The efficacy of a netilmicin/dexamethasone gel combination in the treatment of posterior blepharitis in moderate-severe dry eye patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of netilmicin/dexamethasone combination in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)-associated posterior blepharitis.

Methods: In this prospective and controlled study were enrolled 40 patients with MGD and symptoms of dry eye disease. Two groups were established: 20 patients (group 1) received netilmicin 3 mg/ml and dexamethasone 1 mg/ml eye gel, whereas in group 2 (20 patients) received vehicle for 15 days.

Anterior chamber retained lens fragments: A novel approach with Nd:Yag laser.

Methods: Multicenter retrospective case series of nd:Yag laser fragmentation of LF in twenty eyes at different clinics discovered after cataract surgery performed through phacoemulsification and implant of intraocular lens (IOL).

Conclusion: Early nd:Yag laser procedure is a good option to use for retained lenticular fragments in the anterior chamber after cataract extraction, to reduce damages to the endothelium caused by the LF, to lower patient discomfort to re-enter surgery, to minimize costs of surgical re-intervention and to avoid possible inflammatory complications given by the retained fragments that may not be reabsorbed properly and may even present several years after primary surgery leading to damages to endothelium caused by the lenticular fragments and visual disturbances.

Extensive Contact Lens Wear Modulates Expression of miRNA-320 and miRNA-423-5p in the Human Corneal Epithelium: Possible Biomarkers of Corneal Health and Environmental Impact.

The identification of new biomarkers of ocular diseases is nowadays of outmost importance both for early diagnosis and treatment. Epigenetics is a rapidly growing emerging area of research and its involvement in the pathophysiology of ocular disease and regulatory mechanisms is of undisputable importance for diagnostic purposes. Environmental changes may impact the ocular surface, and the knowledge of induced epigenetic changes might help to elucidate the mechanisms of ocular surface disorders.

The Use of Venous Catheter and Irrigation with Povidone-Iodine 0.6% in Patients with Punctal and Proximal Canalicular Stenosis: Preliminary Report.

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of povidone-iodine 0.6% (PVI) irrigation for preventing recurrence of stenosis after punctoplasty in patients with punctal and proximal canalicular stenosis treated using a venous catheter as a stent. Twenty patients were enrolled and divided into two groups.

Clinical and optical coherence tomography biomarkers as prognostic factors in dexamethasone intravitreal implant for diabetic macular edema.

Purpose: Aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone (DEX) 0.7 mg intravitreal implant in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and serous retinal detachment (SRD), and to study the prognostic factors on a follow up of 12 months.

Methods: Forty eyes of twenty- six patients with centre involving DME and SRD, who underwent DEX implant, were enrolled.

Inner Retinal Thinning Comparison between Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

to assess the tomographic retinal layers' thickness in eyes affected by branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) and to compare it to those of patients affected by primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). retrospective review of 27 patients; 16 with BRAO (16 eyes) and 11 with POAG (20 eyes) were identified among those who received SD-OCT scans, including analysis of macular retinal nerve fiber layer (mRNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), neuroretinal rim (NRR), circumpapillary RNFL at 3.5 mm and hemisphere asymmetry (HA).

Five-year results of iontophoresis-assisted transepithelial corneal cross-linking for keratoconus.

Purpose: To assess long-term efficacy and safety of iontophoresis-assisted transepithelial corneal cross-linking (I-CXL) for keratoconus.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-seven eyes of 21 patients (15 M, 6F) affected by progressive keratoconus were evaluated. All subjects were treated with iontophoresis-assisted transepithelial CXL.

Clinical Results of Accelerated Iontophoresis-Assisted Epithelium-on Corneal Cross-linking for Progressive Keratoconus in Children.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with progression of keratoconus after accelerated iontophoresis-assisted epithelium-on corneal cross-linking (I-ON CXL) and to assess the efficacy and safety of re-treatment using accelerated epithelium-off CXL (epi-OFF CXL).

