Retinitis Pigmentosa: From Pathomolecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies.

Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited disease, in which mutations in different types of genes lead to the death of photoreceptors and the loss of visual function. Although retinitis pigmentosa is the most common type of inherited retinal dystrophy, a clear line of therapy has not yet been defined. In this review, we will focus on the therapeutic aspect and attempt to define the advantages and disadvantages of the protocols of different therapies.

Identifying Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Biomarkers in a Cohort of Patients Affected by DM Type II.

(1) Background: Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common manifestation of dry eye syndrome (DES). (2) Methods: The purpose of this study is to identify clinical parameters and biomarkers useful to improve the follow-up and the treatment of these patients. We have used an ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer test I/II, tear film break-up time (TF-BUT), fluorescein plus lissamine green staining, Marx's line (ML), and meibomian gland (MGs) morphology using Sirius Topographer (CSO, Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici, Florence, Italy).

Rehabilitative strategies after filtering procedure in glaucoma.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of non-reversible blindness worldwide, and almost 6 million people are estimated to be impaired visually in advanced stage of glaucoma. Recently, several studies on glaucoma has been focused towards new therapeutic approaches based on mechanisms independent from IOP control. Effects of new therapeutic agents, visual psychophysical training, or complementary medications targeting optic pathways today seem to be a relevant and effervescent field of research.

Oxidative Stress Implication in Retinal Diseases-A Review.

Oxidative stress (OS) refers to an imbalance between free radicals (FRs), namely highly reactive molecules normally generated in our body by several pathways, and intrinsic antioxidant capacity. When FR levels overwhelm intrinsic antioxidant defenses, OS occurs, inducing a series of downstream chemical reactions. Both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are produced by numerous chemical reactions that take place in tissues and organs and are then eliminated by antioxidant molecules.

WAMD: From Pathophysiology to Therapeutic Treatments.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is referred to as the leading cause of irreversible visual loss in developed countries, with a profound effect on the quality of life [...

COVID-19 Vaccines in Inherited Retinal Degenerations (IRD), Fears, Ideas and Real Interactions.

Purpose: In the COVID-19 pandemic era, vaccines are one of the most efficient weapons, as well established by WHO, that humans have, in all their variants (mRNA, AAV or others). Unfortunately, in western nations skepticism within different groups has been generated by the fast approval processes, driven by the urgent need to confront the rapid increase of hospitalized patients and number of deaths by regulation authorities as FDA and EMA. Moreover, several scientific and non-scientific perplexity, also amplified by the media, created hard no-vax strategies, that lead many patients to refuse vaccine administration.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP): The Role of Oxidative Stress in the Degenerative Process Progression.

Purpose: Retinitis Pigmentosa is a term that includes a group of inherited bilateral and progressive retinal degenerations, with the involvement of rod photoreceptors, which frequently leads to blindness; oxidative stress may be involved in the degeneration progression as proposed by several recent studies. The goal of this study is to evaluate whether circulating free radicals taken from capillary blood are related to one of the most important features of Retinitis pigmentosa that can affect frequently patients: cystoid macular oedema (CME). Materials: A total of 186 patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa (range: 25−69 years) were enrolled; all patients completed an ophthalmologic examination and SD-OCT at baseline and were divided into three subgroups according to the SD-OCT features.

Visuo-Acoustic Stimulation's Role in Synaptic Plasticity: A Review of the Literature.

Brain plasticity is the capacity of cerebral neurons to change, structurally and functionally, in response to experiences. This is an essential property underlying the maturation of sensory functions, learning and memory processes, and brain repair in response to the occurrence of diseases and trauma. In this field, the visual system emerges as a paradigmatic research model, both for basic research studies and for translational investigations.

Mesenchymal stem and non-stem cell surgery, rescue, and regeneration in glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

Background: Glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) is an anatomofunctional impairment of the optic nerve triggered by glaucoma. Recently, growth factors (GFs) have been shown to produce retinal neuroenhancement. The suprachoroidal autograft of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by the Limoli retinal restoration technique (LRRT) has proven to achieve retinal neuroenhancement by producing GF directly into the choroidal space.

Clinical Features, Prognosis, and Long-Term Response to Ranibizumab of Macular CNVs in Pattern Dystrophies Spectrum: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: To analyze the morphological and functional features of choroidal neovascularizations (CNVs) in eyes affected by pattern dystrophies (PD), evaluating their long-term response to intravitreal ranibizumab, and comparing them with CNVs in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The mean goal is to identify possible disease biomarkers and to evaluate the long-term prognosis of CNVs in PD.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of 42 patients with naïve CNV (26 PD and 16 AMD), for a total of 47 eyes (29 eyes in the PD group and 18 eyes in the AMD group).

Update on Gene Therapy Clinical Trials for Choroideremia and Potential Experimental Therapies.

: Choroideremia (CHM) is an X-linked recessive chorioretinal dystrophy caused by mutations involving the gene. Gene therapy has entered late-phase clinical trials, although there have been variable results. This review gives a summary on the outcomes of phase I/II CHM gene therapy trials and describes other potential experimental therapies.

