDI scores of the ω-3 and grape-seed groups were 43.5 (16.5) and 44.1 (16.6), respectively. A total of 58 patients (87.9%) and 57 patients (86.4%) in the ω-3 and grape-seed groups, respectively, completed 12 weeks of follow-up. There were no differences in compliance with the dietary supplement intake between groups (ω-3, 95.8% and grape-seed, 95.4%). The OSDI (SD) change from baseline to 6 and 12 weeks was -20.5 (16.0) and -22.7 (15.7), respectively, in the ω-3 group and -15.1 (20.2) and -18.8 (21.7), respectively, in the grape-seed control group (difference at 6 weeks = -5.4; 95% CI, -12.15 to 1.33; P = .12 and at 12 weeks = -3.9; 95% CI, -10.90 to 3.13; P = .28). There were no changes in safety parameters or adverse events related to taking the dietary supplement in either group., Conclusions and Relevance: This randomized clinical trial did not show a benefit of the rTG form of ω-3 for ameliorating symptoms of DED associated with MGD, although fewer than 60 participants were evaluated in each group. Any secondary outcomes from this study should be considered for hypothesis generation of future evaluations of the effect of the rTG form of ω-3 on DED associated with MGD., Trial Registration: CRIS Identifier: KCT0004927.

Introduction: While digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has proven to enhance cancer detection and reduce recall rates (RR), its integration into BreastScreen Australia for screening has been limited, in part due to perceived cost implications. This study aims to assess the cost effectiveness of digital mammography (DM) compared with synthesized mammography and DBT (SM + DBT) in a first round screening context for short-term outcomes., Methods: Clients recalled for nonspecific density (NSD) as a single lesion by both readers at the Northern Sydney Central Coast BreastScreen service in 2019 were included. Prior images were excluded to simulate first-round screening. Eleven radiologists read DM and synthesized mammography with DBT (SM + DBT) images 4 weeks apart. Recall rates (RR), reading time, and diagnostic parameters were measured, and costs for screen reading and assessment were calculated., Result: Among 65 clients studied, 13 were diagnosed with cancer, with concordant cancer recalls. SM + DBT reduced recall rates (RR), increased reading time, maintained cancer detection sensitivity, and significantly improved other diagnostic parameters, particularly false positive rates. Benign biopsy recalls remained equivalent. While SM + DBT screen reading cost was significantly higher than DM (DM AU$890 ± 186 vs SM + DBT AU$1279 ± 265; P < 0.001), the assessment cost (DM AU$29,504 ± 9427 vs SM + DBT AU$18,021 ± 5606; P < 0.001), and combined screen reading and assessment costs were significantly lower (DM AU$30,394 ± 9508 vs SM + DBT AU$19,300 ± 5721; P = 0.001). SM + DBT screen reading and assessment of 65 patients resulted in noteworthy cost savings (AU$11,094), equivalent to assessing 12 additional clients., Conclusion: In first round screening, DBT yields significant cost savings by effectively reducing unnecessary recalls to assessment while maintaining diagnostic efficacy., (© 2024 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists.)

Background : To compare the visual outcomes and optical quality of patients who underwent bilateral implantation of EDOF (AcrySof ® IQ Vivity IOL, DFT015) for mini-monovision, trifocal (AcrySof ® IQ PanOptix, TNFT00), or monofocal (AcrySof ® IQ IOL, SN60WF) IOL. Methods : The monocular-corrected and uncorrected distance visual acuities (CDVA and UDVA, respectively) were evaluated postoperatively at 1 and 3 months. The binocular visual acuity by distance, the binocular defocus curve, contrast sensitivity, and patient satisfaction were examined 3 months postoperatively. All patients were asked to complete questionnaires regarding their satisfaction, visual symptoms, and spectacle dependency. Results : This study included 178 eyes from 89 patients. The postoperative binocular UDVA did not differ significantly among the three groups. In the defocus curve, the Vivity group showed better visual acuity over a range of far and intermediate (60 cm) than the other two IOLs groups. In near-vision, the PanOptix group showed the best near-vision, and the Vivity group showed significantly better vision than the IQ group. The Vivity group showed contrast sensitivity and optical quality comparable to the IQ group. Conclusions : The bilateral implantation of AcrySof ® IQ Vivity IOL with the mini-monovision approach provided excellent distance and intermediate visual acuity with good near-vision, resulting in high satisfaction.

This study focuses on the hole transport layer of molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ) for inverted bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic photovoltaics (OPVs), which were fabricated using a combination of a spray coating and low-temperature annealing process as an alternative to the thermal evaporation process. To achieve a good coating quality of the sprayed film, the solvent used for solution-processed MoO 3 (S-MoO 3 ) should be well prepared. Isopropanol (IPA) is added to the as-prepared S-MoO 3 solution to control its concentration. MoO 3 solutions at concentrations of 5 mg/mL and 1 mg/mL were used for the spray coating process. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) depends on the concentration of the MoO 3 solution and the spray coating process parameters of the MoO 3 film, such as flow flux, spray cycles, and film thickness. The results of devices fabricated from solution-processed MoO 3 with various spray fluxes show a lower PCE than that based on thermally evaporated MoO 3 (T-MoO 3 ) due to a limiting FF, which gradually increases with decreasing spray cycles. The highest PCE of 2.8% can be achieved with a 1 mg/mL concentration of MoO 3 solution at the sprayed flux of 0.2 mL/min sprayed for one cycle. Additionally, S-MoO 3 demonstrates excellent stability. Even without any encapsulation, OPVs can retain 90% of their initial PCE after 1300 h in a nitrogen-filled glove box and under ambient air conditions. The stability of OPVs without any encapsulation still has 90% of its initial PCE after 1300 h in a nitrogen-filled glove box and under air conditions. The results represent an evaluation of the feasibility of solution-processed HTL, which could be employed for a large-area mass production method.

