The Reliability of PCL/Anti-VEGF Electrospun Scaffolds to Support Limbal Stem Cells for Corneal Repair.

Since only few reported studies propose anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) delivery through electrospun scaffolds, this study greatly contributes to the potential prevention of patient's vision loss, as it explores electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) coated with anti-VEGF for the blockage of abnormal cornea vascularization. In terms of physicochemical properties, the biological component increased the PCL scaffold fiber diameter (by ~24%) and pore area (by ~82%), while ut slightly reduced its total porosity as the anti-VEGF solution filled the voids of the microfibrous structure. The addition of the anti-VEGF increased the scaffold stiffness almost three-fold at both strains of 5 and 10%, as well as its biodegradation rate (~36% after 60 days) with a sustained release profile after Day 4 of phosphate buffered saline incubation.

Stereoacuity and Multifocal Intraocular Lenses - a Systematic Review.

Background: Among various visual functions, stereoacuity, or the ability to perceive depth, is the most sophisticated binocular function. Many publications discuss the influence of retinal image formation by multifocal intraocular lenses on glare and contrast sensitivity, but only a few present results of testing binocular vision in patients with multifocal intraocular lenses.

Objective: This article is designed to review the results of testing binocular vision in patients with multifocal intraocular lenses implanted in cataract surgery.

Poly(ε-caprolactone) Titanium Dioxide and Cefuroxime Antimicrobial Scaffolds for Cultivation of Human Limbal Stem Cells.

Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD) is a very serious and painful disease that often results in impaired vision. Cultivation of limbal stem cells for clinical application is usually performed on carriers such as amniotic membrane or surgical fibrin gel. Transplantation of these grafts is associated with the risk of local postoperative infection that can destroy the graft and devoid therapeutic benefit.

Comparison of Verisyse and Veriflex Phakic Intraocular Lenses for Treatment of Moderate to High Myopia 36 Months after Surgery.

Purpose: To compare refractive stability, endothelial cell count (ECC), incidence of complications, and patients' satisfaction between a rigid Verisyse (group I, n = 198) and foldable Veriflex (group II, n = 212) phakic intraocular lenses (pIOL) over 36 months postop.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective study. Patients' satisfaction and incidence of photic phenomena were evaluated at one month and one year postop.

Vector analysis of astigmatism before and after LASIK: a comparison of two different platforms for treatment of high astigmatism.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of astigmatic laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) procedures between two different platforms using J0 and J45 vector analysis.

Methods: Patients were divided into four groups, depending on the type of astigmatism and laser platform on which they were treated. Astigmatism was between 2 and 7 diopters (D).

Synthetic vs natural scaffolds for human limbal stem cells.

Aim: To investigate the impact of synthetic electrospun polyurethane (PU) and polycaprolactone (PCL) nanoscaffolds, before and after hydrolytic surface modification, on viability and differentiation of cultured human eye epithelial cells, in comparison with natural scaffolds: fibrin and human amniotic membrane.

Methods: Human placenta was taken at elective cesarean delivery. Fibrin scaffolds were prepared from commercial fibrin glue kits.

Three-year corneal graft survival rate in high-risk cases treated with subconjunctival and topical bevacizumab.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of combined subconjunctival and topical bevacizumab treatment on corneal graft survival rate in high-risk eyes.

Methods: Prospective, consecutive, interventional case series. Fifty eyes of 50 high-risk patients scheduled for penetrating keratoplasty (PK) were included in the study; two Stevens-Johnson syndromes (SJS), five corneal combustions due to chemical burn, seven post-traumatic vascularised leucomas, 11 post-infectious vascularised leucomas, 19 rejected grafts and six corneal ulcers.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in a recipient cornea acts as a prognostic factor for corneal graft reaction development.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) in the recipient cornea measured at the time of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) can act as a prognostic factor for corneal graft reaction development.

Methods: The study included 25 eyes (of 25 patients) scheduled for PK. According to preoperative clinical finding, patients were divided into three groups: inflammatory with neovascularization (n = 11); inflammatory without neovascularization (n = 7); and non-inflammatory (n = 7).

How to convert the obliquely crossed to non-crossed astigmatism? A simple method using vector analysis.

The authors discussed about the problem of special form in astigmatism classification. This special type of astigmatism is the form of obliquely crossed astigmatism. In which the meridians, major and minor, are not right angles.

Curvature analyses of the corneal front and back surface.

In 25 eyes, age range 60-80 years, in purpose of preoperative treatment prior to cataract surgery, measurements of the radius of curvature as well as main meridians of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces were performed. Average value of the curvature of the anterior corneal surface (R1) was R1 = 7.84 mm, while posterior radius (R2) was 6.

Positive pressure during penetrating keratoplasty can be solved with a modified graft-over-host technique.

Purpose: To describe a modified graft-over-host (MGOH) surgical technique which was used to prevent serious complications in cases of positive vitreal pressure during penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and to compare the endothelial cell density (ECD) loss and clinical outcome between eyes undergoing MGOH or standard PKP.

Methods: In the proposed MGOH technique, the donor graft is sutured over the recipient cornea as soon as signs of positive pressure are noticed, even before cutting the recipient cornea, and the surgery is continued by consecutive cutting of the recipient and continuous suturing of the donor cornea, quadrant by quadrant. Donor grafts were prospectively followed up for the graft clarity, ECD loss and the amount of astigmatism.

