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Corneal diseases represent 5.1% of all eye defects and are the fourth leading cause of blindness globally. Corneal neovascularization can arise from all conditions of chronic irritation or hypoxia, which disrupts the immune‐privileged state of the healthy cornea, increases the risk of rejection after keratoplasty, and leads to opacity. In the past decades, significant progress has been made for neovascular diseases of the retina and choroid, with plenty of drugs getting commercialized. In addition, to overcome the barriers of the short duration and inadequate penetration of conventional formulations of antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), multiple novel drug delivery systems, including adeno‐associated virus (AAV)‐mediated transfer have gone through the full process of bench‐to‐bedside translation. Like retina neovascular diseases, corneal neovascularization also suffers from chronicity and a high risk of recurrence, necessitating sustained and efficient delivery across the epithelial barrier to reach deep layers of the corneal stroma. Among the explored methods, adeno‐associated virus‐mediated delivery of anti‐VEGF to treat corneal neovascularization is the most extensively researched and most promising strategy for clinical translation although currently although, it remains predominantly at the preclinical stage. This review comprehensively examines the necessity, benefits, and risks of applying AAV vectors for anti‐VEGF drug delivery in corneal vascularization, including its current progress and challenges in clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMethodsResultsConclusionsCorneal neurotization (CN) is a novel, potentially curative surgical procedure for the treatment of neurothophic keratopathy (NK). Patients with severe NK can present with corneal opacification requiring optical keratoplasty, which would likely fail without a proper trophic support of corneal nerves in the recipient cornea.This is a pilot study on 4 patients undergoing keratoplasty after CN. Pre- and postoperative data at 12, 24 months and at the last follow-up were collected for the examination of (i) best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), (ii) slit lamp examination and photograph acquisition with and without fluorescein staining, (iii) corneal aesthesiometry, (iv) in vivo confocal microscopy of the central cornea. Neurophysiological study of the corneal reflex before corneal graft and at last follow up was performed.Four female patients (47.25 ± 5.06 y.o.) underwent keratoplasty after CN (3 penetrating keratoplasty, 1 deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty). The mean interval between CN and keratoplasty was 22 (± 12) months. The mean graft survival time was 42 (± 25) months. Graft follow-up ranged from 72 to 132 months. At the final follow-up, BCVA was improved in 2 out of 4 patients. The mean corneal sensitivity was 11.9 ± 8.3 mm at last follow-up. In vivo confocal microscopy confirmed the presence of functioning nerves at the last follow-up in all patients. NK-related complications occurred in 3 eyes (2 persistent epithelial defect, 1 corneal melting). The former complication was successfully treated by autologous serum eye drops while the latter required repeated keratoplasty.Keratoplasty is a viable strategy to improve visual acuity in patients with corneal opacity who underwent CN for the treatment of NK. Even in the presence of functioning corneal nerves before keratoplasty, surgeons should be aware of the increased rate of NK-related complications that could require the need for repeated procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeMethod(s)ResultsConclusionTo evaluate co-morbid sociomedical conditions affecting corneal donor endothelial cell density and transplant suitability.Corneal donor transplant information was collected from the CorneaGen eye bank between June 1, 2012 and June 30, 2016. A natural language processing algorithm was applied to generate co-morbid sociomedical conditions for each donor. Variables of importance were identified using four machine learning models (random forest, Glmnet, Earth, nnet), for the outcomes of transplant suitability and endothelial cell density. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) values were generated, with beeswarm and box plots to visualize the contribution of each feature to the models.With a total of 23,522 unique donors, natural language processing generated 30,573 indices, which were reduced to 41 most common co-morbid sociomedical conditions. For transplant suitability, hypertension ranked the top overall variable of importance in two models. Hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, history of smoking, and alcohol use appeared consistently in the top variables of importance. By SHAP feature importance, hypertension (0.042), alcohol use (0.017), ventilation of donor (0.011), and history of smoking (0.010) contributed the most to the transplant suitability model. For endothelial cell density, hypertension was the sociomedical condition of highest importance in three models. SHAP scores were highest among the sociomedical conditions of hypertension (0.037), alcohol use (0.013), myocardial infarction (0.012), and history of smoking (0.011).In a large cohort of corneal donor eyes, hypertension was identified as the most common contributor to machine learning models examining sociomedical conditions for corneal donor transplant suitability and endothelial cell density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMethodsResultsConclusionsDermoid excision combined with lamellar keratoplasty was one of the most common surgical techniques for corneal dermoid. Due to the huge shortage of corneal donors, small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) derived lenticules might be the novel and feasible corneal grafts instead of traditional corneal donors. Therefore, we tried to use FG boned multi-layer lenticules as grafts in the treatment of corneal dermoid.Five patients (the oldest patient was 54 years old and the youngest case was 5 years old) were diagnosed with corneal dermoid and complaining of blurred vision or unsatisfied cosmetic appearance. All patients underwent corneal dermoid excision combined with FG boned multi-layer corneal lenticules transplantation. Slit-lamp microscopy and anterior-segmental optical coherence tomography(AS-OCT)were used to observe ocular appearance, corneal grafts survival, epithelialization, transparency, interlamellar fluid accumulation and the degradation of FG. The preoperative and postoperative change of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and astigmatism were respectively recorded.All patients were satisfied with the postoperative cosmetic results. BCVA had been increased and astigmatism had been decreased in all cases. We observed that the FG boned multi-layer corneal lenticules were covered with smooth corneal epithelium in one week after transplantation and successfully adhered to the corneal beds, without any dislocation or interlayer separation. FG was gradually degraded and absorbed within 1 month after surgery. The lenticule grafts grew well without rejection and kept transparency during the follow-up period.FG boned multi-layer lenticules would be the novel and feasible substitute for lamellar keratoplasty in the treatment of corneal dermoid. FG could not be only used as binder adhering multi-layer lenticules, closing the interlayer space of multi-layer lenticules, preventing the formation of interlayer fluid, but also increasing the thickness and toughness of lenticules, and therefore which is more facilitate to intraoperative suture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a rare, sight-threating corneal infection. The disease is challenging to diagnose and treat, and the amoeba can rapidly encyst, persisting in the tissue and causing recurrences. Medical therapy is conventionally considered the first line treatment, but advanced cases could require more invasive treatments like a "chaud" corneal transplant. We review the incidence of severe complications in patients affected by AK. Of 439 reports screened, 158 met our inclusion criteria. Incidence of severe complications was low, with 2.21 % patients developing perforation, 1 % requiring evisceration/enucleation and less than 1 % developing endophthalmitis. Corneal transplantation was required in 16.68 % of the cases. According to our results, and considering the reported incidences of these complications in other infectious keratitis, AK patients have an overall low risk of developing perforation, endophthalmitis, and enucleation/evisceration. Nevertheless, data available in the literature remain poor, and further randomized control trials are needed to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: To determine the clinical features, predisposing factors, and management of infectious keratitis caused by Candida spp. Methods: Retrospective chart review. Results: The medical records of 52 patients (54 eyes) with Candida keratitis were available for statistical analysis. Thinning of the corneal stroma was identified in 34 eyes (63.0%), and corneal perforation occurred in 16 eyes (29.6%). Corneal thinning and perforation were more common in Candida albicans compared with non-albicans (P-val <.001, P =.09, respectively). The most common predisposing factors for Candida keratitis were topical steroid use (21 patients, 40.4%), previous corneal transplantation (17 patients, 32.7%), and preexisting