Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Autologous Glueless Simple Limbal Epithelial Transplantation in Unilateral Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency: 12-Month Outcome of the First Clinical Cases.

Purpose: Surgical treatment of unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is based on limbal stem cell transplantation. Glueless simple limbal epithelial transplantation (G-SLET) technique implements several limbal micrografts harvested from the healthy eye of the same patient into the peripheral corneal tunnels without the use of fibrin glue and human amniotic membrane.

Methods: A novel customized algorithm and software for a low-energy femtosecond laser (FSL) were developed and tested using 5 pairs of isolated porcine eyes.

TACSTD2 in gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy: variant functional analysis and expression in the cornea after limbal stem cell transplantation.

Gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy (GDLD) is a rare autosomal recessive eye disease. GDLD is characterized by the loss of barrier function in corneal epithelial cells (CECs) and amyloid deposition due to pathogenic variants in the TACSTD2 gene. Limbal stem cell transplantation (LSCT) has been suggested as an effective therapeutic alternative for patients with GDLD.

Analysis of Corneal Biomechanical Properties in Different Keratotopographic Patterns of Keratoconus.

Purpose: To analyze the frequency of main keratotopographic patterns at the 1, 2, and 3 stages of keratoconus and investigate corneal biomechanical properties across different patterns.

Methods: The study comprised two stages. The first stage was computational-experimental, where we utilized COMSOL Multiphysics® software (COMSOL AB, Stockholm, Sweden) to mathematically model corneal mechanical behavior under intraocular pressure and pulsed air jet action in both normal and keratoconic conditions.

Ethnicity, Progressive Keratoconus, and Outcomes after Corneal Cross-Linking in Southern Israel.

Purpose: To assess clinical outcomes of corneal cross-linking (CXL) intervention in a population diagnosed with progressive keratoconus.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients who underwent standard CXL or accelerated CXL for progressive keratoconus at a major teaching hospital in southern Israel between January 2015 and December 2019. Patients' medical files were reviewed, and pre-operative and post-operative data regarding demographics and clinical and tomographic characteristics were extracted and analyzed.

Visual results and subjective satisfaction after implantation of two different trifocal diffractive intraocular lenses models (AcrySof IQ PanOptix and AT LISA tri 839 MP).

Background: This study aimed to compare visual results following the implantation of two distinct diffractive trifocal IOLs utilizing various vision evaluation techniques and subjective satisfaction.

Methods: The study included 32 eyes receiving AcrySof IQ PanOptix implantation and 32 receiving AT LISA tri 839 MP. Post-operative examination at one year included uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), distance-corrected visual acuity (DCVA) at 4 m, 80 cm, 60 cm, and 40 cm, Contrast sensitivity under photopic and mesopic conditions, and a questionnaire on subjective quality of vision, optical phenomena, and spectacle independence.

Midterm Outcomes of Autologous Glueless Simple Limbal Epithelial Transplantation for Unilateral Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report the midterm outcomes of glueless simple limbal epithelial transplantation (G-SLET) as a novel modification of limbal stem cell transplantation in patients with unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).

Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, interventional case series. Analysis of the 6 months interim outcomes was performed for 11 patients with unilateral LSCD who underwent G-SLET without simultaneous keratoplasty.

Diagnostic Algorithm for Surgical Management of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency.

Background: Limbal stem cell deficiency (LCSD) presents several challenges. Currently, there is no clearly defined systematic approach to LSCD diagnosis that may guide surgical tactics.

Methods: The medical records of 34 patients with LSCD were analyzed.

Clinical comparison of manual and laser-cut corneal tunnel for intrastromal air injection in femtosecond laser-assisted deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK).

Purpose: The most crucial step in deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) is to achieve a bare Descemet's membrane. We aimed to assess a new femtosecond laser software that allows for a precise intrastromal tunnel creation for big bubble (BB) air injection using a real-time microscope-integrated optical coherence tomography.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of 61 eyes of 61 patients with keratoconus.

Effect of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Graft Storage Time on Graft Elasticity.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) graft storage time on its elastic properties, measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Methods: Twenty human corneas (from 10 donors), unsuitable for transplantation, were obtained from the eye bank (S. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery State Institution, Moscow).

Labial mucosal epithelium grafting in an ex vivo human donor cornea model.

The purpose of the study was to establish a simple ex vivo corneal re-epithelization model and study the labial mucosal epithelium grafting as a potential approach for ocular surface reconstruction. Four human donor corneal buttons were overstored in a corneal cold storage solution at 4 °C for 32-52 days. Four labial oral mucosa strips were dissected from four patients during fornix reconstruction after they signed informed consent.

Corneal Cross-Linking as Treatment in Pediatric Keratoconus: Comparison of Two Protocols.

Introduction: Keratoconus is a progressive corneal disease commonly treated by collagen cross-linking (CXL). Accelerated protocols have recently become common. This study sought to compare the outcomes of accelerated and standard CXL in terms of visual acuity, keratometry, and tomographic parameters in pediatric population.

Removing residual cortical material during cataract surgery: Visco polishing and the grindstone effect as a new surgical technique.