Background: In this study, the risk of dementia in patients with a history of herpes simplex virus (HSV) or varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection was evaluated., Methods: This nationwide cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service collected between 2006 and 2017. A total of 752,205 subjects ≥ 45 years of age not diagnosed with dementia until 2006 were included. A multivariate Cox regression model, adjusted for age, sex, and other comorbidities, was used to assess the hazard ratio (HR) for dementia based on VZV or HSV infection. The interaction effects of both viral infections were analysed. Viral infections are classified into four categories: eye, central nervous system (CNS), simple, and complicated. The hazard ratio (HR) of viral infection was analysed based on the type of dementia., Results: In multivariable analysis, both HSV and VZV infection were associated with an increased risk of dementia (HR = 1.38, 95% confidence interval, CI:1.33-1.43) and (HR = 1.41, 95% CI:1.37-1.46), respectively. Patients who experienced both HSV and VZV infections were also at an increased risk of dementia (HR = 1.57, 95% CI:1.50-1.63). The co-infection group showed the shortest time from viral infection to dementia diagnosis (4.09 ± 3.02 years). In the subgroup analysis, all types of HSV and VZV infections were associated with an increased risk of dementia compared to the non-infection group. The eye, CNS, and complicated VZV infections were associated with a significantly higher risk than simple VZV infections. There were no significant differences between the subtypes of HSV infection. Furthermore, HSV, VSV, and co-infection were associated with an increased risk of all dementia types, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD)., Conclusions: Individual HSV and VZV infections were associated with an increased risk of all types of dementia, including AD and VD. Patients co-infected with HSV and VZV, VZV infection in the eye, CNS, or complicated type were more vulnerable to the development of dementia., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Although laser Doppler imaging (LDI) accurately delineates a hypoperfused area to help target hyaluronidase treatment, laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is more appropriate for assessing microvascular hemodynamics and has greater reproducibility than LDI. This study investigated the use of LSCI in the evaluation and treatment of six patients who developed vascular complications after facial dermal filler injections., Methods: The areas of vascular occlusion were accurately defined in real time by LSCI and were more precise than visual inspections or photographic evidence for guiding needling and hyaluronidase treatment., Results: All patients had achieved satisfactory outcomes as early as Day 2 of treatment and no procedure-related complications were reported after a median follow-up of 9.5 (7-37) days., Conclusion: LSCI accurately and noninvasively delineated vascular occlusions in real time among patients experiencing complications of facial dermal filler injections. Moreover, LSCI was more accurate than visual and photographic evaluations. Clinicians can use LSCI to reliably follow-up therapeutic outcomes after salvage interventions for vascular occlusions., Level of Evidence Iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 ., (© 2023. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.)

Background: An advanced age and the female sex are widely recognized risk factors for both cataract and dementia. We investigated the effect of cataract surgery on the incidence of dementia in a Korean population aged ≥ 45 years with a previous diagnosis of cataract., Methods: This nationwide cohort study was performed using Korean National Health Insurance Service data collected from 2006 to 2017. A total of 300,327 subjects aged ≥ 45 years with a history of cataract diagnosis but no previous diagnosis of dementia were analyzed. The relationship between cataract surgery and dementia was evaluated, applying a time-varying analysis to evaluate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) values according to dementia. It was calculated via a multivariable Cox regression model, with adjustments for age, sex, visual acuity (VA), ocular and systemic comorbidities, and social factors (including body mass index, income, smoking, and drinking)., Results: In the multivariate analysis, the cataract surgery group showed a marginal difference in dementia development (HR 1.10 [95% CI 1.02-1.19]) because both cataract and dementia share common risk factors. However, in the subgroup analysis, men (HR 0.49 [95% CI 0.26-0.90]) and patients under 65 years of age (HR 0.88 [95% CI 0.79-0.99]) in the group with cataract surgery and good VA showed a significantly lower incidence of dementia., Conclusion: Through visual improvement, together with timely surgical intervention, the procedure can alleviate the risk of dementia in visually impaired patients, especially in younger and male patients.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of 1% and 2% rebamipide clear solution in the treatment of dry eye disease (DED)., Methods: Two hundred twenty patients with DED were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the 1% rebamipide, 2% rebamipide, or placebo (eye drops containing the same ingredients, except for the active components). Each eye drop was instilled four times daily for 12 weeks. Changes in tear film break-up time (TBUT), corneal and conjunctival staining score, Schirmer 1 test, and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) from baseline to 12-week visit between the study groups were compared for efficacy assessment., Results: The mean age of study patients was 43.8±14.2 years. The 1% and 2% rebamipide groups showed greater improvement in TBUT (1.99±1.87 and 2.02±2.21 s) at 12 weeks from baseline than the placebo group (1.25±2.93 s). The 2% rebamipide group showed greater improvement in the corneal staining score (- 3.15±2.00) at 12 weeks from baseline than the placebo group (- 2.85±1.80). The 1% and 2% rebamipide groups showed improvement in Schirmer 1 test (1.27±3.86 and 1.50±4.14 mm) at 12 weeks of treatment, but not the placebo group (0.55±2.99 mm). Both the rebamipide groups and the placebo group showed significantly improved OSDI after treatment for 12 weeks; however, there was no significant difference among the three groups., Conclusions: 1% and 2% rebamipide clear solutions are an effective therapeutic option for improving TBUT and tear volume, and stabilizing the corneal staining score in DED., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Carpal tunnel release (CTR) is widely accepted as an effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. However, the recovery is often delayed and incomplete. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) produces a nonthermal effect on living tissues; it promotes healing, remodels and reduces inflammation of an injured nerve. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of CTR between patients who underwent postoperative PBMT and without PBMT. Materials and methods: We recruited 105 patients who had open CTR from January 2019 to January 2021. Fifty-six patients fulfilled the study criteria and were randomized into two groups: with PBMT ( n  = 28) and without PBMT ( n  = 28). Demographic and clinical data were obtained preoperatively. The PBMT group had ten 3-min sessions over 3 weeks using 808 nm, 50 mW PBMT to deliver 9 J per session to the CTR incision scar. Clinical outcomes were assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Data analysis was performed with SPSS software. Results: There were significant improvements in the Functional Status Scale in the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire ( p  = 0.018) and pain (visual analogue scales) in the morning ( p  = 0.019) at 1 month postoperatively in the PBMT group compared with the non-PBMT group. Improvement of tip pinch strength at 3 months ( p  = 0.022) and 6 months ( p  = 0.024), lateral pinch strength at 1 month ( p  = 0.042) and 3 months ( p  = 0.05), and tripod pinch strength at 3 months ( p  = 0.005) was significantly better in the PBMT group. Thumb 2-point discrimination (2PD) at 3 months ( p  = 0.018) and 6 months ( p  = 0.016) and index finger 2PD at 3 months ( p  = 0.039) were also significantly improved in the PBMT group. There were no side effects of PBMT reported. Conclusions: Patients who underwent PBMT post-CTR had better outcomes. PBMT may be a valuable adjunct to post-CTR care.