ocular surface disease (15 patients, 28.8%). Fourteen eyes (25.9%) required cyanoacrylate glue application and 10 eyes (18.5%) underwent therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK). Conclusion: Local immunosuppression and ocular surface disease play an important role in Candida keratitis. C. albicans appears to be more invasive compared with non-albicans spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the correlation of different variables of Vogt striae to other attributes of keratoconus and to suggest a new grading system for Vogt striae to exactly represent the configuration and extent in each individual keratoconic cornea. The study was an observational and data review study. A total of 386 eyes of 207 keratoconus patients were screened from February 2016 to August 2018. Patients with prior history of collagen cross linking were excluded from the study as measurement of corneal thickness is less reliable for many months after collagen cross linking, and patients may have superficial corneal striae and scarring after collagen cross linking. Patients with history or clinical features suggestive of corneal hydrops or who had undergone lamellar or full thickness corneal transplants and intracorneal ring segments were also excluded from the study. Of total 52 eyes with Vogt striae, 31 eyes (59.6%) had vertical orientation, 3 (5.8%) had horizontal, 11 (21.2%) had oblique while 7 eyes (13.5%) had mixed orientation of Vogt striae. Mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCVA) in the vertical group was 0.76 logMAR, horizontal group was 0.80 logMAR, oblique group was 0.65 logMAR, and mixed group was 1.17 logMAR units. Corneal scarring was present in 15 eyes (28.8%) and absent in 37 (71.2%) eyes with Vogt striae. In the mixed Vogt striae group, 85.7% eyes (6 eyes of 7) had corneal scarring, while 16.1% in vertical group (5 eyes of 31), and 27.3% in oblique group (3 of 11) had corneal scarring. Based on three attributes of Vogt striae, that is orientation, number, and corneal scarring, a new grading for Vogt striae was also suggested. This is the first study to report the presence of mixed Vogt striae (combination of horizontal and/or vertical and/or oblique Vogt striae in a single cornea) in cases of keratoconus. For the first time, oblique Vogt striae have been described, and clear limits have been set to call it horizontal, oblique, or vertical striae. A new grading for Vogt striae is also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corneal injury is one of the substantial and challenging global concerns regarding vision loss. Corneal transplantation is the gold standard for restoring vision to a blurred cornea; however, suture-related complications, corneal haziness, and graft failure have led to ongoing research to improve graft efficiency. In this study, a highly suture-able hybrid corneal scaffold composed of decellularized corneas injected with GelMa/PEGDA in situ was fabricated to preserve the structural integrity and transparency of the injured corneas. First, GelMA/PEGDA hydrogels with different ratios (3/7, 1/1, and 7/3) were evaluated in terms of microstructure, degradation rate, cytocompatibility, and equilibrium water content. GelMa/PEGDA 7/3 was chosen based on the cytocompatibility assay, which confirmed the attachment, maintenance, and proliferation of limbal stem cells with an elongated morphology. Next, the explanted rabbit cornea was decellularized successfully to preserve its extracellular components and transparency with less than 1% DNA content. Thereafter, a hybrid cornea was developed by incorporating GelMA/PEGDA hydrogel (7/3) into the decellularized rabbit cornea under ultraviolet light. This hybrid cornea showed improved sutureability and possessed appropriate transparency. In addition, ex vivo examinations of the enucleated eyeballs of rabbits showed that this hybrid cornea effectively adhered to the corneal stromal and surrounding tissues by applying GelMA/PEGDA hydrogel, which is favorable for corneal transplantations. Based on these findings, the introduced hybrid cornea could be a potential candidate for the in situ repair of deep anterior corneal defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limbal mesenchymal stromal cells (LMSCs) reside in the limbal niche, supporting corneal integrity and facilitating regeneration. While mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are used in regenerative therapies, there is limited knowledge about LMSC subpopulations and their characteristics. This study characterized human LMSC subpopulations through the flow cytometric assessment of fifteen cell surface markers, including MSC, wound healing, immune regulation, ASC, endothelial, and differentiation markers. Primary LMSCs were established from remnant human corneal transplant specimens and passaged eight times to observe changes during subculture. The results showed the consistent expression of typical MSC markers and distinct subpopulations with the passage-dependent expression of wound healing, immune regulation, and differentiation markers. High CD166 and CD248 expressions indicated a crucial role in ocular surface repair. CD29 expression suggested an immunoregulatory role. Comparable pigment-epithelial-derived factor (PEDF) expression supported anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic roles. Sustained CD201 expression indicated maintained differentiation capability, while VEGFR2 expression suggested potential endothelial differentiation. LMSCs showed higher VEGF expression than fibroblasts and endothelial cells, suggesting a potential contribution to ocular surface regeneration through the modulation of angiogenesis and inflammation. These findings highlight the heterogeneity and multipotent potential of LMSC subpopulations during in vitro expansion, informing the development of standardized protocols for regenerative therapies and improving treatments for ocular surface disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visual impairment can cause balance problems. Therefore, visual impairment caused by an increase in corneal deviations can lead to sudden and unstable loads in the lower extremities. We aimed to investigate the possible relationship between low-energy meniscal injuries and corneal structural measures. Methods: This prospective, observational study included individuals aged between 18–40 years with a normal body-mass index. The study group consisted of 54 patients with grade 2 or 3 meniscus injuries after low-energy activity. The control group consisted of 54 healthy individuals without any complaints in the knee joint. The corneal parameters of all participants were evaluated with a Scheimpflug corneal topography and specular microscopy device. Simulated keratometry (SimK), minimum central corneal thickness (MCCT), cylindrical diopter (ClyD), corneal volume (CVol) spheric aberrations (SphAbb), high-order aberration (HOA), coma values, and endothelial parameters were recorded. Results: The research and control groups were similar in terms of age, body mass index, and gender distribution. There was no significant difference between the groups in the corneal SimK and CylD, parameters. However, HOA, Coma, SphAbb, and cell variability (Cv) values were significantly higher in the study group, and contrarily MCCT, CVol, and endothelial count (Cd) values were significantly lower. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that individuals with relatively lower MCCT values tend to develop meniscal damage after low-energy activity. Hence, the loss of corneal strength in these patients may be a sign of possible weakness in the meniscus. The HOA value above 0.26, the coma value above 0.16, and the SphAbb value above 0.1 may significantly increase the possible meniscus injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To retrospectively analyze the trends in indications and surgical procedures for corneal transplantation in the Zhongshan region. Methods Data from corneal transplantation surgeries performed at Zhongshan People′s Hospital from January 2008 to December 2022 were collected and analyzed to evaluate the current status and trends in indications and surgical techniques. Results A total of 200 eyes were included in this study, with corneal leukoplakia accounting for 51 cases (25.5%), infectious keratitis 45 cases (22.5%), trauma 28 cases (14.0%), various types of corneal dystrophy and malnutrition 17 cases (8.5%), corneal tumors 17 cases (8.5%), keratoconus 15 cases (7.5%), bullous keratopathy 13 cases (6.5%), re-transplantation 12 cases (6.0%), and other corneal diseases (e.g., glaucoma, iridocorneal endothelial syndrome, filamentary keratitis） 2 cases (1.0%). Among the 45 cases of infectious keratitis, bacterial keratitis accounted for 31 cases (68.99%), fungal keratitis 10 cases (22.22%), and herpes simplex virus keratitis 4 cases (8.89%). Penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 122 cases (61%), lamellar keratoplasty in 66 cases (33%), endothelial keratoplasty in 10 cases (5%), and limbal stem cell transplantation in 2 cases (1%). Conclusion The top three indications for corneal transplantation in the Zhongshan region were corneal leukoplakia, infectious keratitis, and trauma. Penetrating keratoplasty remains the preferred surgical procedure for corneal transplantation, while the number of lamellar keratoplasty procedures has been increasing annually, significantly improving the utilization rate of donor corneas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated the influence of cleanroom conditions on the discard rates of donor corneas in a German university eye bank. Methods: Discard rates were analysed from 2017 to 2020 at the LIONS Cornea Bank at Saarland University Medical Center. 