Methods: Sixteen eyes of 16 patients (mean age: 14.6 ± 2.

Persistent severe visual field impairment is associated with obesity and tumour invasiveness, but not with pituitary dysfunction, in patients with craniopharyngioma.

Purpose: Craniopharyngiomas (CP) are benign tumours of the sellar region. Hypopituitarism, visual deficits, hypothalamic damage with consequent obesity and related increased cardiovascular risk, are complications due to the tumour itself or secondary to treatment strategy. We retrospectively correlated visual field status with clinical, neuroradiological, histopathological features and management strategy, in a single-centre cohort of patients with CP.

OCT Angiography Features in Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 and 2.

Purpose: To study the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and the vessel densities (VD) in diabetic patients using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and inner retinal layer changes to compare patients affected by type 1 diabetes (DM1) and type 2 diabetes (DM2). Methods: Cross-sectional observational study involving 150 eyes of 150 patients with DM1, and 155 eyes of 155 patients with DM2 with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and Ganglion cell layer (GCL) were evaluated.

Clinical Efficacy, Tolerability and Safety of a New Multiple-Action Eyedrop in Subjects with Moderate to Severe Dry Eye.

Background: To assess the clinical efficacy, tolerability and safety of a new-generation ophthalmic solution containing cross-linked hyaluronic acid 0.15% trehalose 3%, liposomes 1% and sterylamine 0.25% (Trimix® Off Health Italia, Firenze, Italy) (CXHAL) versus trehalose 3% (Thealoz®, Thea Pharmaceuticals, Clermont-Ferrand, France) (TRS) in subjects with moderate to severe dry eye disease (DED).

Exploring the Healthy Eye Microbiota Niche in a Multicenter Study.

Purpose: This study aims to explore and characterize healthy eye microbiota.

Methods: Healthy subjects older than 18 years were selected for this descriptive cross-sectional study. Samples were collected with an eSwab with 1 mL of Liquid Amies Medium (Copan Brescia, Italy).

Combined intense pulsed light and low-level light therapy for the treatment of refractory Meibomian gland dysfunction.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of combined Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) in treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).

Methods And Analysis: In this prospective study 70 patients with refractory MGD were enrolled; group 1 received 3 consecutive sessions of IPL + LLLT treatment using Eye-light® on day 1, day 15 and day 45; group 2 received hyaluronate sodium 2 mg/ml drops 3 times a day for 6 months. Patients underwent at baseline, and after 3 and 6 months Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE), tear-film breakup time (TBUT), fluorescein ocular surface staining, meibum expressibility and quality evaluations.

Effects of the Topical Use of the Natural Antioxidant Alpha-Lipoic Acid on the Ocular Surface of Diabetic Patients with Dry Eye Symptoms.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the treatment with eye-drops based on a combination of antioxidant and mucomimetic molecules, namely 0.1% alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and 0.3% hydroxy-propyl-methylcellulose (HPMC) on the ocular surface of diabetic patients with dry eye symptoms.

Neurotrophic Keratopathy in Systemic Diseases: A Case Series on Patients Treated With rh-NGF.

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence, clinical ocular presentation and corneal healing in moderate and severe neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) caused by systemic diseases and treated with rh-NGF.

Setting: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Ophthalmology Clinic, University of Messina, Italy.

Design: Retrospective observational study of case series.

Coexisting Choroidal and Brain Metastases in a Patient with Breast Cancer Treated with Stereotactic Radiotherapy.

Choroidal metastases from breast cancer are the most common ocular malignancies in adults. We report a case of a 37-year-old female with a history of breast cancer who had a sudden blurred vision in her right eye. An ophthalmologic assessment revealed a dome-shaped lesion and a secondary retinal detachment with subretinal fluid in the left eye, suggestive of choroidal metastasis.

Double safe suture during cataract surgery on post radial keratotomy patients using clear corneal incisions.

