Comparative Evaluation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Immunoassay and Tear Osmolarity Measurement for Diagnosing Severity of Dry Eye Disease.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) immunoassay and tear osmolarity measurement in diagnosing dry eye severity.

Methods: Dry eye disease (DED) patients underwent diagnostic tests including MMP-9 assay, tear osmolarity measurement, fluorescein tear breakup time, ocular surface staining, anesthetized Schirmer test, Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, and slit-lamp examination. The dry eye parameters were compared according to positive MMP-9 status and increased tear osmolarity.

Efficacy and safety of 1% and 2% rebamipide clear solution in dry eye disease: a multicenter randomized trial.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of 1% and 2% rebamipide clear solution in the treatment of dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: Two hundred twenty patients with DED were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the 1% rebamipide, 2% rebamipide, or placebo (eye drops containing the same ingredients, except for the active components). Each eye drop was instilled four times daily for 12 weeks.

Microbiologic Analysis of Removed Silicone Punctal Plugs in Dry Eye Patients.

This study analyzed the microbiologic results of removing silicone punctal plugs due to uncomfortable symptoms in dry-eye patients. Patients who were diagnosed with dry eye and received silicone punctal plugs-SuperEagle Punctum Plug™ (EagleVision, Denville, NJ, USA) or Parasol Punctum Plug™ (Beaver-Visitec international, Inc., Waltham, MA, USA)-into upper or lower puncta that were removed due to discomfort from January 2018 to June 2020 were enrolled and reviewed retrospectively.

Comparison of a preservative-free nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and preservative-free corticosteroid after uneventful cataract surgery: multicenter, randomized, evaluator-blinded clinical trial.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroidal eyedrops for inflammation management after cataract surgery using slitlamp indicators.

Setting: 11 eye centers in South Korea.

Design: Randomized prospective multicenter study with a blinded evaluator.

Clinical characteristics of dry eye with ocular neuropathic pain features: comparison according to the types of sensitization based on the Ocular Pain Assessment Survey.

Background: To compare the clinical characteristics of dry eye patients with ocular neuropathic pain features according to the types of sensitization based on the Ocular Pain Assessment Survey (OPAS).

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 33 patients with dry eye and ocular neuropathic pain features. All patients had a comprehensive ophthalmic assessment including detailed history, the intensity and duration of ocular pain, the tear film, ocular surface, and Meibomian gland examination, and OPAS.

Clinical efficacy of eyelid hygiene in blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction after cataract surgery: a randomized controlled pilot trial.

The purpose of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of eyelid hygiene on subjective symptoms, anterior blepharitis, and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) after cataract surgery. Subjects with obstructive MGD who underwent cataract surgery were randomly divided into two groups. In the eyelid hygiene group, eyelid hygiene was performed twice a day for 10 days from 3 days before to 1 week after cataract surgery.

Meibum Expressibility Improvement as a Therapeutic Target of Intense Pulsed Light Treatment in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Its Association with Tear Inflammatory Cytokines.

Many recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD); however, its effective treatment targets have not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the baseline characteristics associated with an improvement in symptoms after IPL treatment; to examine the course of change in inflammatory tear cytokines, meibomian gland function, and tear stability; and to investigate the correlation between cytokines and ocular surface parameters. Thirty participants underwent three sessions of IPL treatment.

Goblet cell loss abrogates ocular surface immune tolerance.

Intestinal epithelial cells condition tolerogenic properties in DCs. Aqueous-deficient dry eye is associated with goblet cell (GC) loss and increased IFN-γ expression in the conjunctiva. We hypothesized that loss of GCs reduces tolerance-inducing properties of antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the conjunctiva and draining nodes.

Goblet Cells Contribute to Ocular Surface Immune Tolerance-Implications for Dry Eye Disease.

Conjunctival goblet cell (GC) loss in dry eye is associated with ocular surface inflammation. This study investigated if conjunctival GCs contribute to ocular surface immune tolerance. Antigens applied to the ocular surface, imaged by confocal microscopy, passed into the conjunctival stroma through goblet cell associated passages (GAPs) in wild type C57BL/6 (WT), while ovalbumin (OVA) was retained in the epithelium of SAM pointed domain containing ETS transcription factor () knockout mice (/) that lack GCs and are a novel model of dry eye.

Inhibition of corneal neovascularization by subconjunctival and topical bevacizumab and sunitinib in a rabbit model.

Purpose: To compare the effects of subconjunctival injection and topical application of bevacizumab and sunitinib on experimentally induced corneal neovascularization (CNV).

Methods: CNV was induced by sutures in the right eyes of 36 rabbits. After suture removal, the rabbits were divided into 6 groups with 6 rabbits in each group.

The role of Nod1 signaling in corneal neovascularization.

Purpose: Corneal neovascularization (CNV) is associated with Chlamydia trachomatis. The minimal components of bacterial cell walls are recognized by nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein (Nod), which is important for host defense--a mechanism manifested in human corneal cells. We aimed to examine whether Nod stimulation is associated with CNV.

A case of an asymptomatic intralenticular foreign body.

The purpose of this article is to report a case of an asymptomatic intralenticular metallic foreign body that was retained for 6 months. A 66-year-old male visited our ophthalmology department because of decreased visual acuity in his left eye 6 months after he suffered ocular trauma while mowing. He had not been treated because he did not experience any discomfort.