1941 corneas from 971 donors were included. 1262 corneas (65.1%) were stored in a class D cleanroom from 2017 to 2019 and processed in a cleanroom class A sterile bank (group 1). 679 corneas (34.9%) were continuously stored in a class B cleanroom and processed in a class A cleanroom safety cabinet in the same room from 2019 to 2020 (group 2). The target parameter of this work was the number of contamination‐related discards. Although they cannot be influenced by the spatial conditions, the discards due to insufficient endothelial quality, serology, contraindications, scars and technical causes were also recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS and various testing procedures. Results: In group 1, significantly more corneas were discarded due to positive serology (6.9%|3.8%, p = 0.020). There was no significant change between both groups for either contamination or the other reasons for discard. Conclusion: Optimization of hygiene standards from cleanroom class D to B did not reduce contamination. Serology, endothelial quality, medical contraindications and the presence of scars cannot be influenced by cleanroom conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Corneal inflammatory hem- and lymphangiogenesis significantly increase the risk for immune rejection after subsequent allogeneic corneal transplantation. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of temporary selective inhibition of lymphangiogenesis after transplantation on graft survival. Methods: Allogeneic transplantation from C57BL/6 mice to BalbC mice was performed as "high-risk" keratoplasty in a prevascularized corneal host bed (suture-induced inflammatory corneal neovascularization). The treatment group received integrin α5β1-blocking small molecules (JSM6427) at the time of transplantation and for two weeks afterwards. Control mice received a vehicle solution. Grafts were evaluated weekly for graft rejection using an opacity score. At the end of the follow-up, immunohistochemical staining of corneal wholemounts for lymphatic vessels as well as CD11b+ immune cells was performed. Results: Temporary postoperative inhibition of lymphangiogenesis by JSM6427 improved the corneal graft survival significantly. At the end of the follow-up, no significant reduction in CD11b+ immunoreactive cells within the graft compared to controls was found. Conclusions: The significant improvement of corneal graft survival by the selective, temporary postoperative inhibition of lymphangiogenesis after keratoplasty using integrin antagonists shows the impact of lymphatic vessels in the early postoperative phase. Retarding lymphatic vessel ingrowth into the graft might be sufficient for the shift to immunological tolerance in the postoperative period, even after high-risk keratoplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deficits in corneal innervation lead to neurotrophic keratopathy (NK). NK is frequently associated with facial palsy, and corneal damage can be accelerated by facial palsy deficits. Corneal nerves are important regulators of limbal stem cells, which play a critical role in epithelial maintenance and healing. Nonsurgical treatments of NK have undergone recent innovation, and growth factors implicated in corneal epithelial renewal are a promising therapeutic avenue. However, surgical intervention with corneal neurotization (CN) remains the only definitive treatment of NK. CN involves the transfer of unaffected sensory donor nerve branches to the affected cornea, and a variety of donor nerves and approaches have been described. CN can be performed in a direct or indirect manner; employ the supraorbital, supratrochlear, infraorbital, or great auricular nerves; and utilize autograft, allograft, or nerve transfer alone. Unfortunately, comparative studies of these factors are limited due to the procedure's novelty and varied recovery timelines after CN. Regardless of the chosen approach, CN has been shown to be a safe and effective procedure to restore corneal sensation and improve visual acuity in patients with NK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigate trends in keratoconus (KCN) treatment patterns and diagnosis age from 2015 to 2020 and evaluate sociodemographic associations with the treatment approach. Retrospective cohort study. Patients with a new KCN diagnosis from 2015 to 2020 were identified in the Academy IRIS® Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight). Associations between sociodemographic factors and treatment were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. Outcomes included percentages and rates of each treatment (collagen crosslinking [CXL], keratoplasty, or no procedure) from 2015 to 2020, age at diagnosis during this period, and sociodemographic factors associated with treatment type. A total of 66 199 patients with a new diagnosis of KCN were identified. The percentage of patients undergoing CXL increased from 0.05% in 2015 to 29.5% in 2020 (P = 0.008). The average age (standard deviation) of KCN patients decreased from 44.1 (±16.9) years in 2015 to 39.2 (±16.9) years in 2020 (P < 0.001). In multivariable analyses comparing CXL versus no procedure and keratoplasty versus no procedure, patients undergoing CXL tended to be younger with the odds of having CXL decreasing with increasing age, for example, comparing CXL and no procedure patients, using ages 0–20 years as reference, the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) decreased from 0.62 (0.57–0.67; P < 0.0001) for patients aged 21–40 years to 0.03 (0.02–0.04; P < 0.0001) for patients aged > 60 years. Men were more likely than women to have CXL (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.23–1.40; P < 0.0001) and keratoplasty (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.19–1.42; P < 0.0001). Black patients were less likely than White patients to have CXL (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.63–0.77; P < 0.0001) and more likely to have keratoplasty (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 2.01–2.50; P < 0.0001). Likewise, Hispanic patients had higher odds of CXL (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.00–1.24; P < 0.05) and keratoplasty (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.12–1.50; P < 0.001) compared with non-Hispanic patients. Collagen crosslinking and keratoplasty also varied by region and insurance status. A significant increase in use of CXL was noted from 2015 to 2020. Sociodemographic differences in treatment among KCN patients may reflect differences in access, use, or care patterns, and future studies should aim to identify strategies to improve access for all patients. The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess incidence, risk factors, and treatment of retroprosthetic membrane (RPM) formation in eyes following Boston keratoprosthesis (Kpro) implantation and their correlation with glaucoma drainage device placement (GDD). Methods: A retrospective review was performed on eyes that underwent Kpro type I or II implantation between 2005 and 2020 at a tertiary academic center. Multiple variables were collected including preoperative characteristics, presence of RPM, management of RPM, and outcomes including corrected visual acuity (VA). A Fischer's exact test was used to evaluate the significance of risk factors of RPM formation and an odds ratio was calculated for each possible risk factor. A Mann–Whitney U test was used to evaluate comparisons between outcomes and qualitative analyses. Results: Of the 87 eyes identified, 37 (43%) developed an RPM within an average of 1.5 years (range, 31 days–7.5 years) following Kpro implantation. Mean follow-up duration was 4.3 years. Eyes that developed RPM had significantly worse preoperative VA compared to those that did not (logMAR 2.55 vs. 2.28, p = 0.022). The mean number of prior penetrating keratoplasty procedures trended higher in eyes that developed RPM (2.46 vs. 2.18, p = 0.44) but was not significant. GDD placement after Kpro implantation was associated with an increased risk of RPM formation (RR = 1.69 p = 0.026). Of the 37 eyes that developed an RPM following Kpro, 17 (47%) were treated with Nd:YAG laser, and four of those 17 (21%) also underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Seven of 37 eyes (19%) underwent PPV without Nd:YAG. Comparisons between RPM occurrence and final VA were not significant. Conclusions: The incidence of RPM formation following Kpro implantation was 43%. Eyes that developed RPM had significantly worse preoperative VA. GDD placement after Kpro implantation increased the risk of developing RPM. Final VA and occurrence of RPM were not significantly different between the Nd:YAG and PPV treatment groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the feasibility of theranostics to determine the riboflavin concentration in the cornea using clinically available ophthalmic formulations during epithelium-off (epi-off) and transepithelial (epi-on) corneal cross-linking procedures. Methods: Thirty-two eye bank human donor corneas were equally randomized in eight groups; groups 1 to 3 and groups 4 to 8 underwent epi-off and epi-on delivery of riboflavin respectively. Riboflavin ophthalmic solutions were applied onto the cornea according to the manufacturers' instructions. The amount of riboflavin into the cornea was