A novel analysis of Scheimpflug total corneal refractive power following corneal cross-linking in mild to moderate keratoconus.

Aim: To detect an earlier improvement in mild to moderate keratoconus following corneal cross-linking (CXL) with total corneal refractive power (TCRP) using ray tracing method.

Methods: A total of 40 eyes of 30 consecutive patients who underwent CXL for progressive keratoconus were retrospectively enrolled. The following keratometric parameters provided by Pentacam HR, including maximum keratometry (Kmax), steepest keratometry (Ksteep), 3 mm zonal TCRP centered over corneal apex (TCRP 3 mm), zonal mean keratometry and TCRP centered over corneal cone (Km and TCRP 1, 2, 3 mm) were evaluated preoperatively and 1, 3, 6, and 12mo postoperatively.

Comparative study of objective visual quality between FS-LASIK and SMART in myopia.

Aim: To compare the changes in the objective visual quality of patients with low and moderate myopia postoperatively after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy using the smart pulse technology (SMART) and femtosecond laser keratomileusis (FS-LASIK).

Methods: Corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs), horizontal coma, vertical coma and spherical aberration were measured using Pentacam, and cutoff for modulation transfer function (MTF cutoff), objective scatter index (OSI) and Strehl ratio (SR) was measured using an optical quality analysis system (OQAS-II), before and after operation at 1, 3, and 6mo, and data were analyzed by repeated measurement two-way analysis of variance.

Results: The difference in uncorrected distance visual acuity between SMART and FS-LASIK was statistically significant only 1wk postoperatively.

PPARγ: the dominant regulator among PPARs in dry eye lacrimal gland and diabetic lacrimal gland.

Aim: To investigate the regulatory roles of the members of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family in lacrimal gland dysfunction under conditions of desiccating stress or diabetes.

Methods: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to examine the expression of PPARs in the cornea, conjunctiva, meibomian gland, and lacrimal gland in adult rats. The rats were divided into 3 groups: a control group, dry eye group, and diabetic group.

Accuracy of corneal astigmatism correction with two Barrett Toric calculation methods.

Aim: To compare the prediction error between Barrett Toric calculator and the new online AcrySof Toric calculator which incorporated Barrett astigmatism algorithm in Chinese cataract eyes with normal axial length and anterior chamber depth (ACD).

Methods: Prospective case-control study. All the cases had axial length (21-26 mm) with ACD no less than 2.

Pathophysiological Role and Drug Modulation of Calcium Transport in Ocular Surface Cells.

The ocular surface structure and extraocular accessory organs constitute the ocular surface system, which includes the cornea, conjunctiva, eyelids, lacrimal organs, and lacrimal passages. This system is composed of, and stabilized by, the corneal epithelium, conjunctival cells, conjunctival goblet cells, lacrimal acinar cells and Tenon's fibroblasts, all of which maintain the healthy eyeball surface system. Ocular surface diseases are commonly referred to corneal and conjunctival disease and external ocular disease, resulting from damage to the ocular surface structure.

Gene-based Therapeutic Tools in the Treatment of Cornea Disease.

Background: As one of the main blinding ocular diseases, corneal blindness resulted from neovascularization that disrupts the angiogenic privilege of corneal avascularity. Following neovascularization, inflammatory cells are infiltrating into cornea to strengthen corneal injury. How to maintain corneal angiogenic privilege to treat corneal disease has been investigated for decades.

Angiopoietin-like 3 Is a Potential Biomarker for Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Purpose: To investigate whether angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) and angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) are differentially associated with the severity of retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Serum levels of ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were quantified by ELISA.

Puerarin regulates neovascular glaucoma through pigment epithelium‑derived growth factor‑induced NF‑κB signaling pathway.

Neovascular glaucoma is an ophthalmic disease and a potentially blinding secondary glaucoma caused by the formation of abnormal new blood vessels on the iris, which can prevent the normal drainage of water from the anterior segment of the eye. Evidence from China has suggested that puerarin benefits many diseases including myocardial infarction, stable angina, cerebral ischemia and glaucoma in a clinical setting. In the present study, the aim was to investigate the efficacies of puerarin on neovascular glaucoma in a mouse model.

Control of Cross Talk between Angiogenesis and Inflammation by Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases.

