Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic period, it was difficult to carry out regular and scheduled follow-up of patients in the outpatient department, especially during lockdown periods. However, early detection of initial infection or other serious conditions is vital for patients after ocular surgery, such as intravitreal injection (IVI) for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Objective: We evaluated the use of a smartphone-based postoperative care chatbot system (PCCS) with an instant bidirectional feedback system for patients to self-report postoperative symptoms and signs.
In this study, we reported the patterns, epidemiology, and clinical features of anterior uveitis (AU) in Taiwan, an area of Eastern Asia. This prospective, cross-sectional case series study was performed to identify patients with AU at two tertiary medical centers (Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital) located at the southern Taiwan between December 1, 2018, and March 31, 2020. The clinical diagnoses, ocular presentations, and laboratory data, including the results of the aqueous polymerase chain reaction tests, were investigated in these patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClinical practices on acute post-operative and endogenous endophthalmitis (EnE) are highly variable among clinicians due to a lack of up-to-date, high-quality evidential support. An expert consensus is thus much needed. A panel consisting of ten retinal specialists in Taiwan was organized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to investigate the prevalence of color vision deficiencies (CVDs) and determine whether carriers could be detected by analyzing the visual pigment genes. Materials and Methods: The data of students who underwent routine CVD screening using the Ishihara color test in Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan were analyzed. Furthermore, the DNA samples of 80 randomly selected females and four obligate carriers were analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCytomegalovirus (CMV) uveitis, a type of herpetic uveitis, is a major cause of infectious uveitis. Anterior and posterior CMV uveitis have diverse clinical presentations and treatment modalities. Based on expert consensus in Taiwan, this article provides suggestions regarding clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for CMV uveitis based on clinical practice experience in Taiwan.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Anterior uveitis is the most common anatomical type of uveitis. Patients with noninfectious anterior uveitis may develop various ocular complications and eventually visual impairment. Appropriately differentiating the etiologies can help clinicians to predict the outcome, arrange clinical follow-up, and decide the treatment or prevention strategy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The purpose of this study was to identify gene mutation and phenotype correlations in a cohort of Taiwanese patients with Stickler syndrome.
Materials And Methods: Patients clinically diagnosed with Stickler syndrome or suspected Stickler syndrome were enrolled. DNA was extracted from venous blood samples.
Purpose: To investigate the surgical outcomes and eye care knowledge of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) who had previously undergone laser refractive surgery (LRS) for myopia in a myopia epidemic area.
Methods: This retrospective study included patients with primary RRD who underwent surgery and had a history of LRS for myopia at a tertiary medical center. Data were reviewed from medical charts to analyse the surgical outcomes.
Uveitis is a sight-threatening disease that can be associated with many different etiologies. Successful treatment of uveitis relies on accurate diagnosis and prompt efficient therapy. History taking, physical and ocular examinations, systemic evaluations, and response to treatment provide crucial information to differentiate possible etiologies involved in the pathophysiology of intraocular inflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo determine the clinical effectiveness of combination therapy with intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (IVITA) and oral levodopa in eyes affected by nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Longitudinal study involving 45 eyes of 45 patients with NAION who were evaluated within 14 days of NAION onset. The treatment group received an IVITA 4 mg/0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To assess the associations of axial length with age-related cataract within a span of 10 years in an Asian population in southern Taiwan.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study examined 960 adults who underwent cataract surgery at the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in year 2008 and year 2018. Axial length was assessed with the ultrasound biometry and/or the Zeiss IOLMaster.
Fibroblast-like transformation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is a pathological feature of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) that may cause blindness. The effect of oxidative stress alone or together with transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-β2) on epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) is not fully understood in RPE. TGF-β2 induced the upregulation EMT markers including α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Snail, and Slug and downregulation of E-cadherin (E-cad) in ARPE-19 cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInvest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
February 2020
Purpose: To investigate the retinal sensitivity of highly myopic eyes with chorioretinal patchy atrophy (PA) using microperimetry.
Methods: Fifty-two eyes of 32 patients with high myopia were prospectively included. Twenty-two eyes of 16 patients had PA lesions; eyes without PA were analyzed as controls.
Retinal arterial macroaneurysms (RAMs) develop as outpouchings of the arterial wall that is weakened by arteriosclerosis. The traditional treatment of RAMs comprises observation, focal laser photocoagulation, or surgery. Recently, intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs has been announced as an effective therapy for fovea-threatening RAMs and quickly improve visual acuity and central retinal thickness (CRT).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To report the epidemiology and clinical features of viral anterior uveitis in patients in southern Taiwan.
Methods: A retrospective, case series study. HLA-B27 negative anterior uveitis patients with increased intraocular pressure or corneal edema seen at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from January 1, 2007 to January 31, 2018 had their aqueous sent for polymerase chain reaction analysis.
Objectives: To characterize diabetic macular edema (DME) treatment patterns in Taiwan and examine their impact on health care resource utilization and visual and anatomic outcomes.
Methods: Retrospective, observational cohort study of longitudinal data from medical records of five hospital ophthalmology clinics. Patients with type 2 diabetes and DME who received ≥1 laser treatment or pharmacotherapy (intravitreal/subtenon corticosteroids and/or intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] agents) between January 2012 and December 2013 (index period) and attended ≥1 follow-up visit after the first treatment during that period were identified (prevalent population, N=431).
Choroid metastasis from esophageal carcinoma is rare; reports addressing the effectiveness of treatment strategies are limited. We report a case of a 51-year-old man with metastatic esophageal carcinoma who had a 1-month history of blurred vision in his left eye. An ophthalmologic examination revealed a choroidal mass in his left eye.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGraefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol
August 2018
Purpose: To investigate the fixation behavior in macular dystrophy using microperimetry.
Methods: This retrospective study included patients with macular dystrophy and unilateral macular pucker. Macular dystrophic eyes were compared based on fixation within or outside of the atrophic region.
Background: Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is widely used for pulp-capping procedures in permanent teeth and as a gold standard material in endodontics. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of MTA on cell viability and apoptosis when MTA is directly in contact with Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth (SHEDs).
Methods: MTA was mixed and coated in the bottom of a 24-well plate.
Purpose: To study the prevalence, type, and progression of astigmatism in primary school children, and its effect on myopic shift.
Study Design: A prospective study carried out in a primary school in southern Taiwan.
Methods: The study was performed on a subset of children, one year after initial examination.
Purpose: Failure of retinal detachment surgery is most commonly due to the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Everolimus is an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and is available as oral tablets. In this study, we investigated the effect of everolimus on retinal pigment epithelial cells and modification of the severity of experimental PVR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Basketball is a popular sport involving significant body contact, which may frequently result in ocular trauma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and visual outcomes of retinal detachment associated with basketball-related injury.
Design: Retrospective, interventional case series.