Purpose: To identify specific dry eye disease (DED) tear biomarker(s) using tear proteomic analysis, clinical parameters, and their correlations before and after DED treatment., Methods: A prospective, double-blinded, national multicenter clinical study was performed using data from 80 DED patients. The patients were treated with 0.1% cyclosporine (CsA, n = 28), 0.05% CsA (n = 26), or 3% diquafosol (DQS, n = 26) eye drops, and tear proteome changes and clinical outcomes (tear break-up time [TBUT], corneal erosion [Cor-Er], conjunctival erosion [Conj-Er], and symptom assessment in dry eye [SANDE] scores) were observed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. For all clinical parameters, correlation analysis was performed between the three drug conditions and the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) from the proteomic analysis., Results: AFM, ALCAM, CFB, H1-4, PON1, RAP1B, and RBP4 were identified in all treatment groups and were downregulated after treatment. All clinical parameters significantly improved at 12 weeks than at baseline (p-value <0.0001); however, their values were not significantly different among groups, except for Cor-Er (p-value = 0.007). Compared with the DQS group, Cor-Er score significantly improved after treatment with 0.1% and 0.05% CsA. The seven DEPs identified in all groups were not consistently correlated with the clinical parameters (p-value >0.05)., Conclusions: Despite differences in drug concentration and action mechanisms, the improvement levels of TBUT, Cor-Er, and SANDE scores were clinically adequate. However, useful tear protein biomarkers, clinically acceptable biomarker combinations correlating with clinical parameters, and clinically acceptable levels of specificity and sensitivity were not identified., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Infectious keratitis is a vision threatening disease. Bacterial and fungal keratitis are often confused in the early stages, so right diagnosis and optimized treatment for causative organisms is crucial. Antibacterial and antifungal medications are completely different, and the prognosis for fungal keratitis is even much worse. Since the identification of microorganisms takes a long time, empirical treatment must be started according to the appearance of the lesion before an accurate diagnosis. Thus, we developed an automated deep learning (DL) based diagnostic system of bacterial and fungal keratitis based on the anterior segment photographs using two proposed modules, Lesion Guiding Module (LGM) and Mask Adjusting Module (MAM)., Methods: We used 684 anterior segment photographs from 107 patients confirmed as bacterial or fungal keratitis by corneal scraping culture. Both broad- and slit-beam images were included in the analysis. We set baseline classifier as ResNet-50. The LGM was designed to learn the location information of lesions annotated by ophthalmologists and the slit-beam MAM was applied to extract the correct feature points from two different images (broad- and slit-beam) during the training phase. Our algorithm was then externally validated using 98 images from Google image search and ophthalmology textbooks., Results: A total of 594 images from 88 patients were used for training, and 90 images from 19 patients were used for test. Compared to the diagnostic accuracy of baseline network ResNet-50, the proposed method with LGM and MAM showed significantly higher accuracy (81.1 vs. 87.8%). We further observed that the model achieved significant improvement on diagnostic performance using open-source dataset (64.2 vs. 71.4%). LGM and MAM module showed positive effect on an ablation study., Discussion: This study demonstrated that the potential of a novel DL based diagnostic algorithm for bacterial and fungal keratitis using two types of anterior segment photographs. The proposed network containing LGM and slit-beam MAM is robust in improving the diagnostic accuracy and overcoming the limitations of small training data and multi type of images., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Won, Lee, Kim, Han, Chung, Ro and Lim.)

Objectives: Otitis media is a common infection worldwide. Owing to the limited number of ear specialists and rapid development of telemedicine, several trials have been conducted to develop novel diagnostic strategies to improve the diagnostic accuracy and screening of patients with otologic diseases based on abnormal otoscopic findings. Although these strategies have demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for the tympanic membrane (TM), the insufficient explainability of these techniques limits their deployment in clinical practice., Methods: We used a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) model based on the segmentation of a normal TM into five substructures (malleus, umbo, cone of light, pars flaccida, and annulus) to identify abnormalities in otoscopic ear images. The mask R-CNN algorithm learned the labeled images. Subsequently, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of combinations of the five substructures using a three-layer fully connected neural network to determine whether ear disease was present., Results: We obtained the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the optimal conditions for the presence or absence of eardrum diseases according to each substructure separately or combinations of substructures. The highest area under the curve (0.911) was found for a combination of the malleus, cone of light, and umbo, compared with the corresponding areas under the curve of 0.737-0.873 for each substructure. Thus, an algorithm using these five important normal anatomical structures could prove to be explainable and effective in screening abnormal TMs., Conclusion: This automated algorithm can improve diagnostic accuracy by discriminating between normal and abnormal TMs and can facilitate appropriate and timely referral consultations to improve patients' quality of life in the context of primary care.