The prevalence of vitreomacular adhesion in eyes with macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion selected for intravitreal injections.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) in consecutive naïve eyes diagnosed with macular oedema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and to longitudinally evaluate the incidence of vitreomacular interface changes over time and the influence on response to treatment.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis and longitudinal cohort study conducted at two Italian tertiary referral centres.

Methods: A total of 295 eyes, treated with intravitreal ranibizumab and/or dexamethasone for ME secondary to RVO between June 2008 and May 2018, were enrolled in the study.

Antioxidant and Biological Properties of Mesenchymal Cells Used for Therapy in Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Both tissue repair and regeneration are a priority in regenerative medicine. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a complex retinal disease characterized by the progressive loss of impaired photoreceptors, is currently lacking effective therapies: this represents one of the greatest challenges in the field of ophthalmological research. Although this inherited retinal dystrophy is still an incurable genetic disease, the oxidative damage is an important pathogenetic element that may represent a viable target of therapy.

Role of CD 20 T cells and related cytokines in mediating retinal microvascular changes and ocular complications in chronic-plaque type psoriasis.

Objective: To assess the role of CD3 CD20 CD4 CD8 double-negative (DN) or CD3CD20 CD4/CD8 T cells and the related pro-inflammatory cytokines in the humor aqueous, in mediating retinal microvascular changes in patients with chronic plaque-type moderate to severe psoriasis.

Design: A total of 76 patients (57.6 ± 11.

Mesenchymal stem cell surgery, rescue and regeneration in retinitis pigmentosa: clinical and rehabilitative prognostic aspects.

Purpose: To assess whether treatment with the Limoli Retinal Restoration Technique (LRRT) can be performed in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), grafting the autologous cells in a deep scleral pocket above the choroid of each eye to exert their beneficial effect on the residual retinal cells.

Methods: The patients were subjected to a complete ophthalmological examination, including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), close-up visus measurements, spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), microperimetry (MY), and electroretinography (ERG). Furthermore, the complete ophthalmological examination was carried out at baseline (T0) and at 6 months (T180) after surgery.

Stem Cell Surgery and Growth Factors in Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients: Pilot Study after Literature Review.

To evaluate whether grafting of autologous mesenchymal cells, adipose-derived stem cells, and platelet-rich plasma into the supracoroideal space by surgical treatment with the Limoli retinal restoration technique (LRRT) can exert a beneficial effect in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients. Twenty-one eyes underwent surgery and were divided based on retinal foveal thickness (FT) ≤ 190 or > 190 µm into group A-FT and group B-FT, respectively. The specific LRRT triad was grafted in a deep scleral pocket above the choroid of each eye.

Abnormal stereopsis and reduced retinal sensitivity in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate retinal sensitivity and stereoacuity (SA) in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with RP were examined, mean age 36.4 ± 7.

Vitreo-macular interface disorders in retinitis pigmentosa.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence and progression of vitreo-macular interface disorders (VMID) phenotypes and their natural history in retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Methods: A total of 257 eyes of 145 RP patients with VMID were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided according to the VMID subtypes into epiretinal membranes (ERMs), vitreo-macular traction (VMT) group, and macular hole (MH).

Acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy: To bolus or not to bolus?

Acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy (AEPVM) is a rare bilateral maculopathy characterized by chronic and long-term course. We report a case of AEPVM with an unusual presentation and management in a middle-aged man. He presented with clinical features of bilateral AEPVM accompanied by multiple intraretinal cysts, with a sudden increase of intraretinal fluid and visual function deterioration over a span of few days.

Factors Influencing Fixation Stability Area: A Comparison of Two Methods of Recording.

Significance: The authors analyze factors influencing bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA) in healthy and pathologic eyes and how such factors may affect isolated (static BCEA) or microperimetric fixation (dynamic BCEA). They conclude that aging increases both dynamic BCEA and examination time, whereas static BCEA offers less variance and the maximum distinction with pathologic eyes.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess factors influencing BCEA and the recording method that offer less variability and thus maximum distinction between healthy and pathologic eyes.

Regenerative Therapy by Suprachoroidal Cell Autograft in Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration: Preliminary In Vivo Report.

This study is aimed at examining whether a suprachoroidal graft of autologous cells can improve best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and responses to microperimetry (MY) in eyes affected by dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) over time through the production and secretion of growth factors (GFs) on surrounding tissue. Patients were randomly assigned to each study group. All patients were diagnosed with dry AMD and with BCVA equal to or greater than 1 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR).

Microperimetric biofeedback training: fundamentals, strategies and perspectives.

Microperimetric biofeedback training (MBFT) is a visual rehabilitative strategy based on fixation stability improvement reinforcing or creating a new preferential fixation locus. The rationale consists in reeducating visual system to a new visual condition, promoting retina-brain transmission, and thus cortical plasticity. The use of MBFT found is major application in visual diseases involving central vision, but later it revealed promising functional outcomes even in myopia, inherited retinal degenerations and nystagmus.