estimated, at preset time intervals during imbibition time, using theranostic UV-A device (C4V CHROMO4VIS, Regensight srl, Italy) and expressed as riboflavin score (d.u.). Measurements of corneal riboflavin concentration (expressed as µg/cm3) were also performed by spectroscopy absorbance technique (AvaLight-DH-S-BAL, Avantes) for external validation of theranostic measurements. Results: At the end of imbibition time in epi-off delivery protocols, the average riboflavin score ranged from 0.77 ± 0.38 (the average corneal riboflavin concentration was 213 ± 190 µg/cm3) to 1.79 ± 0.07 (554 ± 103 µg/cm3). In epi-on delivery protocols, the average riboflavin score ranged from 0.17 ± 0.01 to 0.67 ± 0.19 (corneal riboflavin concentration ranged from 6 ± 5 µg/cm3 to 122 ± 39 µg/cm3) at the end of imbibition time. A statistically significant linear correlation (P ≤ 0.05) was found between the theranostic and spectrophotometry measurements in all groups. Conclusions: Real-time theranostic imaging provided an accurate strategy for assessing permeation of riboflavin into the human cornea during the imbibition phase of corneal cross-linking, regardless of delivery protocol. A large variability in corneal riboflavin concentration exists between clinically available ophthalmic formulations both in epi-off and epi-on delivery protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although antifungal supplementation reduces the fungal load in the corneal storage medium, consensus is lacking on the influence of dosing and temperature. The study aims to evaluate the impact of eye bank warming protocol and timing of antifungal supplements on efficacy in Optisol-GS and tissue. Methods: Corneoscleral rims contaminated with Candida albicans (C. albicans) were incubated in Optisol-GS, either without antifungal agents or with the addition of amphotericin B or voriconazole at various concentrations (2 ×, 5 ×, 10 ×, and 20 × MIC), at different time points, and under various preservation temperatures (2–8 °C versus 2 h-room temperature exposure). Antifungal efficacy was evaluated by counting viable yeast colonies cultured from Optisol-GS samples. Tissue sterility was determined through direct tissue culture and histological examination of the contaminated rims after a 14-day incubation period. Results: Room temperature exposure did not increase colony growth at the same multiple MIC of antifungal agents. Although antifungal addition reduced C. albicans growth in a concentration-dependent manner, yeast growth was still observed in all Optisol-GS samples with a single supplementation after a 14-day incubation. Only groups with additional antifungal supplementation on either day 2 or day 6 showed a 99% or greater reduction of C. albicans growth in Optisol-GS samples and yielded negative results in direct tissue culture. Conclusions: The eye bank warming protocol did not compromise antifungal efficacy. To sustain the required concentration and effectively reduce C. albicans growth in Optisol-GS and contaminated tissue, additional antifungal supplementation on either day 2 or day 6 was necessary during a 2-week preservation period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Corneal diseases are a significant cause of visual impairment and blindness. The first‐line treatment for corneal opacity is penetrating keratoplasty (human donor cornea transplantation). At present, keratoprosthesis (KPro), an artificial cornea, is the last resort for correcting end‐stage corneal blindness and is usually supported by donor tissue. This article describes a new intralamellar tissue‐free KPro design concept and its preparation method. Wherein, an injection‐molding route is adopted to create a mechanically and structurally stable near‐KPro geometry using a photo‐polymerized poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) with 4% Bisphenol A dimethacrylate (BisMA) crosslinked (PC4) hydrogel composition. Prior to this, the physico‐mechanical properties of crosslinked hydrogels matching corneal tissue are identified, and the surface morphological characteristics of silk cocoon membranes are ascertained in choosing suitable KPro materials. Cytocompatibility tests on PC4 and silk‐incorporated PC4 hydrogels using rabbit corneal fibroblast cell‐line evidenced enhancement in cell growth on silk‐PC4 surfaces. Furthermore, near KPro geometry is surface‐profiled to create a one‐of‐a‐kind design with clear optics and a silk‐bioactivated composite‐based haptic‐flange hydrogel network containing site‐specific submillimeter‐scale perforations to improve tissue integration. Considering this unique KPro geometry, the optic‐haptic‐flange construct is a tissue‐free semi‐bioresorbable hydrogel device presumed to provide stability under the influence of intraocular pressure (IOP) and eyelid shear. Through this study, it is identified new KPro materials facilitate significant cytocompatibility while complimented with site‐specific novel design would offer tissue ingrowth with gradual resorption of silk, leaving behind a stable intralamellar tissue integrated with hydrogel when implanted in the corneal niche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) includes neurosensory abnormalities as part of its multifactorial etiology. Nerve growth factor is important for maintaining corneal nerve integrity and wound healing. Cenegermin (recombinant human nerve growth factor) is a topical biologic that promotes corneal healing in patients with neurotrophic keratitis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of cenegermin in moderate-to-severe DED and identify an optimal dosing strategy. Methods: This was a phase II, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled, dose-ranging clinical trial in patients with moderate-to-severe DED, including Sjögren's DED (NCT03982368). Patients received 1 drop of cenegermin 3 times daily (t.i.d.; 20 mcg/mL), cenegermin 2 times daily (b.i.d.; 20 mcg/mL) and vehicle once daily, or vehicle t.i.d. for 4 weeks. Follow-up continued for 12 additional weeks. The primary endpoint was change in Schirmer I score from baseline to week 4. Other key endpoints included rate of responders (Schirmer I test > 10 mm/5 min) after treatment and change in Symptoms Assessment iN Dry Eye (SANDE) scores from baseline to end of follow-up. A 1-sided test (α = 0.025) was used to evaluate statistical significance. Results: At week 4, mean changes in Schirmer I scores were not statistically significantly different in either cenegermin group versus vehicle (cenegermin vs vehicle [treatment difference; 95% CI]: t.i.d., 2.60 mm and b.i.d., 3.99 mm vs 1.68 mm [t.i.d.: 0.93; −1.47 to 3.32, P = 0.078; b.i.d.: 2.31; −0.08 to 4.70, P = 0.066]). More patients responded to treatment with cenegermin t.i.d. and b.i.d. versus vehicle (t.i.d.: 25.9% [21/81, P = 0.028]; b.i.d.: 29.3% [24/82, P = 0.007] vs 11.9% [10/84]), with statistical significance (set at P < 0.025) observed in the b.i.d. group. Only cenegermin t.i.d. yielded statistically significant (P < 0.025) reductions in SANDE scores versus vehicle, which were sustained up to the end of follow-up (P value range, 0.002–0.008). Eye pain, primarily mild and transient, was the most frequently observed treatment-emergent adverse event with cenegermin. Similar results were observed in patients with Sjögren's DED. Conclusions: Cenegermin was well tolerated and although this study did not meet its primary endpoint, significant improvement in patient-reported symptoms of dry eye was observed through follow-up. Larger studies evaluating cenegermin in patients with DED are warranted. Trial registration: NCT03982368; registered May 23, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of corneal crosslinking (CXL) of grafts during keratoplasty (KP) in patients with refractory corneal melting (CM). This is a retrospective case series reporting the clinical outcomes of patients who received a crosslinked corneal graft during penetrating or deep anterior lamellar KP for refractory infectious or sterile CMs. Outcome measures were the recurrence of CM, the time required for epithelial healing following KP, incidence of complications, and necessity for re-transplantation. Twenty eyes of 18 patients with a follow-up of 29.2 ± 15.8 months were included in this study. All but two eyes had undergone previous KPs during the course of their disease (mean 1.9 ± 1.6). After CXL-enhanced KP, three eyes (15%) experienced recurrence of CM, three eyes developed an infectious keratitis and six eyes (30%) required a re-transplantation (three of them within 12 months). The mean time to epithelium closure after CXL-enhanced KP was 63 ± 90 days. The number of postoperative re-transplantations was significantly lower than the number of KPs performed before the CXL-enhanced transplantation (before CXL 1.9 ± 1.6 vs after CXL: 0.3 ± 0.57, p = 0.002). To conclude, CXL of the graft at the time of keratoplasty decreased the need for re-transplantations. However, further studies are needed in order to establish its role in the management of severe CM necessitating therapeutic corneal transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The article aims to compare payment schemes for cataract, glaucoma, vitrectomy, cornea transplantations, DME, and AMD across Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine, and to identify implementable practices in Ukraine within the context of ongoing healthcare reforms. Methods: Researchers used mixed-method research–with legal documents and data analysis on utilisation of ophthalmology services between 2010 and 2019 