Purpose: the aim of this study is to find a safer surgical approach in cataract surgery on eyes previously treated with radial keratotomy using clear corneal incisions.

Setting: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Ophthalmology Clinic, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Design: Prospective study.

Severe Corneal Morphological Alterations after Excimer Laser Surface Ablation for a High Astigmatism.

We report long-term alterations of anterior corneal stroma after excimer laser surface ablation for a high astigmatism. The patient claimed progressive visual loss in his right eye (RE) during the last 3 years after bilateral laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) surgery. His examination comprised visual acuity (UDVA and CDVA), slit-lamp examination, corneal topography and tomography, AS-OCT, and confocal microscopy.

Use of Lacrimal Symptoms Questionnaire After Punctoplasty Surgery: Retrospective Data of Technical Strategy.

The goal of this study is to evaluate postpunctoplasty symptoms with lacrimal symptoms questionnaire (Lac-Q). A retrospective study was conducted on 31 patients (14 men and 17 woman) with a diagnosis of canalicular stenosis: 26 patients with unilateral occlusion and 5 patients with bilateral occlusion. The Lac-Q was administered preoperative and at 1, at 3, and at 6 months following the surgery.

Role of Cold Balanced Salt Solution (BSS) in the Prophylaxis of Cystoid Macular Edema After Cataract Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the postoperative effect on central retinal macular thickness of a cooled irrigating eye solution used during cataract surgery.

Patients And Methods: In this prospective, single-center study, 100 eyes of 50 patients (26 males and 24 females) were evaluated with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) before and after phacoemulsification for senile cataract. Eyes were randomly divided into two groups based on the irrigating solution used during surgery: Group 1, 50 eyes received intraoperative irrigating solution at room temperature (~20.

The cold eye irrigation BSS solution used during phacoemulsification reduces post-surgery patients discomfort preventing the inflammation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess whether the intraoperative use of the cold eye irrigation balanced salt solution (BSS) could have a protective effect in preventing the anterior chamber flare and conjunctival hyperemia and, thus, in reducing patients discomfort after phacoemulsification.

Materials And Methods: About 214 patients were enrolled and randomly divided into: patients whose eye were irrigated with BSS at ~ 20°C (Group 1) and patients whose eye were irrigated with BSS at 2.7°C (Group 2).

Optical Coherence Tomography Predictors of Favorable Functional Response in Naïve Diabetic Macular Edema Eyes Treated with Dexamethasone Implants as a First-Line Agent.

Purpose: To evaluate efficacy and safety of intravitreal dexamethasone 0.7 mg implant in treatment-naïve DME patients and to assess the utility of OCT structural biomarkers as predictors of functional response after treatment.

Methods: Thirty-nine eyes of 39 diabetic patients with center involving DME were enrolled.

Multimodal Imaging in Susac Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Susac syndrome (SS) is a rare microangiopathy that involves arterioles of the brain, retina, and cochlea. Diagnosis is extremely difficult because of the rarity of the disease and because the signs and symptoms often occur at different times. Multidisciplinary approaches and multimodal images are mandatory for diagnosis and prompt therapy.

Ophthalmologic Manifestations of Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory, autoimmune disease, characterized by the lymphocyte infiltration of exocrine glands, especially the lacrimal and salivary, with their consequent destruction. The onset of primary SS (pSS) may remain misunderstood for several years. It usually presents with different types of severity, e.

Selective transepithelial ablation with simultaneous accelerated corneal crosslinking for corneal regularization of keratoconus: STARE-X protocol.

Purpose: To evaluate the changes in refractive outcomes and corneal aberrations in central and paracentral keratoconus after selective transepithelial topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy combined with accelerated corneal crosslinking (STARE-X).

Settings: Centro Polispecialistico Mediterraneo, Siena Crosslinking Center, and University of Messina, Italy.

Design: Prospective, interventional, multicentric study.