The aim of this study was to introduce the implemented MEDBIZ platform based on the internet of medical things (IoMT) supporting real-time digital health services for precision medicine. In addition, we demonstrated four empirical studies of the digital health ecosystem that could provide real-time healthcare services based on IoMT using real-world data from in-hospital and out-hospital patients. Implemented MEDBIZ platform based on the IoMT devices and big data to provide digital healthcare services to the enterprise and users. The big data platform is consisting of four main components: IoMT, core, analytics, and services. Among the implemented MEDBIZ platform, we performed four clinical trials that designed monitoring services related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, metabolic syndrome, arrhythmia, and diabetes mellitus. Of the four empirical studies on monitoring services, two had been completed and the rest were still in progress. In the metabolic syndrome monitoring service, two studies were reported. One was reported that intervention components, especially wearable devices and mobile apps, made systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and glycosylated hemoglobin decrease after 6 months. Another one was presented that increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were prevented in participants with the pre-metabolic syndrome. Also, self-care using healthcare devices might help prevent and manage metabolic syndrome. In the arrhythmia monitoring service, during the real-time monitoring of vital signs remotely at the monitoring center, 318 (15.9%) general hikers found abnormal signals, and 296 (93.1%) people were recommended for treatment. We demonstrated the implemented MEDBIZ platform based on IoMT supporting digital healthcare services by acquiring real-world data for getting real-world evidence. And then through this platform, we were developing software as a medical device, digital therapeutics, and digital healthcare services, and contributing to the development of the digital health ecosystem., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) severity and the treatment of very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) on neurodevelopmental impairment in early childhood., Design: Prospective cohort study., Method: This was a prospective cohort study. The data were obtained from the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN), a nationwide registry for VLBWIs. Infants who were born from 2013 to 2015 and underwent ROP evaluation at birth and neurodevelopmental examinations at corrected ages of 18 to 24 months were included in the study. Infants with a history of meningitis or severe congenital anomalies were excluded. The VLBWI patients were grouped into no ROP, no treatment-requiring ROP (non-TR-ROP), and treatment-requiring ROP (TR-ROP) groups. Neurodevelopmental impairment was defined as participants who had at least 1 developmental problem according to the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-2nd Edition (Bayley-II; <70), Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-3rd Edition (Bayley-III; <70), and Korean Developmental Screening Test (K-DST) tests (below -1 SD), and the Korean Ages and Stages Questionnaire (K-ASQ) (below the threshold) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS; at level 2 or above). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between ROP and neurodevelopmental impairment., Result: Among 3132 infants, 1093 (34.9%) had ROP. Among the ROP infants, 644 were not treated for ROP (non-TR-ROP group) and 449 received ROP treatments (TR-ROP group). The patients in the TR-ROP group had an increased risk of developing neurodevelopmental problems compared to those in the no ROP group (odds ratio [OR] = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.33-2.21). The TR-ROP group had a higher risk of all 3 types of neurodevelopmental problems: mental (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.25-2.09), social (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.12-2.09), and motor (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.31-2.18). The risk of neurodevelopmental problems in patients treated with laser therapy did not differ from that in patients treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.73-1.88)., Conclusion: ROP was independently associated with neurodevelopmental impairment in early childhood. The type of ROP treatment (anti-VEGF or laser treatment) did not affect neurodevelopmental impairment in patients in the TR-ROP group., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hyaluronic acid (HA) and cyclosporine A (CsA) eyedrops are commonly prescribed in dry eye syndrome (DES). The effectiveness of each preparation in DES is well-known, yet the superiority of one over another has been studied little. We assessed the efficacy and tolerability of 0.15% HA compared to combinations of 0.05% CsA plus 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and 0.15% HA plus 0.05% CsA in patients with moderate to severe DES. Total 438 patients with moderate to severe DES were recruited and randomized for one of the three treatments for 12 weeks. Effectiveness was assessed at baseline, 4- and 12-weeks. The primary endpoint was change in corneal staining score. The secondary endpoints were tear break-up time (TBUT), strip meniscometry (SM) score, ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, and tolerability questionnaire. The change in corneal staining score for 0.15% HA from the baseline was non-inferior to that of 0.05% CsA. Corneal staining score, TBUT, SM score, and OSDI score improved in all groups without statistically significant intergroup differences. Better tolerability and lower prevalence of adverse drug reactions were seen in 0.15% HA. Our findings suggest that 0.15% HA may be equivalently effective and safer than 0.05% CsA in treating moderate to severe DES., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) for the prevention of dry eye after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)., Design: Prospective, single-center, single-blinded, parallel group, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial., Participants: Between February 2020 and October 2020, patients at the Samsung Medical Center scheduled to undergo PRK to correct myopia were screened and enrolled., Methods: The participants in the TES group were instructed to use the electrical stimulation device (Nu Eyne 01, Nu Eyne Co) at the periocular region after the operation, whereas those in the control group were to use the sham device. Dry eye symptoms were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at weeks 1, 4, and 12 using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, the 5-Item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5), and the Standard Patient Evaluation for Eye Dryness II (SPEED II) questionnaire. Dry eye signs were assessed using tear break-up time (TBUT), total corneal fluorescein staining (tCFS), and total conjunctival staining score according to the National Eye Institute/Industry scale. The pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analog scale., Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcomes were OSDI and TBUT., Results: Twenty-four patients were enrolled and completed follow-up until the end of the study (12 patients in the TES group, 12 patients in the control group). Refractive outcomes and visual acuity were not different between the groups. No serious adverse event was reported with regard to device use. No significant difference in OSDI and SPEED II questionnaires and the DEQ-5 was observed between the groups in the 12th week after surgery. The TBUT scores 12 weeks after the surgery were 9.28 ± 6.90 seconds in the TES group and 5.98 ± 2.55 seconds in the control group with significant difference ( P  = 0.042). The tCFS and total conjunctival staining score were significantly lower in the TES group than in the control group at postoperative 4 weeks. Pain intensity at the first week was significantly lower in the TES group than in the control group by 65% ( P  = 0.011)., Conclusion: The application of TES is safe and effective in improving dry eye disease after PRK., Financial Disclosures: The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article., (© 2022 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Trifocal intraocular lens (IOL) provides three foci for the external light to the eye. The reduction of corneal astigmatism makes three foci to clearly focus on the fovea. This study aimed to evaluate one-year clinical outcomes for near, intermediate, and far distance visual acuity and satisfaction in patients implanted with diffractive trifocal toric IOLs., Methods: This retrospective observational case series study was based on the medical records of patients who undergone uncomplicated cataract surgery with