and in-depth semi structured interviews with fifteen health experts from Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine. Interviewees, five from each country, were representatives from healthcare providers and payers with at least 10 years' experience in ophthalmology care and knowledge about financing schemes in each country of residence. Results: We identified significant differences in healthcare delivery and financing of ophthalmology services between Hungary and Poland, despite both countries rely on Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) based systems for hospital care. Good practices for financing specific eye treatments like cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), cornea transplantations, and vitrectomy are identified. The financing scheme, including financial products and incentives, can influence the volume of treatments. Access to ophthalmic care is a key concern, with differences in treatment schemes between Hungary (ambulatory care) and Poland (hospital care), leading to higher costs and the need for centralization of complex procedures like cornea transplantations. Conclusions: The article highlights the importance of incentivizing quality improvements and removing financial barriers in Poland, while Hungary should focus on continuous monitoring of treatment methods and flexibility in reimbursement. For Ukraine, the research findings are significant due to ongoing healthcare reform, and the country seeks optimal practices while considering the experiences of other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the impact of excimer laser-assisted deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (Exc-DALK) and excimer laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty (Exc-PKP) on subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in eyes with advanced keratoconus. A retrospective comparative clinical study, which compares the outcomes of 24 eyes treated with Exc-DALK (G1) against matched group of 43 eyes treated with Exc-PKP (G2) at both 2 months (T1) and 2 years (T2) postoperatively. Main outcomes included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and SFCT. Preoperatively, there were no significant differences between both groups regarding BCVA, CMT or SFCT (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences between both groups regarding BCVA at both follow-ups (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences between both groups regarding CMT at both follow-ups (p > 0.05). SFCT was higher in G2 than G1 at both follow-ups (p < 0.01). Compared to preoperative SFCT, there were no significant changes in SFCT in G1 at both follow-ups (p > 0.05). In G2, SFCT increased significantly at T1 (p < 0.01) and did not differ significantly at T2 (p = 0.17). SFCT increased significantly after Exc-PKP but not after Exc-DALK, which might indicate that Exc-DALK affects the choroid less and thus could represent a less traumatic approach to ocular tissue than Exc-PKP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experimental study of preservation length on the effect of high potassium concentration in the medium on the volume of human corneal endothelial cells was done. The results of the study of individual samples of fragments of donor material and the values calculated using joined data after hypothermic preservation for 4 and 10 days are presented. The increase of the time when cornea samples are kept in preservation medium (Eusol-C) at 4°C led to a decrease in the average value (M ± SEM) of cell swelling indicator (Q) in a potassium medium from 1.055 ± 0.001; n = 982 to 1.014 ± 0.001; n = 338; after 4 and 10 days, respectively. Student's t-test for independent samples showed a high degree of significance for the difference between these values (p = 2E-76). Identification of the proportion of cells capable to swell in a medium with a high content of potassium ions (Q ≥ 1), reflecting the electrogenic activity in these cells, showed a decrease of this indicator in the studied groups with increasing duration of preservation (94.3% and 56.8% after 4 and 10 days, respectively). Based on the results of the study, it is suggested that the values of endothelial cells swelling in a potassium environment can serve as indicators of the cells' ability to restore electrogenic transport. It is concluded that the study of cell swelling in a medium with a high content of potassium ions can provide information for predicting the functionality of the graft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of personalized exclusive brachytherapy treatment for the management of a highly recurrent squamous cell conjunctival carcinoma with corneal invasion. This is a case of a Caucasian 81-years-old man who presented 10 years ago to our clinic with a pink-white para-limbal mass with dilated feeder arteries and mild leukoplakia. Excisional biopsy confirmed the presence of conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Successively, he underwent two 4-weeks cycles of Mytomicin C topical therapy and a second excisional surgery, due to several recurrences of the lesion. At the last relapse, the pink-white peri-limbic mass which invaded the corneal limbus, determining corneal opacification from 5- to 7-clock hours, was confirmed by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Due to resistance to MMC therapy and chronic epitheliopathy, an AS-OCT guided exclusive radiotherapy plan was set: a Rhutenium-106 CCD plaque was applied directly over the afflicted corneal surface, the corneal limbus and the neighboring sclera for 24 hours. The remission of both conjunctival and corneal malignancy was complete 2 months after surgery and no signs of recurrence were highlighted at AS-OCT analysis at the 2-year follow up. Brachytherapy treatment showed optimal management of both corneal and conjunctival involvement, with a free-of-disease follow-up of 24-months. This result suggests that, in specific conditions, Ru-106 brachytherapy could be an effective option of treatment even if not associated with surgical excision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the efficiency and safety of an intracanalicular dexamethasone insert (Dextenza, Ocular Therapeutix, Inc) supplemented with a reduced-frequency topical drop regimen in mitigating pain and inflammation post-penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK), and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK), compared to standard topical corticosteroid therapy. Patients and Methods: Eyes were categorized within the DSEK, DMEK, or PKP groups based on ocular characteristics and surgical indications. Randomized in a 1:1 ratio, the intervention group received Dextenza alongside a lowered drop frequency, while the control group followed a conventional drop protocol with no Dextenza. Primary outcomes included average pain scores and absence of anterior chamber cell and flare. Secondary outcomes included delayed re-epithelialization, corneal rejection episodes, instances of intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation > 10mmHg above baseline, cystoid macular edema (CME) occurrence, and the necessity for steroid rescue. Results: The study included 30 eyes (10 PKP, 10 DSEK, 10 DMEK). Mean pain scores (0– 100 scale; (0– 39 = mild pain, 40– 69 = moderate pain, 70– 100 = severe pain) in the Dextenza group were 3.6 (PKP), 12 (DSEK), 8 (DMEK), compared to 1.2 (PKP), 0 (DSEK), and 4 (DMEK) in controls. PKP control (n=5): 1 delayed re-epithelialization, 1 IOP elevation, 2 CME. DSEK control (n=5): 1 corneal rejection, 1 IOP elevation, 1 CME. DMEK control (n=5): 1 IOP elevation, 1 CME. DMEK Dextenza (n=5): 1 delayed re-epithelialization, 1 CME. No cases required steroid rescue, and no cell or flare was observed one-week post-surgery. There were no statistically significant differences in pain, delayed re-epithelialization, IOP elevation, corneal rejection, or CME between the Dextenza and control groups regardless of the type of corneal transplantation performed. Conclusion: Dextenza, when combined with a lower-frequency drop regimen, demonstrates a safety profile comparable to that of a traditional higher-frequency drop protocol in terms of pain management and the adverse events explored in this study, potentially enhancing postoperative drop adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review highlights the evolution in the scope of eye banking activities in India. The roles and responsibilities of the eye banks have expanded to match the requirements and necessities that arose because of advancements in keratoplasty techniques and the need for corneal surgeons. Adoption of different types of corneal preservation solutions and methods of donor cornea preservation was a consequence of the changing and unprecedented times. The growth of eye banking in India has been a commendable journey and has placed the country in an "almost sufficient" category in eye banking and corneal transplantation. There exists a potential to reach the status of cornea surplus country in the future. The rules and laws governing eye banking operations need dynamic amendments based on the trends in keratoplasty, surgical practice patterns, and status of self-sufficiency. Newer technological advances and quality measures must be adopted in donor cornea evaluation and tissue preparation. Research should be integrated as an important component of eye banking, especially in developing novel methods of donor preservation, and evaluating and validating the existing and changing practices of eye