Purpose: To describe a new technique for removing residual cortical material adjacent to posterior lens capsule during cataract surgery with the help of cohesive ophthalmic viscosurgical devices.

Methods: In this technique, if there are still cortical remnants and lens epithelial cells left after the routine irrigation-aspiration and polishing at the final steps of cataract surgery, the capsule is filled to about one-third with a highly viscous cohesive ophthalmic viscosurgical device. Rinsing is performed from the anterior chamber with the water jet directed tangentially to the ophthalmic viscosurgical device bolus and towards the posterior capsule, which creates a turbulence creating a "grindstone effect".

COVID-19 outbreak and increased risk of amblyopia and epidemic myopia: Insights from EUROCOVCAT group.

The most common cause of vision impairment in children is amblyopia. It is defined as impaired visual acuity in one or both eyes that is present with no demonstrable abnormality of the visual pathway and is not immediately resolved by wearing glasses. After the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized COVID-19 as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, widespread changes and restrictions to social and sanitary practices have presented significant issues in access to eye care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cataract Surgery in Very Old Patients: A Case-Control Study.

Advancements in surgical techniques and increased life expectancy have made cataract surgery more common among very old patients. However, surgical outcomes seem impaired in patients older than 90 years, especially with ocular comorbidities. A retrospective case-control study of 53 eyes of 53 very old patients (mean 92.

Keratoconus Diagnostic and Treatment Algorithms Based on Machine-Learning Methods.

The accurate diagnosis of keratoconus, especially in its early stages of development, allows one to utilise timely and proper treatment strategies for slowing the progression of the disease and provide visual rehabilitation. Various keratometry indices and classifications for quantifying the severity of keratoconus have been developed. Today, many of them involve the use of the latest methods of computer processing and data analysis.

Rare single nucleotide variants in COL5A1 promoter do not play a major role in keratoconus susceptibility associated with rs1536482.

Background: Keratoconus is a chronic degenerative disorder of the cornea characterized by thinning and cone-shaped protrusions. Although genetic factors play a key role in keratoconus development, the etiology is still under investigation. The occurrence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with keratoconus in Russian patients is poorly studied.

Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Devices (OVDs) in Challenging Cases: a Review.

Ophthalmic viscoelastic devices (OVDs) are currently used in cataract surgery and have significantly improved the safety and effectiveness of this surgical procedure. OVDs are classified according to the zero-shear viscosity and the cohesion-dispersion index in cohesive, dispersive, and viscoadaptives. OVDs create and maintain anterior chamber depth and visibility, protecting the corneal endothelium and other intraocular tissues during surgery.

Impact on Visual Acuity in Neovascular Age Related Macular Degeneration (nAMD) in Europe Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown.

This is a retrospective, multicenter study of consecutive patients with nAMD scheduled for a visit and/or a treatment with an intravitreal injection (IVI) during the 3 months before lockdown in the Ophthalmology Departments of six centers of Europe.The study was conducted on 546 patients, of which 55.13% were females, almost 100% of the patients were White/Caucasian race, and 71.

Corectopia grading: A novel classification system.

Objectives: To present and validate the novel grading system for objective classification of corectopia.

Subjects And Methods: We evaluated 28 eyes of 28 patients with or without corectopia and validated the grading and classification system for corectopia according to three major criteria: (i) direction, (ii) extent, and (iii) alteration of mydriasis. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and inter-rater agreement between 7 inexperienced and 1 experienced ophthalmologist against a golden standard (GS) were calculated.

Impact on refractive surgery due to increasing use of personal protection equipment: Insights from EUROCOVCAT group.

Since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic on 11th March 2020, changes to social and sanitary practices have included significant issues in access and management of eye care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the fear of loss, coupled with social distancing, lockdown, economic instability, and uncertainty, have led to a significant psychosocial impact that will have to be addressed. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, personal protective equipment such as face masks or face coverings have become a daily necessity.

Late dislocation of the capsular bag-intraocular lens-modified capsular tension ring complex after knotless transscleral suturing using 9-0 polypropylene.

We report a case of late breakage of a 9-0 polypropylene transscleral suture used for fixation of a dislocated capsular bag-intraocular lens-modified capsular tension ring complex in a 52-year-old woman with Marfan syndrome. Breakage occurred despite use of a cow-hitch technique for external and internal fixation. We believe breakage was caused by the suture chafing on the sharp edges of the modified capsular tension ring eyelet.

Rethinking Elective Cataract Surgery Diagnostics, Assessments, and Tools after the COVID-19 Pandemic Experience and Beyond: Insights from the EUROCOVCAT Group.

The progressive deterioration of the visual function in patients on waiting lists for cataract surgery has a negative impact on their quality of life, especially in the elderly population. Patient waiting times for cataract surgeries in many healthcare settings have increased recently due to the prolonged stop or slowdown of elective cataract surgery as a result of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). The aim of this review is to highlight the impact of such a "de-prioritization" of cataract surgery and to summarize some critical issues and useful hints on how to reorganize cataract pathways, with a special focus on perioperative diagnostic tools during the recovery phase and beyond.