A machine learning approach to predict the glaucoma filtration surgery outcome.

This study aimed at predicting the filtration surgery (FS) outcome using a machine learning (ML) approach. 102 glaucomatous patients undergoing FS were enrolled and underwent ocular surface clinical tests (OSCTs), determination of surgical site-related biometric parameters (SSPs) and conjunctival vascularization. Break-up-time, Schirmer test I, corneal fluorescein staining, Meibomian gland expressibility; conjunctival hyperemia, upper bulbar conjunctiva area of exposure, limbus to superior eyelid distance; and conjunctival epithelial and stromal (CET, CST) thickness and reflectivity (ECR, SCR) at AS-OCT were considered.

A deep learning approach to investigate the filtration bleb functionality after glaucoma surgery: a preliminary study.

Purpose: To distinguish functioning from failed filtration blebs (FBs) implementing a deep learning (DL) model on slit-lamp images.

Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study for development and validation of an artificial intelligence classification algorithm. The dataset consisted of 119 post-trabeculectomy FB images of whom we were aware of the surgical outcome.

Citicoline/Coenzyme Q10/Vitamin B3 Fixed Combination Exerts Synergistic Protective Effects on Neuronal Cells Exposed to Oxidative Stress.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the rationale and efficacy of using a citicoline, coenzyme Q10 (CAVAQ10) and vitamin B3 fixed combination in combating inflammation and oxidation in neuronal cells exposed to oxidative stress.

Methods: HypoE22 cells and isolated hypothalamic specimens were selected as in vitro models to conduct the experiments. The efficacy of citicoline, CAVAQ10, and vitamin B3, with their fixed combination, were assayed after the exposure of hypothalamic cells to hydrogen peroxide (concentration range 1 nM-10 µM), in order to evaluate the biocompatibility of treatments.

Topical Steroids and Glaucoma Filtration Surgery Outcomes: An In Vivo Confocal Study of the Conjunctiva.

(1) Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of topical steroids on conjunctiva in patients undergoing filtration surgery (FS) for glaucoma by using confocal microscopy (CM); (2) Methods: One hundred and four glaucomatous patients were randomized to fluorometholone or lubricants four weeks before FS. CM was performed before treatments and pre-operatively. Dendritic and goblet cell densities (DCD, GCD), stromal meshwork reflectivity (SMR), vascular tortuosity (VT), and intra-ocular pressure (IOP) were the main outcomes.

Confocal Microscopy of the Corneal Sub-Basal Nerve plexus in Medically Controlled Glaucoma.

The present study investigated the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus (SNP) modifications in glaucoma. Ninety-five glaucomatous patients were enrolled and divided into Group 1 and 2, preserved and preservative-free mono-therapy (30 and 28 patients), and Group 3, multi-therapy (37). Thirty patients with dry eye disease (DED) and 32 healthy subjects (HC) served as controls.

Face Mask-Related Ocular Surface Modifications During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Clinical, In Vivo Confocal Microscopy, and Immune-Cytology Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the face mask (FM)-related ocular surface changes using clinical tests, in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) and impression cytology (IC), and to investigate the Dry Eye-related Quality of life Score (DEQS).

Methods: Sixty-six patients with dry eye disease (DED) and 62 healthy subjects (group 2) using FM were enrolled. Groups were divided into: groups 1A and 2A: < 3 hours of FM wear; groups 1B and 2B: 3 to 6 hours; and groups 1C and 2C: > 6 hours.

Virtual learning solutions in COVID-19 era: University Italian Ophthalmology department perspective.

Introduction: Few months after the COVID-19 pandemic burst, many aspects of the human life, including education, dramatically changed. Because of the lockdown measures taken to limit the virus spread in Italy, in-person teaching and learning have been interrupted in all health care disciplines and readapted in virtual formulae.

Methods: As academic ophthalmology departments, we had to maintain the educational needs of medical and orthoptic students, internships, surgical training of residents, as well as to cover the scientific update of health care personnel (HCPs), and the continuation of research and academic activities.

Endothelial Cell Density After XEN Implant Surgery: Short-term Data From the Italian XEN Glaucoma Treatment Registry (XEN-GTR).

Precis: XEN implant was associated with low endothelial cell density (ECD) reduction. In fact, when combined with phacoemulsification, the reduction in ECD was similar to that expected after phacoemulsification alone.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of XEN implant, either alone or in combination with phacoemulsification, on ECD.

Topical preservative-free ophthalmic treatments: an unmet clinical need.

: The main role of preservatives in eyedrops is to ensure sterility and microbiological integrity of the drug, and to facilitate the penetration of active compounds into the eye. However, several studies documented significant toxic effects induced by preservatives, especially on the ocular surface. Consequently, most of the ophthalmic medications became progressively available in preservative-free (PF) formulations.

Conjunctival thickness as a predictive imaging biomarker for the glaucoma filtration surgery outcome: An optical coherence tomography study.

Importance: To analyse the preoperative conjunctival thickness in glaucomatous patients undergoing filtration surgery (FS), using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Background: The conjunctival status represents one of the most critical determinants of the FS outcome.

Design: Retrospective study.

Structural imaging of conjunctival filtering blebs in XEN gel implantation and trabeculectomy: a confocal and anterior segment optical coherence tomography study.