banking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of McCarey-Kaufman (MK) medium supplemented with Colistin and amphotericin B in inhibiting the growth of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa, using an ex vivo experimental model with human donor corneas. Methods: Cadaveric human corneas deemed unsuitable for corneal transplantation were obtained, and MK media were supplemented with colistin and amphotericin B. Multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa was cultured and used to infect the human donor corneas ex vivo. Infected corneas were placed in the MK media with additional antibiotics (colistin and amphotericin B) and the standard MK media, which served as the control arm for comparison. Corneal opacity due to infiltration and quantitative analysis of colony-forming units (CFUs) were assessed. The viability of the corneal endothelium was assessed using trypan blue staining. Results: Corneas incubated in MK media supplemented with additional antibiotics showed less corneal opacification compared with those in standard MK media at both 48- and 96-hour (hr) time points. Quantitative analysis revealed a lower bacterial load and a significant reduction in CFU in the corneas incubated in MK media with additional antibiotics compared with the control group. At 48 hrs, there was 84% (P value = 0.024) reduction in bacterial load, and at 96 hr, a 53% (P value = 0.016) reduction was observed in comparison with those placed in standard MK media. The trypan blue staining tests revealed that the extent of endothelial cell loss in corneas incubated in supplemented MK media was comparable to the ones in standard MK media. Conclusion: The addition of colistin and amphotericin B to MK media demonstrated efficacy in inhibiting the growth of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa in an ex vivo cornea infection model. The supplemented media had no detrimental effect on the corneal endothelium. The findings suggest that supplementing the MK media with these broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents may help mitigate the risk of postoperative donor-related infection in the recipients by reducing and containing the load of microbial contamination in donor corneas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraocular epithelial ingrowth is a rare but serious complication of eye surgery or trauma. The diagnosis is challenging but can be aided by techniques such as anterior optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). This study aimed to compare clinical and histopathological diagnostic data to evaluate the accuracy of AS-OCT. This retrospective analysis focused on patients presenting with suspected epithelial invasion between 2017 and 2022. Clinical data and histopathological findings were analyzed for diagnostic confirmation. Immunohistochemistry using the corneal-specific marker cytokeratin 3 and the conjunctival-specific marker cytokeratin 13 helped to identify the type of invading epithelial cells. Statistical analysis was used to evaluate the effectiveness of AS-OCT for diagnosis. This study included 51 patients who underwent keratoplasty or enucleation. Sixteen cases (31%) of epithelial ingrowth were histologically confirmed. The most common type was the cystic form (82%). Enucleation was required in 25% of patients, mainly due to diffuse epithelial invasion. Immunohistochemistry revealed a conjunctival origin in 82% of the infiltrated cells. AS-OCT showed a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 26% in detecting hyperreflective structures associated with epithelial invasion. This study highlights the diverse manifestations of epithelial ingrowth and the need for improved diagnostic techniques, with AS-OCT showing promising results but requiring further validation to avoid misdiagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this work was to compare the prognosis and characteristics of patients with Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (CMV+) with those of patients without virus infection (Virus–) undergoing repeat keratoplasty. Methods: This prospective propensity score-matched cohort study enrolled patients who underwent repeat keratoplasty for graft failure at the Peking University Third Hospital between January 2016 and May 2022. Patients with prior viral keratitis before the first keratoplasty were excluded. The primary outcome measure was the graft failure rate. The secondary outcome measures included the anterior segment characteristics, intraocular pressure (IOP), and endothelial cell density. Results: Ninety-four matched patient pairs were included. The graft failure rate in the CMV+ group (71%) was higher than that in the Virus– group (29%) (P < 0.001). CMV infection in the cornea increased the risk of repeat graft failure and shortened the median survival time (hazard ratio, 3.876; 95% confidence intervals, 2.554–5.884; P < 0.001). The characteristics of graft failure included exacerbation of ocular surface inflammation, neovascularization, and opacification. Epithelial defects, high IOP, and endothelial decompensation were observed at an increased frequency in the CMV+ group (all P < 0.005). Recurrent CMV infection presented as early endothelial infection in the CMV+ group. Recurrence of CMV infection was confined to the graft endothelium without involving the stroma and epithelium post-repeat endothelial keratoplasty. Conclusions: CMV infection post-keratoplasty leads to persistent endothelial damage and graft opacification and significantly increases the risk of repeat graft failure. Localized recurrence of CMV infection in the endothelial grafts underscores the importance of monitoring and treatment. Trial Registration: Chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR1800014684. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Graft failure is a major challenge in femtosecond laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty (Fs-PKP). This study focuses on the development and validation of a clinical predictive model aimed at identifying the risk of graft failure in individuals undergoing Fs-PKP in China, offering a tailored approach to improve surgical outcomes. Methods: This retrospective cohort study at Nanjing First Hospital involved 238 patients and followed the TRIPOD statement. The cohort was divided into a training set (n = 166) and a validation set (n = 72) in a 7:3 ratio. It analyzed 23 predictor variables related to recipient, donor, and surgical factors, defining graft failure as "visually significant and irreversible corneal stromal edema, haze, or scarring." A comprehensive nomogram was created using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and assessed by concordance index (C-index), time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: Five critical risk factors were identified: recipients' history of systemic autoimmune disorders, ocular trauma, prior penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) history, donors' diabetes history, and the endothelial cell density of the donor cornea. The nomogram showed a C-index of 0.72 (95% CI 0.65–0.79) in the training group and 0.66 (95% CI 0.55–0.76) in the validation group, indicating robust predictive accuracy. Time-dependent ROC curves, calibration plots, and DCA consistently validated the model's reliability, predictive power, and clinical utility across both training and validation cohorts. Conclusions: Our study developed and validated a model incorporating five key factors, enhancing preoperative prediction and management for Chinese patients with Fs-PKP graft failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corneal transplantation can restore visual function when visual impairment is caused by a corneal disease. However, this treatment is associated with the scarcity of cornea donors. The suitability of corneal donation from patients with glaucoma using ocular hypotensive agents (OHAs) is controversial. This study aimed to elucidate changes in corneal thickness, corneal endothelial cell density, and corneal endothelial cell hexagonality after OHA use in patients with primary open‐angle glaucoma. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 53 glaucoma suspect eyes without OHA use and 106 primary open‐angle glaucoma eyes under OHA use. All participants underwent corneal parameter assessment using SP‐3000P (Topcon Corp., Tokyo, Japan) at the time of diagnosis and the final visit. The OHA dose and timing of use were recorded. The ocular hypotensive agents score (OHAS) was determined based on the number, formula, frequency, and duration of OHA use. Baseline data showed no significant differences between the two groups with and without OHA use. At the final visit, the OHA‐treated group showed significantly lower corneal thickness and corneal endothelial cell density than those of the control group. A weak positive correlation between the OHAS and changes in corneal endothelial cell hexagonality was noted. However, no correlation was observed between the OHAS and changes in corneal thickness or endothelial cell density. In conclusion, patients with glaucoma and using OHAs should undergo the corneal structural properties examinations before donation to ensure the quality of donor cornea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corneal transplantation is the most effective treatment for visual impairment caused by corneal blindness and can improve patients' quality of vision. However, pre- and post-operative self-care is necessary to reduce the risk of complications and graft rejection. This one-group, quasi-experimental design with repeated measures aimed to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of self-care promoting programs on self-care behavior, anxiety, and clinical outcomes in individuals with corneal transplantation. Thirty participants who met the inclusion criteria were purposively recruited from a corneal excellence center in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 2021 to August 2022. The data collection instruments included the Demographic and Health Data Forms, the Self-Care Behavior Questionnaire, and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. The program was found to be feasible, with all participants able to attend for 30 days postoperation. In terms of effectiveness, participants demonstrated improved self-care behavior and reduced anxiety compared to pre-program levels. Visual acuity also showed improvement 30 days postoperation, with 83.3% of participants having a clear corneal graft. These findings are significant for nursing practice, as they suggest that this program could be a promising tool for enhancing self-care behavior in individuals undergoing corneal transplantation. Nurses could potentially use this program to promote self-care behavior, alleviate anxiety, and enhance clinical outcomes. However, further research with randomized control is necessary before widespread implementation can be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corneal endothelial cells (CE) are critical for the cornea's transparency. For severe corneal damage, corneal tissue transplantation is the most promising option for restoring vision. However, CE apoptotic cell death occurs during the storage of donor corneas for transplantation. This study used small interfering (si)RNA-mediated silencing of pro-apoptotic proteins as a novel strategy to protect CE against apoptosis. Therefore, the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bak were silenced in the human corneal endothelial cell line (HCEC-12) by transfection with Accell™siRNA without any adverse effects on cell viability. When apoptosis was induced, e.g., etoposide, the caspase-3 activity and Annexin V-FITC/PI assay indicated a significantly reduced apoptosis rate in Bax+Bak-siRNA transfected HCECs compared to control (w/o siRNA). TUNEL assay in HCECs exposed also significantly lower cell death in Bax+Bak-siRNA (7.5%) compared to control (w/o siRNA: 32.8%). In ex vivo donor corneas, a significant reduction of TUNEL-positive CEs in Bax+Bak-siRNA corneas (8.1%) was detectable compared to control-treated corneas (w/o siRNA: 27.9%). In this study, we demonstrated that suppressing pro-apoptotic siRNA leads to inhibiting CE apoptosis. Gene therapy with siRNA may open a new translational approach for corneal tissue treatment in the eye bank before transplantation, leading to graft protection and prolonged graft survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Complex corneal conditions present surgical challenges and necessitate innovation. Here, we present two cases where we performed intraocular lens trans-scleral fixation using the double-needle Yamane technique, followed by penetrating keratoplasty and vitrectomy using a temporary Landers wide-field keratoprosthesis. Case Presentation: Case 1 involved a 70-year-old man with an aphakic eye of bullous keratopathy and corneal opacity owing to multiple penetrating and endothelial keratoplasty, endophthalmitis, and herpetic keratitis. His visual acuity was counting fingers at 20 cm before surgery. Penetrating keratoplasty with vitrectomy and intraocular lens scleral fixation was performed using the double-needle Yamane technique, and 10 months postoperatively, his best-corrected visual acuity improved to 0.6, presenting a clear cornea. Case 2 involved a 62-year-old man who underwent penetrating keratoplasty twice for corneal perforation and therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty with vitrectomy for traumatic globe rupture, resulting in the loss of the intraocular lens. The patient exhibited graft failure, and his best-corrected visual acuity was 0.03. Utilizing a temporary Landers wide-field keratoprosthesis, we performed penetrating keratoplasty and intraocular lens trans-scleral fixation without complications. His final best-corrected visual acuity improved to 0.15 with a clear cornea. Conclusions: Trans-scleral fixation of intraocular lens with penetrating keratoplasty, using temporary Landers wide-field keratoprosthesis, yielded positive clinical outcomes without serious complications.

Corneal transplantation is an effective treatment for corneal blindness, and it is the only hope for patients with corneal blindness. Cornea has no blood vessels and no lymphatic vessels, which is called immune privilege organ, so the success rate of corneal transplantation is significantly higher than that of other organ transplantation, but the rejection reaction after corneal transplantation is still the main reason for the failure of corneal transplantation. The directional movement of immune cells to lymphoid tissue and inflammatory sites is the mainly immune response after organ transplantation. And the regulatory T cells(Treg)play a key role in immune regulation, which can induce immune tolerance by regulating and inhibiting the activation of effector T cells and reduce the rejection reaction after corneal transplantation. In addition, this review also discussed the effectiveness of applying cordyceps sinensis extract FTY720 to enhance the function of Treg. Based on this, we briefly reviewed the sources, mechanism of action and treatment of Treg after corneal transplantation, so as to provide some reference for the subsequent clinical application transformation and basic research.

Abstract To evaluate the impact of excimer laser-assisted deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (Exc-DALK) and excimer laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty (Exc-PKP) on subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in eyes with advanced keratoconus. A retrospective comparative clinical study, which compares the outcomes of 24 eyes treated with Exc-DALK (G1) against matched group of 43 eyes treated with Exc-PKP (G2) at both 2 months (T1) and 2 years (T2) postoperatively. Main outcomes included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and SFCT. Preoperatively, there were no significant differences between both groups regarding BCVA, CMT or SFCT (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences between both groups regarding BCVA at both follow-ups (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences between both groups regarding CMT at both follow-ups (p > 0.05). SFCT was higher in G2 than G1 at both follow-ups (p 0.05). In G2, SFCT increased significantly at T1 (p

Advances in imaging technology have revolutionized the field of ophthalmology, changing the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of ophthalmic diseases. Swept-source optical coherence tomography(SS-OCT)is a non-contact high-resolution imaging technology. It further improves imaging depth and scanning speed, adds new algorithms and features. The application of SS-OCT enables the three-dimensional evaluation of corneal structures, offering curvature and height maps for both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the cornea, as well as precise corneal thickness mapping. These invaluable tools aid ophthalmologists in effectively screening and diagnosing various corneal lesions such as keratoconus, corneal dystrophy, and degeneration. Moreover, the enhanced speed, accuracy, and sensitivity provided by SS-OCT measurements facilitate improved surgical planning and postoperative monitoring for patients undergoing refractive surgery or keratoplasty. This article reviews the development of SS-OCT technology and its potential clinical utility in corneal diseases and surgical application, in order to support more possible future research and clinical treatment.

Introduction: Corneal graft detachment is a major postoperative complication of Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). When a corneal graft becomes detached, corneal endothelial function generally fails, and repeat corneal transplantation is required. Herein, we report a rare case in which a transparent cornea was maintained after the removal of a dislocated DSAEK graft. Case Presentation: A 79-year-old woman with a residual lens cortex who had undergone cataract surgery was referred to our hospital. The cortex was removed, and bullous keratopathy progressed. Six months after the initial surgery, DSAEK was performed under topical anesthesia without any complications. Although the corneal graft had attached fairly well, it detached from the host cornea 3 weeks later. Two months after DSAEK, an air tamponade was used to treat the anterior chamber with single interrupted suturing; however, the graft detached again, except for the suture site. Because the detached cornea became cloudy in the anterior chamber, it was surgically removed 8 months after DSAEK. Accordingly, the host cornea transparency improved to a best-corrected visual acuity of 0.8 with a rigid gas permeable lens and a central corneal thickness of 580 μm. The corneal endothelial cell density was 995 cells/mm2. Conclusion: Removal of the corneal graft from the dislocated cloudy graft improved the visual acuity of this patient after DSAEK. The condition of the cornea should be carefully monitored after corneal endothelial transplantation, even after the graft has been dislocated.