implantation of a trifocal toric IOL (POD AY 26P F-T FineVision Toric; PhysIOL SA, Liège, Belgium). Eyes with corneal astigmatism greater than 1.00 diopters were included. Postoperative evaluations included uncorrected near, intermediate, and distance and corrected distance visual acuity; defocus curves; and contrast sensitivity measured at both three months and one-year postoperatively. Subjective satisfaction was evaluated based on three kinds of questionnaires for spectacle dependence, quality of vision, and overall satisfaction., Results: Postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity and that at 33, 43, 50, 60, and 80 cm at one-year were 0.07±0.08, 0.22±0.11, 0.17±0.11, 0.14±0.10, 0.14±0.10, and 0.15±0.10 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR), respectively. A smooth range of good visual acuity was found on defocus curve. Subjective scores for spectacle dependence, quality of vision, and subjective satisfaction showed no significant differences between three months and one-year postoperatively. The mean amount of IOL axis rotation was 2.14±1.72° (range: 0.2-5.1°) at one-year postoperatively., Conclusions: Implantation of a diffractive trifocal toric IOL for cataract, presbyopia, and astigmatism correction provided good refractive and visual outcomes, relatively smooth range of intermediate vision, and high levels of visual quality and patient satisfaction until one-year after surgery., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://atm.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/atm-22-1007/coif). TYC reports that this work was supported by a grant from a National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea (NRF-2020R1A2C2014139; Seoul, Korea), which had no role in this study. DHL reports that this work was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HC19C0142), which had no role in this study. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2022 Annals of Translational Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Importance: A bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) can help compare the various types of multifocal and monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) used in clinical practice., Objective: To compare outcomes of presbyopia-correcting IOLs frequently recommended in clinical practice through a bayesian NMA based on a systematic review., Data Sources: Medline (PubMed) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched on May 15, 2021, from inception., Study Selection: Based on the research question, randomized clinical trials assessing multifocal IOLs in patients who underwent bilateral cataract extraction were searched. Nonrandomized studies, studies in patients with unilateral or contralateral cataract extractions, duplicated studies, conference abstracts, and nonpeer-reviewed articles were excluded., Data Extraction and Synthesis: Descriptive statistics and outcomes were extracted. The NMA was conducted to compare different types of IOLs. The mean differences for continuous variables, odds ratios for binary variables, 95% credible intervals (CrIs), and ranks of interventions were estimated., Main Outcomes and Measures: The outcomes examined included binocular visual acuities by distance and optical quality, including glare, halos, and spectacle independence., Results: This NMA included 27 studies comprising 2605 patients. For uncorrected near visual acuity, trifocal IOLs (mean difference, -0.32 [95% CrI, -0.46 to -0.19]) and old bifocal diffractive IOLs (mean difference, -0.33 [95% CrI, -0.50 to -0.14]) afforded better visual acuity than monofocal IOLs. Regarding uncorrected intermediate visual acuity, extended depth-of-focus IOLs provided better visual acuity than monofocal IOLs. However, there were no differences between extended depth-of-focus and trifocal diffractive IOLs in pairwise comparisons. For uncorrected distant visual acuity, all multifocal IOLs were comparable with monofocal IOLs. There were no statistical differences between multifocal and monofocal IOLs regarding contrast sensitivity, glare, or halos., Conclusions and Relevance: For patients considering a multifocal IOL due to presbyopia, bilateral implantation of a trifocal IOL might be an optimal option for patients without compromising distant visual acuity.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) on corneal nerve regeneration in rabbits injured from superficial lamellar keratectomy (SLK)., Methods: New Zealand White rabbits were used in this experimental study. To induce corneal nerve damage, SLK was performed using a 7.0-mm trephine. TES was applied for 28 days after the corneal nerve injury. Corneal sensitivity, Western blotting, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunofluorescence were performed to observe changes in the corneal tissue., Results: In the 2-Hz and 20-Hz electrical stimulation groups, the degree of corneal wound healing increased by more than 10% compared to the control group, but no significant difference was observed. Conversely, the electrical stimulation (2-Hz or 20-Hz) group showed significantly increased corneal sensitivity compared to the control group. Western blot analysis revealed that small proline-rich protein 1A (SPRR1a), a regeneration-associated protein was significantly increased in the 2-Hz group on days 1 and 7 compared to that in the other groups. Once again, nerve regeneration in the 2-Hz group was supported by the results of PCR, in which a significant increase in the nerve growth factor (NGF) on day 1 was observed compared with the other groups. Moreover, immunofluorescence after 28 days of electrical stimulation showed significant nerve regeneration in the 2-Hz group., Conclusions: TES promoted corneal nerve regeneration in rabbit SLK model. The application of electrical stimulation of 2-Hz frequency was more effective than the 20-Hz frequency, showing potential clinical applications for corneal diseases., Translational Relevance: This study shows how application of TES to the eyes that exhibit corneal nerve damage can improve corneal nerve regeneration examined by histologic analysis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to introduce the initial experience in the use of topical pegylated interferon alpha 2a (PegIFN-α-2a) for ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN)., Methods: A retrospective medical record review of 8 eyes of 8 patients diagnosed with OSSN and treated with PegIFN-α-2a was performed. All cases were diagnosed of noninvasive OSSN both clinically and histologically. The pegIFN-α-2a was prescribed at a concentration of 20 μg/mL and applied 4 times a day for at least 3 months., Results: In all 8 cases, topical PegIFN-α-2a was well-tolerated and did not lead to discomfort or any adverse side effects. It resulted in reduction in lesion size and extent in all cases and complete resolution of the lesions., Conclusions: Topical PegIFN-α-2a might be an effective and safe treatment option for noninvasive OSSN., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of conventional scleral fixation (C-SF), retropupillary iris-claw intraocular lens (RP-IOL) implantation, and intrascleral fixation (ISF)., Methods: This retrospective observational study included 58 patients (58 eyes) who underwent C-SF (23 eyes), RP-IOL (23 eyes), and ISF (12 eyes) by a single surgeon at Samsung Medical Center from October 2017 to July 2020 and were followed up for at least 6 months. This study analyzed various clinical outcomes before surgery, and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery., Results: Six months after surgery, best-corrected visual acuity in logarithm of minimum angle of resolution was 0.08 ± 0.10, 0.08 ± 0.16, and 0.03 ± 0.04 in C-SF group, RP-IOL group, and ISF group, respectively, and there was a significant improvement in each group compared to preoperative best-corrected visual acuity. All groups showed a significant increase in astigmatism postoperatively, but no between-group differences were observed. The prediction error was -0.15 ± 0.77, 0.56 ± 0.62, and 0.44 ± 1.00 diopters in the three groups, respectively, indicating RP-IOL group and ISF group for hyperopic shift. The three groups did not differ in terms of absolute prediction error. Six months after surgery, the corneal endothelial cell counts were 2,073 ± 691, 2,014 ± 692, and 1,712 ± 891 cells/mm2, respectively, which were lower than before surgery. IOL dislocation occurred in five eyes only in RP-IOL group, two of which underwent two reoperations, and reenclavation was performed smoothly without complications in all cases., Conclusions: Although the frequency of IOL dislocation in RP-IOL group was higher than that in the other groups, it can be reenclavated relatively easily. As a method of secondary IOL fixation, both RP-IOL implantation and ISF were as effective as conventional scleral fixation.

