Comparison Between Monofocal and Aspheric Monofocal Intraocular Lens With Higher Order Aspheric Optic in Pediatric Patients: Early Outcomes.

Purpose: To retrospectively compare the visual acuity outcomes for far, intermediate, and near vision of an aspheric monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) with higher order aspheric optic with a monofocal IOL in pediatric patients.

Methods: Thirty-eight eyes of 38 patients (mean age: 9.0 ± 2.

Effectiveness of Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments in Slowing Myopia Progression in Pediatric Patients as a Function of Age: Three-Year Follow-Up.

: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMSs) in slowing myopia progression in pediatric patients as a function of age. : This was a non-randomized experimenter-masked retrospective controlled observational study of European individuals aged 6-16 years with progressive myopia but no ocular pathology. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of the participants allocated to receive DIMS spectacles (Hoya MiyoSmart) or single-vision spectacle lenses (control group).

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis and eosinophilic esophagitis: A rare combination?

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a bilateral ocular inflammatory disease with a conjunctival and corneal involvement and typical onset during childhood. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic disease characterized by eosinophilic inflammation of the mucosa (≥15 eosinophils/HPF) and symptoms of esophageal dysfunction. EoE and VKC are both immune-mediated diseases sharing a similar pathogenetic mechanism and a high association with other allergic diseases.

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in Down syndrome: a case report.

Background: Down syndrome (DS) or Trisomy 21 is the most common chromosomal disease and is characterized by possible heart defects, cognitive impairment and visual disorders.

Case Presentation: We describe for the first time a 17-year-old Caucasian girl suffering from Down syndrome associated with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), a rare disorder of the anterior segment of the eye, characterized by intense photophobia, redness, watering eyes and itching due to an inflammatory-allergic reaction of the cornea and conjunctiva. On slit-lamp examination, the girl showed conjunctival hyperemia, papillary hypertrophy, giant papillae and corneal leukoma in right eye as a result of a previous corneal ulcer.

Superficial and Deep Capillary Plexuses: Potential Biomarkers of Focal Retinal Defects in Eyes Affected by Macular Idiopatic Epiretinal Membranes? A Pilot Study.

Inner macular layers are the most involved in the retinal distortion caused by idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM). They represent the anatomical structures in which the superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexus are embedded. We quantified flow signal (FS) in these capillary plexuses using Swept Source OCT angiography to identify possible markers for postoperative outcome.

Effectiveness of hyaluronic acid and arnica extract ophthalmic solution in reducing dry eye symptoms in pediatric population.

Aim: to assess the effectiveness of a new combination of topical solution with Hyaluronic Acid 0.2% and arnica extract 0.1% in reducing dry eye symptoms in a population of pediatric patients.

A Novel Autosomal Recessive Variant of the Gene Causing Enhanced S-Cone Syndrome: A Morpho-Functional Analysis of Two Unrelated Pediatric Patients.

Enhanced S-cone syndrome (ESCS) is a rare autosomal recessive retinal degeneration mainly associated with pathogenic variations in the gene. Only a few pathogenic variations in the gene associated with ESCS have been reported to date. Here, we describe the clinical and genetic findings of two unrelated pediatric patients with a novel frameshift homozygous variant in the gene.

The effect of COVID-19 imposed lockdown on Italian children with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis.

Background: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic, inflammatory-allergic disease of the cornea and conjunctiva. Environmental factors, such as light exposure, have been supposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of ocular inflammation and in the worsening of VKC.

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of reduced sunlight exposure in patients with VKC during the imposed lockdown period for the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic emergency.

Genetics of Inherited Retinal Diseases in Understudied Ethnic Groups in Italian Hospitals.

Describing the clinical and genetic features of an ethnically heterogeneous group of (inherited retinal diseases) IRD patients from different underrepresented countries, referring to specialized Italian Hospitals, and expanding the epidemiological spectrum of the IRD in understudied populations. The patients' phenotypes underwent were characterized by exhaustive ophthalmological examinations, including morpho-functional testing. Genetic testing was performed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and gene sequencing panels targeting a specific set of genes, Sanger sequencing and-when necessary-multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to better identify the genotype.

Neurotrophic Keratitis Due to Congenital Corneal Anesthesia with Deafness, Hypotonia, Intellectual Disability, Face Abnormality and Metabolic Disorder: A New Syndrome?

Neurotrophic keratitis is a rare degenerative disease of the cornea that can lead to corneal ulceration, scarring, and significant visual impairment. It most commonly occurs in adults and is rarely diagnosed in children. Congenital corneal anesthesia is an extremely rare condition that requires appropriate ophthalmologists' attention in making diagnosis and treatment decisions.

An epidemiologic analysis of the association between eyelid disorders and ocular motility disorders in pediatric age.

Aim of the study was to assess: (a) the prevalence and type of strabismus, ptosis and eyelid dynamic disorders features, (b) the prevalence of refractive errors, amblyopia and, (c) their association with ocular/systemic syndromes in a cohort of patients. This is a retrospective observational multicenter cohort study. Patients with coexisting ocular motility disorders, comitant and incomitant strabismus, ptosis and dynamic eyelid disorders who have never undergone surgery were enrolled throughout a 3-years a study period.

