Expression and subcellular localization of USH1C/harmonin in human retina provides insights into pathomechanisms and therapy.

Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common form of hereditary deaf-blindness in humans. USH is a complex genetic disorder, assigned to three clinical subtypes differing in onset, course and severity, with USH1 being the most severe. Rodent USH1 models do not reflect the ocular phenotype observed in human patients to date; hence, little is known about the pathophysiology of USH1 in the human eye.

[Effectivity and Safety of a Modified Tip Design in Torsional Phacoemulsification].

Background: Torsional mode phacoemulsification results in more effective fragmentation of the nucleus due to a different movement of the phacotip. In this clinical study, we investigated the influence of a modified tip design and active fluidics on the efficacy of phacoemulsification and safety for the corneal endothelium.

Material And Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized 2 : 1 study in which 40 patients were operated on with the mini-flared Kelman Tip using the Infiniti System (group 1), and 20 patients were operated on with the Intrepid Balanced Tip and the Centurion System.

[Improvement of Phaco Tip Geometry During Torsional Phacoemulsification].

Background: Advanced cataract with hard lens nuclei frequently challenge the ophthalmologic surgeon when doing phacoemulsification. In the present study, we examined the effect of a new phaco tip design during cataract surgery.

Patients And Methods: 100 patients were assigned to two groups.

Multicenter study of descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty: first case series of 18 surgeons.

Importance: Surgeons starting to perform Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) should be informed about the learning curve and experience of others.

Objective: To document the clinical outcome of standardized "no-touch" DMEK and its complications during the learning curves of experienced surgeons.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Retrospective multicenter study.

Series of fibrinous inflammation after implantation of capsular tension rings.

Purpose: To analyze the cause of fibrinous inflammation in eyes with capsular tension rings (CTRs) after cataract surgery.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Tolerability of 24-hour intraocular pressure monitoring of a pressure-sensitive contact lens.

Purpose: To investigate tolerability and safety of a new diagnostic device for 24-hour intraocular pressure monitoring in healthy subjects and age-matched glaucoma patients.

Patients And Methods: Twenty healthy subjects (group 1) and 20 age-matched glaucoma patients (group 2) were included in this prospective, single-center, open, observational parallel group study. The SENSIMED Triggerfish Sensor is a soft disposable contact lens embedding a telemetry chip and strain gauge sensor for continuous intraocular pressure monitoring.

Enhanced insight into the autoimmune component of glaucoma: IgG autoantibody accumulation and pro-inflammatory conditions in human glaucomatous retina.

Background: There is accumulating evidence that autoimmune components, such as autoantibodies and autoantibody depositions, play a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimeŕs disease or Multiple Sclerosis. Due to alterations of autoantibody patterns in sera and aqueous humor, an autoimmune component is also assumed in the pathogenesis of glaucoma, a common reason for irreversible blindness worldwide. So far there has been no convincing evidence that autoantibodies are accumulated in the retina of glaucoma patients and that the local immune homeostasis might be affected.

Irregularity of the posterior corneal surface after curved interface femtosecond laser-assisted versus microkeratome-assisted descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty.

Purpose: During donor tissue preparation for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK), either microkeratome or femtosecond laser can be used for intrastromal cutting. We compared morphological and functional outcomes after DSAEK using both cutting techniques.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 22 uneventful DSAEK surgeries were reviewed.

Intraocular pressure measurements during flap preparation using 2 femtosecond lasers and 1 microkeratome in human donor eyes.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare intraocular pressures (IOPs) during flap preparations performed using 2 femtosecond lasers and a mechanical microkeratome in human donor globes.

Setting: University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, and Euroeyes Clinic Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.

Design: Experimental study.

Irregularity of the posterior corneal surface during applanation using a curved femtosecond laser interface and microkeratome cutting head.

Purpose: To evaluate the irregularity of the posterior corneal surface and intrastromal dissection during the preparation of donor tissue for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) using a curved interface femtosecond laser and microkeratome.

Methods: Sixteen human donor corneas unsuitable for transplantation were divided into two groups: a femtosecond (FS) laser group (n=7) using the VisuMax femtosecond laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec) and a microkeratome group (n=9) using the Amadeus II microkeratome (Ziemer Ophthalmic Group). The corneas were fixed on artificial anterior chambers.

Modulation of central corneal thickness by various riboflavin eyedrop compositions in porcine corneas.

Purpose: To evaluate the modulatory effect of various riboflavin 0.1% and 0.2% compositions on the central corneal thickness (CCT) in fresh porcine corneas.

Comparison of intraocular pressure during corneal flap preparation between a femtosecond laser and a mechanical microkeratome in porcine eyes.

Purpose: To compare the increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) during corneal flap preparation in porcine eyes when using a femtosecond laser or a mechanical microkeratome.

Setting: The present study was conducted at a university hospital and a private clinic.

Methods: The vitreous IOP was directly measured with a cannula through the optic nerve in 24 porcine globes (n = 12 for each device).

Identification of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype mediating cholinergic vasodilation in murine retinal arterioles.

Purpose: To identify the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype that mediates cholinergic vasodilation in murine retinal arterioles.

Methods: Muscarinic receptor gene expression was determined in murine retinal arterioles using real-time PCR. To assess the functional relevance of muscarinic receptors for mediating vascular responses, retinal vascular preparations from muscarinic receptor-deficient mice were studied in vitro.

Functional role of α1-adrenoceptor subtypes in murine ophthalmic arteries.

Purpose: To identify the α(1)-adrenoceptor (α(1)-AR) subtypes mediating vascular adrenergic responses in murine ophthalmic arteries.

Methods: Expression of mRNA was quantified for individual α(1)-AR subtypes in murine ophthalmic arteries using real-time PCR. To assess the functional relevance of α(1)-ARs for mediating vascular responses, ophthalmic arteries from mice deficient in one of the three α(1)-AR subtypes (α(1A)-AR(-/-), α(1B)-AR(-/-), and α(1D)-AR(-/-), respectively) and wild-type controls were isolated, cannulated with micropipettes, and pressurized.

Intraocular pressure during corneal flap preparation: comparison among four femtosecond lasers in porcine eyes.

Purpose: To compare the course of intraocular pressure (IOP) during corneal flap preparation using four different femtosecond lasers in porcine globes.

Methods: Forty-eight (12 in each group) enucleated globes were successfully cannulated through the optic nerve. Intraocular pressure was measured continuously through the cannula during a normal lamellar flap creation (regular procedure) using four femtosecond lasers (IntraLase, Abbott Medical Optics; VisuMax, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG; Femtec, Technolas Perfect Vision; and Femto LDV, Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG).

Survival after transplantation of corneas from a rabies-infected donor.

Purpose: To examine the tissue samples of 2 corneal recipients from a rabies-infected donor for the presence of rabies to explain their survival.

Methods: Interventional case series with a review of the literature. The explanted corneal donor buttons were examined via nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

Surgical management of acute angle-closure glaucoma after toric implantable contact lens implantation.

A case of pupillary block after implantation of an implantable contact lens (ICL) is reported, and surgical management and prevention are discussed. In a myopic patient, the best corrected visual acuity in the right eye was 20/50 with -15.50 -3.