Potential guidelines for cataract surgery and rehabilitation in visually impaired patients: Literature analysis.

Cataracts can reduce the quality of vision in visually impaired patients who already have a visual impairment. The most common causes of low vision include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), high myopia (HM), diabetic retinopathy (DR), glaucoma (GL), and inherited degenerative ocular diseases. The surgery aims to improve their independence, quality of life, and ability to engage in daily, social, and work activities.

Rehabilitative strategies after filtering procedure in glaucoma.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of non-reversible blindness worldwide, and almost 6 million people are estimated to be impaired visually in advanced stage of glaucoma. Recently, several studies on glaucoma has been focused towards new therapeutic approaches based on mechanisms independent from IOP control. Effects of new therapeutic agents, visual psychophysical training, or complementary medications targeting optic pathways today seem to be a relevant and effervescent field of research.

Oxidative Stress Implication in Retinal Diseases-A Review.

Oxidative stress (OS) refers to an imbalance between free radicals (FRs), namely highly reactive molecules normally generated in our body by several pathways, and intrinsic antioxidant capacity. When FR levels overwhelm intrinsic antioxidant defenses, OS occurs, inducing a series of downstream chemical reactions. Both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are produced by numerous chemical reactions that take place in tissues and organs and are then eliminated by antioxidant molecules.

Anti-inflammatory role of curcumin in retinal disorders (Review).

Curcumin [1,7-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione], the main component of turmeric (, a flowering plant of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae), is known to possess different pharmacological activities, particularly anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Since an underlying inflammatory process exists in several ocular conditions, such as anterior uveitis, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR), the aim of the present review was to summarize the pleiotropic effects exerted by this molecule, focusing in particular on its beneficial role in retinal diseases. The anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin has also been described in numerous systemic inflammatory pathologies and tumors.

Mesenchymal stem and non-stem cell surgery, rescue, and regeneration in glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

Background: Glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) is an anatomofunctional impairment of the optic nerve triggered by glaucoma. Recently, growth factors (GFs) have been shown to produce retinal neuroenhancement. The suprachoroidal autograft of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by the Limoli retinal restoration technique (LRRT) has proven to achieve retinal neuroenhancement by producing GF directly into the choroidal space.

Antioxidant and Biological Properties of Mesenchymal Cells Used for Therapy in Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Both tissue repair and regeneration are a priority in regenerative medicine. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a complex retinal disease characterized by the progressive loss of impaired photoreceptors, is currently lacking effective therapies: this represents one of the greatest challenges in the field of ophthalmological research. Although this inherited retinal dystrophy is still an incurable genetic disease, the oxidative damage is an important pathogenetic element that may represent a viable target of therapy.

Mesenchymal stem cell surgery, rescue and regeneration in retinitis pigmentosa: clinical and rehabilitative prognostic aspects.

Purpose: To assess whether treatment with the Limoli Retinal Restoration Technique (LRRT) can be performed in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), grafting the autologous cells in a deep scleral pocket above the choroid of each eye to exert their beneficial effect on the residual retinal cells.

Methods: The patients were subjected to a complete ophthalmological examination, including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), close-up visus measurements, spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), microperimetry (MY), and electroretinography (ERG). Furthermore, the complete ophthalmological examination was carried out at baseline (T0) and at 6 months (T180) after surgery.

Stem Cell Surgery and Growth Factors in Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients: Pilot Study after Literature Review.

To evaluate whether grafting of autologous mesenchymal cells, adipose-derived stem cells, and platelet-rich plasma into the supracoroideal space by surgical treatment with the Limoli retinal restoration technique (LRRT) can exert a beneficial effect in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients. Twenty-one eyes underwent surgery and were divided based on retinal foveal thickness (FT) ≤ 190 or > 190 µm into group A-FT and group B-FT, respectively. The specific LRRT triad was grafted in a deep scleral pocket above the choroid of each eye.

Abnormal stereopsis and reduced retinal sensitivity in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate retinal sensitivity and stereoacuity (SA) in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with RP were examined, mean age 36.4 ± 7.

Therapeutic Approaches with Intravitreal Injections in Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Current Drugs and Potential Molecules.

The present review focuses on recent clinical trials that analyze the efficacy of intravitreal therapeutic agents for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), such as neuroprotective drugs, and complement inhibitors, also called immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory agents. A systematic literature search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials published prior to January 2019. Patients affected by dry AMD treated with intravitreal therapeutic agents were included.

Regenerative Therapy by Suprachoroidal Cell Autograft in Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration: Preliminary In Vivo Report.

This study is aimed at examining whether a suprachoroidal graft of autologous cells can improve best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and responses to microperimetry (MY) in eyes affected by dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) over time through the production and secretion of growth factors (GFs) on surrounding tissue. Patients were randomly assigned to each study group. All patients were diagnosed with dry AMD and with BCVA equal to or greater than 1 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR).

Visual field improvement in non-arteritic posterior ischemic optic neuropathy in a patient treated with intravenous prostaglandin E1 and steroids.

Non-arteritic posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-PION) is a disorder of reduced blood flow to the retrobulbar optic nerve. There is usually an acute loss of visual acuity and field. Previous studies have noted an improvement in visual acuity and in ocular and retrobulbar blood flow with the use of a potent vasodilator of the microcirculation, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), and steroids.

Cell surgery and growth factors in dry age-related macular degeneration: visual prognosis and morphological study.

Background: The aim of this research was to study the overall restoration effect on residual retinal cells through surgically grafted autologous cells onto the surrounding tissue, choroid and retina in order to produce a constant secretion of growth factors (GFs) in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients.

Results: 6 months after surgery, several values were statistically significant in the group with higher RTA. Also patient compliance analysis (PCA) in relation to functional change perception appeared to be very good.

Visual Recovery after Primary Retinal Detachment Surgery: Biofeedback Rehabilitative Strategy.

Purpose. To evaluate possible speeding up recovery time after retinal detachment (RD) surgery using biofeedback strategy. Methods.

Preliminary study on electrophysiological changes after cellular autograft in age-related macular degeneration.

Evolving atrophic macular degeneration represents at least 80% of all macular degenerations and is currently without a standardized care. Autologous fat transplantation efficacy was demonstrated by several studies, as these cells are able to produce growth factors. The aim of the work was to demonstrate possible therapeutic effect of the joined suprachoroidal graft of adipocytes, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in stromal vascular fractions (SVFs) of adipose tissue, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

MP-1 biofeedback: luminous pattern stimulus versus acoustic biofeedback in age related macular degeneration (AMD).

In this study we evaluated the efficacy of visual rehabilitation by means of two different types of biofeedback techniques in patients with age related macular degeneration (AMD). Thirty patients, bilaterally affected by AMD, were randomly divided in two groups: one group was treated with an acoustic biofeedback (AB group), the other was treated with luminous biofeedback of a black and white checkerboard flickering during the examination (LB group). All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination.

[Photodynamic therapy for age related macular degeneration with and without antioxidants].

Background: Antioxidants may affect the lipid components of membrane receptors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether treatment with antioxidants after photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) improves visual acuity recovery time after a flicker test

Methods: The study was conducted in a university-affiliated ophthalmology clinic in Bologna, Italy, from April 2000 to April 2001. Thirty-five patients (21 men and 14 women aged 55 to 86 years [mean 72 (standard deviation [SD] 8.