The purpose of this retrospective study is to investigate clinical outcomes of bilateral implantation of diffractive trifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) and extended depth of focus IOLs in Koreans. The clinical outcomes of cataract surgery with bilateral implantation of PanOptix, FineVision, Symfony, and MiniWell were evaluated. Uncorrected distant, intermediate (80 cm, 60 cm), near (40 cm) visual acuity, defocus curve, manifest refraction, contrast sensitivity, and higher-order aberrations, quality of vision, spectacle independence, and subjective satisfaction at postoperative 3 months were assessed. A total of 136 eyes in 68 patients were included in the analyses. PanOptix and FineVision performed better visual acuity compared to Symfony and MiniWell at 40 cm distance. Defocus curve showed broad range of vision in PanOptix and FineVision with visual acuity of more than 0.1 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution at -2.5 diopter (D) of defocus power, while Symfony and MiniWell presented excellent intermediate vision without a dip at defocus power of -0.5 D to -1.0 D. Glare, halo, and starburst were significantly less in MiniWell compared to others. In conclusion, all four IOLs presented satisfactory clinical outcomes. PanOptix and FineVision provided good near and intermediate vision, while Symfony and MiniWell provided good intermediate vision. MiniWell induced little dysphotopsia.

Background: Decreased visual acuity (VA) is reported to be a risk factor for dementia. However, the association between VA and cortical thickness has not been established. We investigated the association between VA and cortical thickness in cognitively normal adults., Method: We conducted a cross-sectional, single-center cohort study with cognitively normal adults (aged ≥ 45) who received medical screening examinations at the Health Promotion Center at Samsung Medical Center. Subjects were categorized as bad (VA ≤ 20/40), fair (20/40 < VA ≤ 20/25), and good (VA > 20/25) VA group by using corrected VA in the Snellen system. Using 3D volumetric brain MRI, cortical thickness was calculated using the Euclidean distance between the linked vertices of the inner and outer surfaces. We analyzed the association between VA and cortical thickness after controlling for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, intracranial volume, and education level., Results: A total of 2756 subjects were analyzed in this study. Compared to the good VA group, the bad VA group showed overall thinner cortex (p = 0.015), especially in the parietal (p = 0.018) and occipital (p = 0.011) lobes. Topographical color maps of vertex-wise analysis also showed that the bad VA group showed a thinner cortex in the parieto-temporo-occipital area. These results were more robust in younger adults (aged 45 to 65) as decreased VA was associated with thinner cortex in more widespread regions in the parieto-temporo-occipital area., Conclusion: Our results suggest that a thinner cortex in the visual processing area of the brain is related to decreased visual stimuli., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background/purpose: Superspreading events (SSEs) are pivotal in the spread of SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to investigate an SSE of COVID-19 in a hospital and explore the transmission dynamics and heterogeneity of SSE., Methods: We performed contact tracing for all close contacts in a cluster. We did nasopharyngeal or throat swabbing for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time RT-PCR. Environmental survey was performed. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the SSE were studied., Results: Patient 1 with congestive heart failure and cellulitis, who had onset of COVID-19 two weeks after hospitalization, was the index case. Patient 1 led to 8 confirmed cases, including four health care workers (HCW). Persons tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were HCW (n = 4), patient 1's family (n = 2), an accompanying person of an un-infected in-patient (n = 1), and an in-patient admitted before the SSE (n = 1). The attack rate among the HCW was 3.2 % (4/127). Environmental survey confirmed contamination at the bed rails, mattresses, and sink in the room patient 1 stayed, suggesting fomite transmission. The index case's sputum remained positive on illness day 35. Except one asymptomatic patient, at least three patients acquired the infection from the index case at the pre-symptomatic period. The effective reproduction number (R t ) was 0.9 (8/9)., Conclusion: The host factor (heart failure, longer viral shedding), transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 (R t , pre-symptomatic transmission), and possible multiple modes of transmission altogether contributed to the SSE. Rapid response and advance deployment of multi-level protection in hospitals could mitigate COVID-19 transmission to one generation, thereby reducing its impact on the healthcare system., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Purpose: To analyze the trends of glaucoma surgery procedures over the past 5 years among hospitals across major provinces in China., Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study based on medical records. We obtained the annual numbers of commonly performed glaucoma incisional surgeries from 57 hospitals of 30 provincial regions in the Chinese Glaucoma Study Consortium (CGSC) from January 2015 to September 2019. The trend of glaucoma surgery was analyzed by Cochrane-Armitage trend test., Results: Trabeculectomy, cataract extraction combined with goniosynechialysis, cataract extraction combined with trabeculectomy, and surgical peripheral iridotomy (SPI) were the top 4 surgical procedures percentages of which have the most substantial change over the course of 2015 to 2019 (all Ptrend <0.001). Numbers of trabeculectomies decreased significantly from 47.59% in 2015 to 31.21% in 2019; cataract extraction combined with goniosynechialysis increased from 12.12% to 28.48%; cataract extraction combined with trabeculectomy increased from 13.11% to 15.97%; and SPI decreased from 9.03% to 6.34%. The proportion of internal drainage surgery increased from 24.31% in 2015 to 39.29% in 2019 while external drainage surgery decreased from 69.20% to 54.64% (All Ptrend <0.001). The microinvasive glaucoma surgeries including AB-interno Canaloplasty, gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy, and Trabectome, increased from 0.62% to 1.40% (Ptrend<0.001). Across all study hospitals, the trends were similar, except for the Tibet Autonomous Region Eye Center, where SPI and trabeculectomy remained the most common anti-glaucoma surgeries., Conclusion: In the past 5 years, we observed substantial reduction in trabeculectomy, and increase in combination cataract-glaucoma procedures across major hospitals in China. The proportion of internal drainage surgery increased, while external drainage surgery decreased significantly. Detailed understanding of shifting trends in glaucoma surgeries can facilitate better health care resource allocation and training of glaucoma subspecialists in China., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Corneal nerve damage after laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) is thought to be the cause of dry eye and pain. Therefore, we investigated whether taking pregabalin (Lyrica), which reduces peripheral neuropathic pain, alleviates corneal nerve sensitivity after surgery and reduces dry eye and pain., Methods: Patients were treated with pregabalin (150 mg two times a day for 15 days) from the day before surgery onward and compared with those who did not receive the medications. Before surgery, the severity of dry eye was assessed. Then, corneal sensitivity was assessed by esthesiometry and pain was assessed according to the Visual Analogue Scale. Images of the sub-basal nerve plexus were analysed using confocal microscopy to evaluate nerve regeneration at 6 months., Results: Forty eyes in the pregabalin group and 40 eyes in the control group were included in this study. No significant differences regarding the severity of dry eye, corneal sensitivity test results and nerve fibre density existed between the two groups until 6 months. The pregabalin group showed significantly reduced pain at 1 week., Conclusions: Taking pregabalin during LASEK surgery may affect corneal nerve sensitivity and reduce pain. However, for up to 6 months thereafter, corneal sensitivity and nerve fibre density are not significantly different from findings in the control group, so pregabalin does not seem to affect nerve regeneration or structural changes., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