Abstract Background Ochrobactrum anthropi is widely distributed and primarily infects patients with compromised immune functions . Historically, O. anthropi has been considered to possess low toxicity and pathogenicity; however, recent studies suggest that it may in fact cause severe purulent infections. In this case study, we examine a case of O. anthropi infection following corneal transplantation, exploring the occurrence and outcomes of such post-operative infections. Case presentation A retrospective analysis of cases involved examinations, genetic testing for diagnosis, and subsequent treatment. In patients undergoing partial penetrating keratoplasty with a fungal corneal ulcer perforation, anterior chamber exudation and purulence were observed post-surgery. Despite antifungal treatment, genetic testing of the anterior chamber fluid and purulent material confirmed O. anthropi infection. The use of antimicrobial treatment specifically targeting O. anthropi was found to be effective in treating the infection. Conclusion Inflammatory reactions following corneal transplantation should be should be monitored for the presence of other infections. Genetic testing has significant implications for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

AIM: To analyze the influencing factors of postoperative dry eye complication after corneal transplantation and to build a nomogram prediction model.METHODS: Clinical data were collected on 117 patients who underwent corneal transplantation at our hospital from March 2021 to February 2023. They were divided into dry eye group(n=96)and non-dry eye group(n=21)according to whether there was a postoperative dry eye. The risk factors of postoperative complication of dry eye after corneal transplantation were analyzed, the nomogram prediction model for predicting postoperative complication of dry eye after corneal transplantation was constructed, and the internal validation of the model and the prediction efficacy were assessed by calibration curves and decision curves, respectively.RESULTS: Comorbid diabetes mellitus, comorbid sleep disorders, comorbid meibomian gland dysfunction, chronic eye drop abuse, chronic corneal contact lens wear, interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were the risk factors for the complication of dry eye after corneal transplantation(P0.07, and the nomogram model provided higher net clinical benefit than the single index in all cases.CONCLUSION: The nomogram model built in this study based on the factors affecting the complication of dry eye after corneal transplantation has a good predictive value for the complication of dry eye after corneal transplantation.

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has initiated an unparalleled global vaccination campaign, raising concerns about the vaccine's effects on various health conditions, including the risk of corneal transplant rejection. This systematic review aimed to identify the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination and rejection of corneal transplant, filling a significant gap in the existing medical literature. Methods A literature search was performed across multiple databases up to February 12, 2024, to identify studies evaluating the risk of corneal transplant rejection post-COVID-19 vaccination. Eligible studies were original research that reported outcomes of corneal graft rejection following vaccination. Nested Knowledge web software facilitated screening and data extraction. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was employed for quality assessment. A meta-analysis was conducted to calculate the aggregated relative risk (RR) utilizing R software version 4.3. Results Six studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, with four meeting the criteria for meta-analysis. These studies varied in geographic location, surgical techniques, and types of vaccines used. The pooled RR for corneal transplant rejection following COVID-19 vaccination was 0.816 (95% CI 0.178–1.453), indicating no significant risk of rejection. No statistical heterogeneity was observed among the studies (I 2 = 0%). Conclusions This review and meta-analysis found no significant evidence that COVID-19 vaccination increases the risk of corneal graft rejection. However, the current evidence is insufficient to conclusively determine the vaccine's safety for corneal transplant recipients. These findings underscore the need for additional research to confirm these preliminary results and investigate the long-term effects of COVID-19 vaccination on corneal transplants, aiming to provide evidence-based guidance to healthcare providers and patients.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of rapamycin (RAPA)-deep eutectic solvent (DES) eye drops on corneal allograft rejection in mice and its mechanism. Methods CCK-8 assay was used to measure the influence of 10 types of DES on the viability of human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs), and the DES with a significantly higher cell viability than the control group was selected for characterization to obtain the most suitable DES. BALB/c mice and New Zealand white rabbits were used to evaluate the biocompatibility of the most suitable DES. The mice were randomly divided into normal group, phosphate solution (PBS) group, DES group, and RAPA-DES group. The mice in normal group were fed normally, and those in the PBS group, the DES group, and the RAPA-DES group were administrated PBS, DES, and RAPA-DES solution, respectively, to the right eye after corneal transplantation. On the next day, a slit lamp was used to observe the survival of corneal grafts, and the survival percentage of corneal grafts was analyzed to plot the survival curve of corneal grafts. On days 7 and 16 after transplantation, the eyeballs of the mice were collected, and HE staining was used to observe corneal edema and inflammatory cell infiltration under a microscope. On day 16 after transplantation, RT-qPCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-12α (IL-12α), and interleukin-17α (IL-17α) in corneal tissue, and Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of IL-6 and IL-17α in corneal tissue. Results CCK-8 assay showed that compared with the control group, the DES-1 group and the DES-2 group had a significant increase in cell viability (P0.05); compared with the PBS group and the DES group, the RAPA-DES group had significantly lower mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 (P

Background Methods Results Conclusions To evaluate the results of corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segment (CAIRS) implantation in keratoconus.The medical records of patients with keratoconus who underwent CAIRS implantation were reviewed. The CAIRS, prepared by trephination from the donor cornea, was implanted into a tunnel created using the femtosecond laser. The depth of the tunnel was 200 μ; the inner diameter of the tunnel was 4.5 mm; and the outer diameter was 7 mm. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), keratometry, minimum corneal thickness (CT), endothelial cell density (ECD), and high order aberration values were recorded preoperatively and at the 1st, 3rd, and 6th months postoperatively.A total of 23 eyes of 23 patients were included in the study. Preoperative UCVA (0.08 ± 0.01) and BCVA (0.25 ± 0. 11) values improved postoperatively and reached 0.40 ± 0.05 and 0.68 ± 0.09, respectively, at the end of the 6‐month follow‐up period (p1 < 0.001, p2 = 0.016; respectively). A statistically significant flattening of all keratometric values was observed in the postoperative period compared to preoperatively (p < 0.001 for all). There were no statistical differences between CT and ECC values at the preoperative and postoperative visits (p1 = 0.654, p2 = 0.769; respectively). In addition, coma aberration values were lower than the preoperative values at all postoperative visits (p < 0.05 for all).These results suggest that CAIRS implantation is a safe treatment option with good visual and keratometric outcomes for suitable patients with keratoconus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of an educational video in improving awareness of eye donation among non-medical healthcare workers at a tertiary health centre. Methods: A socio-behavioural study on knowledge and attitude towards eye donation was conducted among 373 non-medical healthcare workers through a printed semi-structured questionnaire before and after viewing a bilingual educational video. The responses were evaluated and scored. Results: Pre-intervention, only 5.4% of the participants had adequate knowledge, which improved significantly to 71.6% after watching the video (P <.001). Respondents with elementary school education showed the greatest change in knowledge. Pre-intervention, 72.4% were willing to donate their eyes, which significantly increased to 89.5% after watching the video. Pre-intervention, 66.22% showed a "highly favourable" attitude, which improved to 97.86% after watching the video. Conclusion: The 25 min video about eye donation and eye banking significantly changed the participants' knowledge, willingness, and attitude. Hence, media-based (video) awareness platforms may be valuable for improving the general public's knowledge and attitude towards eye donation. This may help in enhancing the eye donation rate in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]