RPE65-Associated Retinopathies in the Italian Population: A Longitudinal Natural History Study.

Purpose: To investigate the course of inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) due to mutations in the RPE65 gene.

Methods: This longitudinal multicentric retrospective chart-review study was designed to collect best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Goldman visual field, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and electroretinography (ERG) measurements. The data, including imaging, were collected using an electronic clinical research form and were reviewed at a single center to improve consistency.

Analysis of tear film in cystinosis patients treated with topical viscous cysteamine hydrochloride (Cystadrops).

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the tear film in infantile nephropathic cystinosis patients with corneal crystals treated with topical viscous cysteamine hydrochloride (Cystadrops).

Methods: Ten eyes of five patients with nephropathic cystinosis aged from 10 to 35 years were included in this study. The patients were under treatment with viscous cysteamine hydrochloride formulation containing 3.

Treatment of Advanced Coats' Disease With Combination Therapy of Laser Photocoagulation, Intravitreal Ranibizumab, and Sub-Tenon Methylprednisolone Acetate.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of combination therapy with laser photocoagulation, intravitreal ranibizumab, and sub-Tenon methylprednisolone acetate in patients presenting with advanced Coats' disease.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 16 patients who underwent laser photocoagulation combined with intravitreal ranibizumab and sub-Tenon methylprednisolone acetate between 2008 and 2017. The primary outcome was anatomic success and the secondary outcomes were globe preservation and final visual acuity.

Simultaneous transepithelial topographic-guided laser and cross-linking to correct irregular astigmatism in a pediatric patient.

Purpose: To evaluate an original approach for treating corneal ectasia and irregular astigmatism secondary to penetrating trauma in a pediatric patient.

Case Report: An 11 year old patient had a penetrating trauma in right eye when he was two and the refractive error was +1.50 diopters sphere -6.

Blue Cone Monochromatism with Foveal Hypoplasia Caused by the Concomitant Effect of Variants in and Genes.

Blue cone monochromatism (BCM) is an X-linked recessive cone dysfunction disorder caused by mutations in the gene cluster, encoding long (L)- and middle (M)-wavelength-sensitive cone opsins. Here, we report on the unusual clinical presentation of BCM caused by a novel mutation in the gene in a young man. We describe in detail the phenotype of the proband, and the subclinical morpho-functional anomalies shown by his carrier mother.

Inner Macular Changes in Fellow Eye of Patients With Unilateral Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane.

Purpose: We evaluated a series of fellow eyes (FEs) in patients affected by unilateral idiopathic epiretinal membrane (IERM) with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and OCT angiography (OCT-A) to determine if a previous defect in the inner retina is present before the mechanical damage to the inner limiting membrane (ILM) caused by posterior vitreous detachment.

Methods: In patients with IERM (N = 39), ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness in FEs was assessed with SD-OCT; in a subgroup (N = 25) the vessel density (VD) at the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) was assessed with swept-source OCT-A (SS-OCT-A). These values were then compared with 30 age-matched healthy control eyes (CEs).

Comparative analysis of visual outcomes of multifocal and monofocal intraocular lenses in congenital cataract surgery.

Purpose: To assess the impact on visual development of multifocal vs monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) implantation in children after congenital cataract surgery.

Setting: Ophthalmology Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.

Design: Retrospective interventional consecutive case series.

Health-related quality of life in children at the diagnosis of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis.

Background: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a bilateral, chronic, allergic condition mostly affecting children. Clinical evaluations may not necessarily reflect the impact of the disease on the patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We aimed to evaluate HRQoL in children at VKC diagnosis and to analyze correlations between HRQoL and clinical and laboratory variables.

Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant (Ozurdex) in Paediatric Patients with Non-infectious Intermediate Uveitis and Related Cystoid Macular Oedema: Evaluation of Macular Morphology and Function with Six-month Follow-up; a Deeper Role of MfERG?

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of Ozurdex implant by analyzing macular morphology and function in pediatric uveitis and related cystoid macular edema (CMO).

Methods: Main outcomes were visual acuity, mfERG and photopic ERG response, and central macular thickness. Mean values recorded at each time-point were compared to baseline and correlations between functional and anatomical parameters were evaluated.

Keratoconus in Children: A Literature Review.

Purpose: This review discusses the main aspects of pediatric keratoconus (KC) based on the current evidence to propose a guideline for helping early diagnosis and improving efficacy in treatment.

Methods: This literature review was performed using PubMed, Ovid, and Elsevier databases. For the database search, the primary entered term included "pediatric keratoconus," connected to descriptors such as "keratoconus," "screening," "corneal cross-linking" (CXL), and "keratoplasty.

Ocular manifestations and viral shedding in tears of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a preliminary report.

Purpose: To evaluate ocular manifestations and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) prevalence in the tears of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A total of 27 pediatric patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection hospitalized from March 16 to April 15, 2020, at the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital were enrolled in the study. At admission, all patients showed ocular manifestations.

Mutation profile of BBS genes in patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome: an Italian study.

Background: Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare inherited multisystemic disorder with autosomal recessive or complex digenic triallelic inheritance. There is currently no treatment for BBS, but some morbidities can be managed. Accurate molecular diagnosis is often crucial for the definition of appropriate patient management and for the development of a potential personalized therapy.