PQ/PMMA photopolymer films fabricated by solvent casting are realized using tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the solvent. The corresponding photochemical reaction model is established with material parameters numerically studied based on 57 samples recorded with a 532 nm laser. The fabrication and the recording time are noticeably reduced. A 2-fold increase in the average refractive index variation is achieved compared with the two-step thermal polymerization method with the same PQ initial concentration., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Purpose: To develop and validate an automated deep learning (DL)-based artificial intelligence (AI) platform for diagnosing and grading cataracts using slit-lamp and retroillumination lens photographs based on the Lens Opacities Classification System (LOCS) III., Design: Cross-sectional study in which a convolutional neural network was trained and tested using photographs of slit-lamp and retroillumination lens photographs., Participants: One thousand three hundred thirty-five slit-lamp images and 637 retroillumination lens images from 596 patients., Methods: Slit-lamp and retroillumination lens photographs were graded by 2 trained graders using LOCS III. Image datasets were labeled and divided into training, validation, and test datasets. We trained and validated AI platforms with 4 key strategies in the AI domain: (1) region detection network for redundant information inside data, (2) data augmentation and transfer learning for the small dataset size problem, (3) generalized cross-entropy loss for dataset bias, and (4) class balanced loss for class imbalance problems. The performance of the AI platform was reinforced with an ensemble of 3 AI algorithms: ResNet18, WideResNet50-2, and ResNext50., Main Outcome Measures: Diagnostic and LOCS III-based grading prediction performance of AI platforms., Results: The AI platform showed robust diagnostic performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC], 0.9992 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.9986-0.9998] and 0.9994 [95% CI, 0.9989-0.9998]; accuracy, 98.82% [95% CI, 97.7%-99.9%] and 98.51% [95% CI, 97.4%-99.6%]) and LOCS III-based grading prediction performance (AUC, 0.9567 [95% CI, 0.9501-0.9633] and 0.9650 [95% CI, 0.9509-0.9792]; accuracy, 91.22% [95% CI, 89.4%-93.0%] and 90.26% [95% CI, 88.6%-91.9%]) for nuclear opalescence (NO) and nuclear color (NC) using slit-lamp photographs, respectively. For cortical opacity (CO) and posterior subcapsular opacity (PSC), the system achieved high diagnostic performance (AUC, 0.9680 [95% CI, 0.9579-0.9781] and 0.9465 [95% CI, 0.9348-0.9582]; accuracy, 96.21% [95% CI, 94.4%-98.0%] and 92.17% [95% CI, 88.6%-95.8%]) and good LOCS III-based grading prediction performance (AUC, 0.9044 [95% CI, 0.8958-0.9129] and 0.9174 [95% CI, 0.9055-0.9295]; accuracy, 91.33% [95% CI, 89.7%-93.0%] and 87.89% [95% CI, 85.6%-90.2%]) using retroillumination images., Conclusions: Our DL-based AI platform successfully yielded accurate and precise detection and grading of NO and NC in 7-level classification and CO and PSC in 6-level classification, overcoming the limitations of medical databases such as few training data or biased label distribution., (© 2022 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.)

Purpose: Visual impairment (VI) is highly prevalent in the elderly and is associated with functional decline. Previous research demonstrated an association between VI and cardiovascular events, but investigations have yet to be conducted in general population samples. We evaluated the relationship between visual acuity (VA) and development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in a nationwide Korean population., Methods: This is a nationwide retrospective cohort study. We used the National Health Information Database of the National Health Insurance Service of Korea to identify subjects who participated in the National Health Insurance Service health screening program in 2012. We monitored 5,941,761 subjects for the development of cardiovascular diseases for a period of 5 years., Results: After adjustments for age, sex, and other covariates, with subjects having a visual acuity better than 20/20 as the reference group, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidential intervals (CI) for acute myocardial infarction and stroke were visual acuity between 20/20 and 20/60, 1.073 (95% CI 1.053, 1.094) and 1.151 (95% CI 1.132, 1.171), respectively; for visual acuity between 20/60 and 20/200, 1.236 (95% CI 1.197, 1.277), and 1.336 (95% CI 1.302, 1.371), respectively; and for visual acuity worse than 20/200, 1.325 (95% CI 1.285, 1.366) and 1.383 (95% CI 1.349, 1.418), respectively., Conclusion: Subjects with lower VA had higher risks of acute myocardial infarction and stroke. These results suggest that low VA is an independent risk factor for CVD.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly contagious, with a potential to cause large nosocomial outbreaks in the hospital setting. We report the advance deployment of comprehensive, multi-level infection control measures in a 3,700-bed large hospital to prevent nosocomial outbreaks of COVID-19 during the pandemic., Methods: We implemented a series of dynamic infection control policies during the pandemic. A confirmed COVID-19 case was defined by positive real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. All healthcare worker (HCW) having symptoms or close contact with the confirmed case received the RT-PCR test., Results: A total of 5,722 patients were tested in our hospital from January to May 2020. Twenty-five patients were confirmed COVID-19, including two inpatients. A cluster of 4 HCWs with COVID-19 associated with the 2nd inpatient was identified in the early stage of epidemic. Our enhanced traffic control bundling, mask wearing, hand hygiene and environmental cleaning were reinforced after the outbreak. All other confirmed cases were identified at our outdoor quarantine station or epidemic clinic afterwards, and the results of testing for 146 symptomatic HCWs were all negative., Conclusions: Integrated teamwork, advance deployment of infection control measures and efficient diagnostic testing and response protected HCW and facilities from large SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and preserved the capacity and function of the health care system during the pandemic., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest All authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to this article., (Copyright © 2022 Chang Gung University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of implantation of various multifocal intraocular lenses (mIOLs) and the prediction accuracy of two intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulas for eyes that underwent previous corneal refractive surgery., Methods: Four types of mIOLs [TECNIS Symfony (Group I), AcrySof IQ PanOptix (Group II), LENTIS Mplus (Group III), and TECNIS ZLB00 (Group IV)] were used and the IOL power was calculated with the two no-history methods, Shammas-PL and Barrett True-K. Visual acuity and refractive outcomes including manifest refraction, prediction error (PE), absolute