Resolution of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema with combination therapy of topical corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

A 69 years old women underwent uneventful cataract surgery of her left eye with phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in topical anesthesia. Patient was postoperatively treated with combination of antibiotic and steroid in decreasing dosages during five weeks: one drop five times a day the first week, three times a day second to forth week and one time a day the fifth week. In each checkup, performed first postoperative day, 7 days, 5 weeks and 12 weeks after the operation, visual acuity with and without correction, tonometry, corneal transparency, biomicroscopy of posterior pole and measure of macular thickness by optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed.

The expression of interleukin-1 alpha, TNF and VEGF in corneal cells of patients with bullous keratopathy.

Bullous keratopathy (BK) is a chronic corneal edema with or without subepithelial bullae as a result of a loss of the endothelial cells. 15 patients with BK after cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation, due to Fuchs dystrophy (n = 3) or corneal endothelial trauma (n = 12) were included in the study. All patients were treated by amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT).

Transplantation of amniotic membrane in corneal ulcers and persistant epithelial defects.

Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) leads to reduction of inflammatory symptoms and causes faster epithelisation in corneal ulcers and persistant epithelial defect. 21 patients with corneal ulcer (n = 18) or non-healing epithelial defect (n = 3) unresponsive to conventional treatment were included in the study. All patients were treated by AMT.

First results of Intracor procedure in Croatia.

This study reports early outcomes of a cohort of presbyopic patients treated with Intracor. The study took place from December 2010 to May 2011 and was conducted in University Eye Hospital "Svjetlost", Zagreb, Croatia. 95 eyes were enrolled in this prospective clinical trial (49 patients with non dominant eye and 23 with bilateral treatment).

Anti-VEGF in treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Diabetic macular edema is the leading cause of moderate visual deterioration in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Ranibizumab) blocks vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced hyperpermeability of blood vessels. In this prospective case series we investigated the efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF treatment in reduction of central retinal thickness (CRT) and improvement in visual acuity (VA) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).

1-year follow-up study of endothelial cell density loss after penetrating keratoplasty.

High endothelial cell density (ECD) is essential for the corneal graft clarity. We evaluated ECD loss in 120 eyes that underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in Eye Clinic Svjetlost in a one year follow up period. Patients were divided into 3 groups of high (N = 35), intermediate (N = 31) and low risk (N = 54) for graft failure.

Amniotic membrane transplantation in the treatment of persistent epithelial defect on the corneal graft.

It has been shown that amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) improves healing of the epithelium defects as it serves as a basement membrane for endothelial cells growth, prevents inflammatory cell infiltration and reduces apoptosis in keratocytes. Having in mind the healing properties of AM we investigated the efficacy of AMT in persistent epithelial defect (PED) on the corneal graft. 80 corneal grafts were prospectively followed up for presence of PED 10 months after surgery.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty in the treatment of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma in patients allergic to all anti-glaucoma drops.

Secondary chronic open-angle glaucoma associated with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome accounts for approximately 25% of all glaucomas and represents the most common identifiable cause of glaucoma overall. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is effective in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucomatous patients and has the advantage of preserving surrounding structures. We report here SLT treatment of a 82 year old female with a secondary developed open-angle pseudoexfoliation glaucoma allergic to all anti glaucoma eye drops especially those which contain bensalconium chloridum as preservative.

Trichophyton Spp. fungal keratitis in 22 years old female contact lenses wearer.

Fungal keratitis represents one of the most difficult forms of microbial keratitis to diagnose and treat successfully. It is difficult to obtain correct diagnosis and topical antifungal preparations. Fungi can cause severe stromal necrosis and enter the anterior chamber by penetrating an intact Descemet membrane.

Comparison of different presbyopia treatments: refractive lens exchange with multifocal intraocular lens implantation versus LASIK monovision.

There are several methods for presbyopia treatment. Refractive lens exchange (RLE) followed by multifocal intraocular lens (MFIOL) implantation enables high rate of spectacle independence but have some visual disturbances. Laser in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) monovision gives patient ability to have good distant vision with dominant eye and good near vision with nondominant eye.

Penetrating keratoplasty and Verisyse iris-claw lens--is it safe for corneal graft?

The loss of the corneal endothelial cells, especially in a first postoperative year, has been observed in patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PK). The implantation of new generation of "iris claw" phakic IOL (Verisyse) in refractive cases has been shown to cause clinicaly insignificant endothelial cell loss. In our prospective case series we investigated the endothelial cell loss and clinical outcome in patients that either underwent PK and implantation of PCIOL or PK and implantation of Verisyse IOL.

Preparation and preservation of amniotic membrane.

The human amniotic membrane (AM) is the innermost layer of the placenta and consists of a single epithelial layer, a thick basement membrane and an avascular stroma. Due to the number of its properties, AM is increasingly used in the treatment of severe ocular surface diseases. The amniotic basement membrane facilitates migration and growth of epithelial cells, therefore promoting epithelialization.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

The study included 20 patients with diabetes mellitus type I (DM I) and 16 with type II (DM II) suffering from prolipherative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) for which they underwent vitrectomy. The quantity of VEGF and its receptors in the vitreous of investigated patients were measured by immunoassay and results compared between patients with DM I and II. The mean levels in the vitreous were significantly higher in diabetics with PDR and diabetes mellitus I (432.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in aqueous humor of patients with perforative eye injuries.

Considering that VEGF is the key factor for angiogenesis stimulation, we wanted to establish if VEGF level is increased in aqueous humor of patients with open globe eye injury. The study included 20 patients with open globe injury. During the surgery, aqueous humor samples were taken out and VEGF levels were measured by ELISA.