Use of Acular LS in the pain management of keratoconus: a pilot study.

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the efficacy of ketorolac tromethamine 0.4% for pain management in conjunction with rigid gas permeable contact lenses in keratoconus. Any potential side effects and complications of this application were examined.

Inhaled vs subcutaneous effects of a dual IL-4/IL-13 antagonist in a monkey model of asthma.

Background: Pitrakinra is a recombinant protein derived from human interleukin-4 (IL-4) that binds to IL-4Ralpha and acts as a competitive antagonist of IL-4 and IL-13. The studies reported here compare the dose-ranging effects of pitrakinra on allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and airway eosinophilia when administered subcutaneously (s.c.

Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein's signaling pathways and its retinal trophic and anti-angiogenic effects.

Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) was originally identified as a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding protein with gram-negative bactericidal activity in the leukocytes. In this study, we characterized the previously unknown effects of BPI in the eye and the molecular mechanisms involved in its action. BPI mRNA was detected in bovine retina; retinal pigment epithelium; and primary cultures of bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE), pericytes (RPC), and endothelial cells (REC); while BPI protein was measured in human vitreous and plasma.

Longitudinal changes in visual acuity in keratoconus.

Purpose: The present investigation aimed to identify factors that predict reduced visual acuity in keratoconus from a prospective, longitudinal study.

Methods: This report from the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study used 7 years of follow-up data from 953 CLEK subjects who did not have penetrating keratoplasty in either eye at baseline and who provided enough data to compute the slope of the change over time in high- or low-contrast best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Outcome measures included these slopes and whether the number of letters correctly read decreased by 10 letters or more in at least one eye in 7 years.

High- and low-contrast visual acuity measurements in spherical and aspheric soft contact lens wearers.

Visual reduction produced by spherical aberration is not always apparent with high-contrast optotypes, therefore, a measure of low-contrast visual acuity (LCVA) may be more revealing. In theory, by applying a series of curves to produce an aspheric surface, one should be able to reduce the defocus resulting from spherical aberration. This clinical investigation sought to evaluate high- and low-contrast visual acuity under natural conditions using the CooperVision Frequency 55 spherical and aspheric planned replacement soft contact lenses (CLs).