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Purpose: To translate and validate an Italian version of the CLDEQ-8 (CLDEQ-8_IT). Methods: The study was carried out in two phases. In the first phase, a cross-cultural adaptation of CLDEQ-8 to Italian was performed by forward and backward translation in sequence. In the second phase, a multi-centre study was conducted for the validation of the questionnaire. Validity CLDEQ-8_IT was evaluated against three gestalt questions: overall opinion of soft contact lenses (CLs), global self-assessments of eye sensitivity and eye dryness. Reliability was evaluated by test–retest assessment in a subgroup of subjects. Finally, the psychometric properties of CLDEQ-8_IT were explored by Rasch analysis. Results: Two hundred and forty soft CL wearers, fluent Italian speakers (73 males and 167 females), between 18 and 70 years of age were enrolled. A significant correlation was found between CLDEQ-8_IT and each of the three Gestalt questions. The cutoff score of 12 points demonstrated the best balance between sensitivity and specificity in differentiating wearers grading their CLs as “Excellent/Very good” from those reporting their overall opinion as “Good/Fair/Poor”. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient between test and retest was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81–0.92). Finally, infit and outfit statistics using Rasch analysis for the 8 items were in a good range, however Principal Components Analysis revealed a certain degree of multi-dimensionality of the instrument. Also, item 8 analysis could be computed after merging the last two response categories. Conclusion: The CLDEQ-8_IT showed very good validity and reliability in measuring symptoms of CL wearers, comparable to the original English language version. A cut-off of 12 was confirmed as yielding the best balance between sensitivity and specificity in detecting CL wearers who could benefit from clinical management of their CL-related symptoms. Collapsing of the response options 5 and 6 in the last item of questionnaire could optimise it

Short Communication

Purpose: To evaluate demographic and lifestyle factors associated with aqueous deficient and evaporative dry eye disease. Methods: A total of 1125 general public visitors (707 females, mean ± SD age, 33 ± 21, range 5–90 years) at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition were recruited in a cross-sectional study. A demographic and lifestyle factor questionnaire was administered, and dry eye symptomology (DEQ-5 score), ocular surface characteristics (conjunctival hyperaemia, and infrared meibography), and tear film parameters (tear meniscus height, non-invasive breakup time, and lipid layer grade) were evaluated for the left eye of each participant within a single session. The diagnostic criteria for dry eye disease subtypes were adapted from the rapid non-invasive dry eye assessment algorithm. Results: Overall, 428 (38%) participants fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for dry eye disease, 161 (14%) with aqueous deficient dry eye disease, and 339 (30%) with evaporative dry eye disease. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that advancing age, female sex, reduced sleep duration, higher psychological stress, and poorer self-perceived health status were independently associated with aqueous deficient dry eye disease (all p < 0.05). Significant risk factors for evaporative dry eye disease included advancing age, East and South Asian ethnicity, contact lens wear, increased digital device screen exposure, higher psychological stress, and poorer self-perceived health status (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Both subtypes of dry eye disease were associated with several unique and shared demographic and lifestyle factors. The findings of this study could inform future research design investigating the utility of targeted screening and risk factor modification for the prevention and management of dry eye disease.

In the ophthalmic field, multifactorial pathologies such as Dry Eye Disease (DED) and cataract are largely studied in living animal models that can fail to precisely mirror the complexity of these conditions in humans. Recent advances in biomedical technologies have improved the reliability of in-vitro/ex-vivo animal alternatives, and to date, the corneal and crystalline lens tissue have been independently maintained physiologicallystable for 10 days. This thesis details the development of a novel and complete ex-vivo anterior eye model, which is capable of sustaining both the cornea and crystalline lens in a physiologically stable state in loco for 7 days. The platform is based on porcine eyes, which represent a high quality and reliable human tissue source substitute, and being slaughterhouse waste, also perfectly align the project with the 3Rs principle of replacing, refining and reducing living animal experimentation..., Dentro del campo oftalmológico, patologías multifactoriales como Enfermedad del Ojo Seco (EOS) y Cataratas son ampliamente estudiadas a través de modelos animales que no reproducen con exactitud estas condiciones en humanos debido a su complejidad. Los recientes avances en la tecnología biomédica han mejorado la fiabilidad de modelos animales in-vitro/ex-vivo, y hasta el momento, el tejido de la córnea y cristalino se han mantenido fisiológicamente estables de forma independiente durante 10 días. Esta tesis describe el desarrollo de un nuevo y completo modelo de ojo anterior ex vivo, que es capaz de mantener tanto la córnea como el cristalino en un estado fisiológico estable durante 7 días. La plataforma se basa en ojos porcinos, que representan una fuente alternativa al tejido humano de alta calidad y fiable, y al tratarse de residuos de matadero, también alinea perfectamente el proyecto con el principio 3Rs de reemplazar, refinar y reducir la experimentación con animales vivos...

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is increasingly used in areas such as ophthalmology and contact lens metrology. However, in such cases, image distortion can occur due to the non-planar nature of the measured sample. Postprocessing algorithms can be implemented to correct this distortion. Here we present an OCT phantom designed to confirm the validity of post-processing algorithms used for measuring curved surfaces. A multi-purpose OCT phantom has been created within a fused silica plano-convex lens using the direct femtosecond laser writing technique. This phantom can be used to calibrate and quantitatively assess the performance (e.g. resolution, sensitivity and distortion) of OCT systems and associated post-processing algorithms for curved structures such as lenses. This novel OCT phantom has been characterized using an optical microscope and OCT systems.