Purpose: To describe and compare the conjunctival filtering bleb features after XEN gel implantation and trabeculectomy using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).

Methods: Fifty-two patients who underwent completely successful trabeculectomy (24 eyes) or completely successful XEN gel implantation (28 eyes) were consecutively enrolled. At the sixth-month follow-up, filtering blebs were analyzed with AS-OCT and IVCM.

Tear Meniscus Imaging by Anterior Segment-Optical Coherence Tomography in Medically Controlled Glaucoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the tear meniscus in medically controlled glaucoma patients (MCGP) using anterior segment-optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).

Materials And Methods: Fifty-six MCGP, 24 patients with evaporative dry eye (EDE), and 30 healthy subjects (controls), were enrolled. MCGP were divided into group 1 (14 eyes): β-blockers; group 2 (14 eyes): prostaglandin analogs; group 3 (28 eyes) ≥2 drugs.

Angiographic biomarkers of filtering bleb function after XEN gel implantation for glaucoma: an optical coherence tomography-angiography study.

Purpose: To evaluate, using optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A), the vascular features of good bleb function after XEN gel implantation (XGI) for uncontrolled glaucoma.

Methods: Forty-three patients (43 eyes), who underwent XGI, were enrolled. According to the intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction, patients were classified into Group 1 (21 eyes; success) and Group 2 (22 eyes; failure).

Functional and Structural Reliability of Optic Nerve Head Measurements in Healthy Eyes by Means of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

: the aim of the study was to evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of optical microangiography (OMAG)-based optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in the optic nerve head (ONH) and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) perfusion assessment of healthy eyes. : in this observational study, a total of 40 healthy subjects underwent ONH evaluation, using an OMAG-based OCTA system at baseline (T), after 30 min (T), and after 7 days (T). The main outcome measures were the vessel density (VD) and flux index (FI) of the RPCs, as well as peri-papillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness.

The ocular surface after successful glaucoma filtration surgery: a clinical, in vivo confocal microscopy, and immune-cytology study.

We investigated the ocular surface (OS) system modifications after completely successful glaucoma surgery in thirty-eight patients undergoing trabeculectomy (surgical group), using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and impression cytology (IC). Twenty-six medically controlled glaucomatous patients served as controls (medical group). LSCM, IC, and the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI VFQ-25) questionnaires, were performed at baseline and after six months.

Retinal vascular changes and aqueous humor cytokines changes after aflibercept intravitreal injection in treatment-naïve myopic choroidal neovascularization.

The aim of the study was to assess retinal vascular changes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and aqueous humour changes of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PIGF) levels in treatment-naïve myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) after aflibercept intravitreal injection. To explore the correlation between clinical and laboratory parameters. Fifteen eyes of 15 patients with treatment-naïve mCNV underwent 2 intravitreal injections of aflibercept.

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of the Peripapillary Retina in Normal-Tension Glaucoma and Chronic Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy.

Purpose: To analyze the retinal radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Material And Methods: Twenty-two patients with NTG, 22 patients with unilateral chronic NAION, and 23 age-matched controls were enrolled. Patients underwent OCTA to obtain en face angiograms of the peripapillary region.

Meibomian Gland Features and Conjunctival Goblet Cell Density in Glaucomatous Patients Controlled With Prostaglandin/Timolol Fixed Combinations: A Case Control, Cross-sectional Study.

Purpose: To investigate, using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), the Meibomian gland (MG) features and conjunctival goblet cell density (GCD) in glaucomatous patients controlled with prostaglandin/timolol fixed combinations (PTFCs).

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 white patients were treated with PTFCs, 15 with latanoprost+timolol (L+T) unfixed combination, and 15 controls were enrolled. Patients underwent the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, tear film breakup time, corneal staining, Schirmer test I, and IVCM of MGs and goblet cells.

In Vivo Confocal Imaging of the Conjunctiva as a Predictive Tool for the Glaucoma Filtration Surgery Outcome.

Purpose: To examine the preoperative conjunctival dendritic cell density (DCD), goblet cell density (GCD), and stromal meshwork reflectivity (SMR) in glaucomatous patients undergoing filtration surgery, using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).

Methods: Sixty-six patients were enrolled. At baseline, IVCM was performed at the site planned for surgery, and was repeated after 12 months at bleb site.

In Vivo Distribution of Corneal Epithelial Dendritic Cells in Patients With Glaucoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate dendritic cell (DC) distribution, morphology, and DC density in the entire cornea of medically controlled glaucoma patients (MCGP), using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).

Methods: Fifty MCGP were enrolled, 15 patients with dry eye, and 15 healthy subjects served as controls. Patients were asked to complete the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and then underwent tear film break-up time (BUT), corneal staining, and Schirmer test (ST) I and then IVCM.

In Vivo Goblet Cell Density as a Potential Indicator of Glaucoma Filtration Surgery Outcome.

Purpose: We analyzed the preoperative conjunctival goblet cell density (GCD), MUC5AC, and HLA-DR in glaucomatous patients undergoing trabeculectomy, using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and impression cytology (IC).

Methods: We enrolled 57 patients undergoing trabeculectomy. At baseline LSCM and IC were performed at the site planned for surgery; LSCM was repeated after 12 months at the bleb site.