Investigating the Role of Specific Tear Film Lipids Connected to Dry Eye Syndrome: A Study on O-Acyl-ω-hydroxy Fatty Acids and Diesters.

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a prevalent disease in which the tear film homeostasis is compromised. One of the main causes of DES is thought to be an alteration in the composition of the outermost layer of the tear film, the tear film lipid layer (TFLL), resulting in an increased evaporation of water from the tear film and subsequent drying of the ocular surface. Recent studies have suggested that the specific TFLL lipids, namely, O-acyl-ω-hydroxy fatty acids (OAHFAs) and diesters (DiEs), may play a role in the development of DES.

The genetic variant rs4073 A→T of the Interleukin-8 promoter region is associated with the earlier onset of exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To study the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs4073 in the interleukin-8 (IL-8) promoter region with the diagnosis and age of onset of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in association with the known genetic risk factors for AMD and tobacco smoking.

Methods: Medical records, smoking history and angiograms or fundus photographs of 301 patients with exudative AMD, 72 patients with dry AMD and 119 control subjects were analysed retrospectively. The associations of IL-8 rs4073 A→T, CFH rs1061170 T→C, ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T and C3 rs2230199 C→G SNPs with the presence of AMD and with the age of onset of exudative AMD were analysed.

Altered expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors as possible contributors to corneal droplet formation in climatic droplet keratopathy.

Purpose: Climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) is an acquired corneal disease characterized by progressive scarring of the cornea. In several corneal diseases, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are upregulated during the degradation of epithelial and stromal tissues. We investigated the levels, degree of activation and molecular forms of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-8 and MMP-13 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in tear fluid of patients with CDK.

Multifactor effects and evidence of potential interaction between complement factor H Y402H and LOC387715 A69S in age-related macular degeneration.

Background: Variants in the complement cascade genes and the LOC387715/HTRA1, have been widely reported to associate with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of visual impairment in industrialized countries.

Methods/principal Findings: We investigated the association between the LOC387715 A69S and complement component C3 R102G risk alleles in the Finnish case-control material and found a significant association with both variants (OR 2.98, p = 3.

Photorefractive keratectomy retreatment after LASIK.

Purpose: To study the results of late photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in corneas originally subjected to LASIK.

Methods: Seven eyes of seven patients who had LASIK for myopia were retreated with PRK at least 2 years after LASIK. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), refraction, and haze were evaluated before and after LASIK and after retreatment by PRK.

Excimer laser refractive correction of myopia after episcleral buckling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term effects of excimer laser treatment for ametropia after surgical treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with scleral buckles.

Setting: Helsinki University Eye Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Methods: Ten patients (10 eyes) who had 1 or more surgeries for RRD followed by refractive surgery for myopia were retrospectively enrolled in this study and were examined after excimer laser refractive surgery.

Acinetobacter and Staphylococcus aureus ulcerative keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis treated with antibiotics and phototherapeutic keratectomy.

Purpose: To report a method of treatment for through-the-flap multibacterial ulcerative keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Methods: Bacterial ulcerative keratitis after LASIK was treated with topical and systemic antibiotics followed by flap lifting, cleaning, and phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). Follow-up examinations included in vivo confocal microscopy, corneal topography, and wavefront analysis.

Recovery of corneal sensitivity to mechanical and chemical stimulation after laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose: To evaluate the time course of changes in corneal sensitivity to mechanical and chemical stimuli produced by laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in humans.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 17 LASIK-operated eyes (VisX S2, equipped with version 2.50-3.

Unilateral photorefractive keratectomy for myopic anisometropia improves contrast sensitivity.

Objective: To evaluate visual performance after unilateral photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) performed for >/=2.75-diopter (D) myopic anisometropia.

Design: Prospective observational case series.

Keratocyte activation and inflammation in diffuse lamellar keratitis after formation of an epithelial defect.

Purpose: To examine the inflammatory reaction in acute or late-onset post-laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) associated with an epithelial defect.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Methods: Six consecutive LASIK patients presented with stage 2 to 3 unilateral DLK 1 to 4 days after formation of an epithelial detachment (intraoperatively or up to 19 months postoperatively).

Group IIA phospholipase A(2) content in tears of patients having photorefractive keratectomy.

Purpose: To study the effect of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) on the concentration of group IIA phospholipase A(2) (GIIAPLA(2)) in tears.

Setting: Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, and Helsinki University Eye Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Methods: Tear samples were collected from 25 eyes of 23 patients (mean age 32.

Activation of matrix metalloproteinase-8 by membrane type 1-MMP and their expression in human tears after photorefractive keratectomy.

Purpose: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a central role in the wound-healing process. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the levels and molecular forms of human tear fluid collagenase-2 (MMP-8) and membrane type 1-MMP (MT1-MMP or MMP-14) in patients who had undergone excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and in healthy subjects. Whether MT1-MMP activates pro-MMP-8 was also determined.

Corneal innervation and morphology in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Purpose: To analyze the in vivo morphology of the different corneal sublayers and corneal nerves in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS).

Methods: Ten eyes of 10 patients with primary SS and 10 eyes of 10 sex- and age-matched control subjects were investigated. Diagnosis was based on American-European consensus criteria.

Toxic carriers in pepper sprays may cause corneal erosion.

We describe four patients who developed corneal erosion after an exposure to a pepper spray containing toxic carriers. Two of these patients were exposed to a pepper gas containing 5% oleoresin capsicum (OC) as an irritant and 92% trichlorethylene or unknown amount of dichloromethane as a carrier. One patient was exposed to a mock (containing 92% trichlorethylene as a carrier) training pepper gas without OC.

In vivo confocal microscopy of Fleck dystrophy and pre-Descemet's membrane corneal dystrophy.

Purpose: To assess the value of in vivo confocal microscopy (CM) in the diagnosis of Fleck dystrophy and pre-Descemet's membrane corneal dystrophy.

Methods: Case report of two patients. Standard slit-lamp and ophthalmic examination and in vivo CM were performed on both patients.

Long-term corneal morphology after PRK by in vivo confocal microscopy.

Purpose: To examine human corneal morphology and nerve recovery 5 years after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Methods: Fourteen eyes of 14 patients (ages, 27-53 years) who underwent 6-mm diameter PRK for low to moderate myopia (spherical equivalent [SE] -2.5 to -8.

Hydrocortisone reduced in vivo, inflammation-induced slow rolling of leukocytes and their extravasation into human conjunctiva.

Hydrocortisone reduces the number of inflammatory leukocytes within tissues, but thus far the site of action on the multistep adhesion cascade leading to leukocyte extravasation has not been identified. We have recently developed a noninvasive in vivo reflected-light confocal microscopy technique to study this at sites of inflammation in human patients. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of preoperative intravenous hydrocortisone treatment on leukocyte trafficking after conjunctival inflammation induced by cataract surgery in human subjects in vivo.

In vivo confocal microscopy after herpes keratitis.

Purpose: To describe the confocal microscopic findings, with special reference to corneal subbasal nerves, after herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis.

Methods: In this study, 16 HSV eyes and 14 contralateral eyes of 16 patients, diagnosed with unilateral HSV keratitis 1-12 months earlier by the presence of dendritic corneal ulceration or microbiologic confirmation, were examined by in vivo confocal microscopy for evaluation of corneal morphology.

Results: Herpes simplex virus eyes: In 2 eyes the surface epithelial cells appeared large, and no abnormalities were observed in the basal epithelial cells.