error (AE), and median absolute error (MedAE) were evaluated at three months after the cataract surgery., Results: For all groups the Barrett True-K formula produced a narrower range of PEs and lower MedAE than Shammas-PL. Eyes of lower predictive accuracy (group B, AE >0.5D) showed weak uncorrected distance visual acuity resulting from myopic refractive error and target refraction when compared to that of higher predictive accuracy (group A, AE ≤0.5 D)., Conclusions: Targeting emmetropia using the Barrett True-K, which considers both anterior and posterior corneal curvature is recommended in patients undergoing mIOL implantation with prior corneal refractive surgery. Additionally, history of prior large amount of laser ablation seems to be an important factor related to low predictive accuracy., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/atm-21-3057). DHL was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) funded by the Ministry of Health &Welfare, Republic of Korea (HC19C0142). TYC was supported by a grant from a National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea (NRF-2020R1A2C2014139; Seoul, Korea). The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2021 Annals of Translational Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Background/aims: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of the systemic re-esterified triglyceride (rTG) form of omega-3 fatty acids in patients with dry eye symptoms after cataract surgery., Methods: This prospective comparative cohort study comprised 66 patients complaining of new-onset non-specific typical dry eye 1 month after uncomplicated cataract surgery. Subjects were randomly allocated into control and omega-3 groups based on administration of the systemic rTG form of omega-3 fatty acids for 2 months, in addition to use of artificial teardrop. Ocular surface parameters (Schirmer's test, tear break-up time, corneal staining score and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)) and subjective questionnaire results (Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI)) and Dry Eye Questionnaire [DEQ]) for dry eye were evaluated before and after omega-3 supplementation., Results: Two months after omega-3 supplementation, the Oxford score was lower in the omega-3 group than in the control group. There was an improvement of subjective symptom scores of OSDI and DEQ in the omega-3 group (both p<0.05). The ratio of increasing MMP-9 level in the omega-3 group was lower than that in the control group (p=0.027)., Conclusion: The rTG form of omega-3 supplementation might be related to reduction of ocular surface inflammation rather than secretion of tears, and it might be effective for non-specific typical dry eye after uncomplicated cataract surgery., Trial Registration Number: NCT04411615., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

To investigate the effects of preoperative Lipiflow (Johnson & Johnson, Jacksonville, FL, USA) treatment before cataract surgery on meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and dry eye induced by surgery., Design: Prospective, randomized controlled study., Methods: This study comprised 124 eyes of 124 patients with planned surgery for senile cataract. Participants were randomly allocated into control and Lipiflow groups based on administration of Lipiflow treatment 3 weeks before cataract surgery. For meibomian gland (MG) evaluation, MG atrophy, degree of gland expressibility, and quality of gland secretions were examined at the baseline visit and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Ocular surface parameters of tear film break-up time, Oxford corneal staining score, and tear film lipid layer thickness were measured at each visit. Ocular Surface Disease Index and Dry Eye Questionnaire were also assessed., Results: The control group exhibited a significant decrease in MG expressibility, worsened meibum quality, decreased lipid layer thickness, and worsened corneal staining after cataract surgery. Also, dry eye symptom showed significant worsening. Conversely, the Lipiflow group showed significantly improved MG patency and meibum quality, increased tear film break-up time, and reduced corneal staining, and presented improved subjective outcomes reported on both Ocular Surface Disease Index and Dry Eye Questionnaire. The improvement of each parameter in the Lipiflow group showed a linear correlation with baseline MGD grade. In addition, patients without baseline MGD showed less worsening or improvement of MGD and dry eye induced by surgery, with preoperative Lipiflow treatment., Conclusions: Preoperative Lipiflow treatment conducted before cataract surgery may be a safe and effective intervention for relieving MGD and dry eye induced by surgery. It might be recommended not only for the patients with preoperative MGD but also for those without baseline MGD, to prevent the development of MGD and dry eye induced by ocular surgeries., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Individuals with paraplegia spend their time on the wheelchair for life. Adapting to prolonged wheelchair seating for almost all activities of daily living is challenging. The loss of abilities to sense any pain or excessive seating pressure cause them to remain seated on the wheelchair without any pressure relief activities. This situation leads to secondary complications including pressure ulcer which further degrades the individual's health. To overcome this, a wheelchair seating pressure relief training system (WSETs) was developed. Optimal placement of the force sensitive resistors (FSR) as seating pressure sensors on the cushion were determined, and their responses were investigated with 5 paraplegics. Two different FSR orientations, A and B, were compared. Each paraplegic sat in resting position and then performed pressure relief activities (PRA) which included whole body push-up, left and right lean and forward lean, before returning to resting position. Orientation B, with more forward positioned FSRs, showed higher sensitivity, implying better capture of high-risk area of pressure ulcer development. The FSR sensor readings were significantly different among pressure relief activities in all subjects ( p  < 0.05) indicating the validity of FSR measures for the intended application. In conclusion, the WSETs system was proven suitable as a training tool for new paraplegics to habituate themselves in performing PRA.

Background and Objectives : This study sought to investigate the natural course, the chronicity and recurrence rate, and the risk factors of chronic and recurrent herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). We also evaluated the effects of long-term treatment for HZO. Materials and Methods : Patients diagnosed and treated for HZO were included in the retrospective medical chart review. Multivariable-adjusted logistic and Cox regression models were used to show risk factors for chronic and recurrent HZO along with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results : Among a total 130 of HZO patients, 31 patients (23.85%) had chronic disease and 19 patients (14.62%) had recurrent disease. The rate of chronic disease was higher in HZO with conjunctivitis, epithelial keratitis, and stromal keratitis. The recurrence rate increased in patients with chronic HZO (HR: 34.4, 95% CI: 3.6-324.6), epithelial keratitis (HR: 5.5, 95% CI: 1.3-30.0), stromal keratitis (HR: 18.8, 95% CI: 3.0-120.8), and increased intraocular pressure (IOP) (HR: 7.3, 95% CI: 1.6-33.2). Length of systemic antiviral therapy and anti-inflammatory eyedrop treatment were not associated with recurrent HZO ( p = 0.847 and p = 0.660, respectively). The most common ocular manifestation for recurrent HZO was stromal keratitis. Conclusions : This study demonstrated a considerable frequency of chronic and recurrent HZO. Chronic HZO in the form of epithelial or stromal keratitis with increased IOP provoked a significant rise in the risk of recurrence.