Angiogenesis is beneficial in the treatment of ischemic heart disease and peripheral artery disease. However, it facilitates inflammatory cell filtration and inflammation cascade that disrupt the immune and angiogenesis privilege of the avascular cornea, resulting in ocular surface diseases and even vision loss. Although great progress has been achieved, healing of severe ocular surface injury and immunosuppression of corneal transplantation are the most difficult and challenging step in the treatment of ocular surface disorders.

Mesenchymal stem cells: Potential role in corneal wound repair and transplantation.

Corneal diseases are a major cause of blindness in the world. Although great progress has been achieved in the treatment of corneal diseases, wound healing after severe corneal damage and immunosuppressive therapy after corneal transplantation remain problematic. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow or other adult tissues can differentiate into various types of mesenchymal lineages, such as osteocytes, adipocytes, and chondrocytes, both in vivo and in vitro.

Evaluation of corneal cell growth on tissue engineering materials as artificial cornea scaffolds.

The keratoprosthesis (KPro; artificial cornea) is a special refractive device to replace human cornea by using heterogeneous forming materials for the implantation into the damaged eyes in order to obtain a certain vision. The main problems of artificial cornea are the biocompatibility and stability of the tissue particularly in penetrating keratoplasty. The current studies of tissue-engineered scaffold materials through comprising composites of natural and synthetic biopolymers together have developed a new way to artificial cornea.

[Comparison of posterior vitreous detachment after femtosecond laser and microkeratome-assisted lase in situ keratomileusis].

Objective: To compare the incidence of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) early after femtosecond laser and microkeratome-assisted LASIK and their changes after follow-up observation.

Methods: It was a prospective study. According to the choices of the patients, 40 cases (80 eyes) underwent femtosecond laser (INTRALASE FS 60, Abbott Medical Optics, American) LASIK surgery in the femtosecond group and 40 cases (80 eyes) underwent microkeratome-assisted (AMADEUS II, Ziemer, Switzerland) LASIK surgery in the microkeratome group.

[Clinical research of the phakic foldable angle-supported intraocular lens for the correction of high myopia].

Objective: To assess the safety, efficacy, predictability and stability of the phakic foldable angle-supported intraocular lens (IOL) (CACHET IOL, Alcon Inc., USA.) for correction of high-to-extremely high myopia in adults.

[Investigation of the role of mesenchymal stem cells on keratoplasty rejection].

Objective: To investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on keratoplasty rejection in a rat mode.

Methods: MSC from bone marrow of Wistar rats was cultured. Corneas of Wistar rats (donors) were transplanted to Lewis rats (recipients).

[Research status of photodynamic therapy for corneal neovascularization].

Pathological corneal neovascularization is an important reason of visual impairment. Research outcomes showed that angiogenesis mechanism is similar in all the tissues of the body and photodynamic therapy demonstrate a useful effect in blocking tumor and choroidal neovascularization. This method is currently being tried for the treatment of corneal neovascularization.

[Coverage on cataract surgery among adults aged 40 or above in a multiethnic rural district of high altitude area in Gongshan county, Yunnan province, China].

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of cataract and its surgical coverage rate together with the burden related to bilateral cataract-blindness, among adults aged 40 or above in Gongshan county of Yunnan province and to evaluate the current cataract status and the efficacy of local cataract prevention program.

Methods: Cluster sampling was used. The protocol consisted of personal interview, pilot study, visual acuity checking, measuring the intraocular pressure; slit lamp microscopy and the fundus of the eye examination etc.

AcrySof phakic angle-supported intraocular lens for the correction of high to extremely high myopia: one-year follow-up results.

Aim: To assess the safety, efficacy and predictability of the AcrySof phakic angle-supported intraocular lens (IOL) (Alcon Inc., U.S.

In-depth analysis of the human tear proteome.

The tears, a critical body fluid of the surface of the eye, contain an unknown number of molecules including proteins/peptides, lipids, small molecule metabolites, and electrolytes. There have been continued efforts for exploring the human tear proteome to develop biomarkers of disease. In this study, we used the high speed TripleTOF 5600 system as the platform to analyze the human tear proteome from healthy subjects (3 females and 1 male, average age: 36±14).

[Zebrafish-a new animal models of anterior segment embryonic development and diseases basic research].

In recent years, zebrafish has become ideal animal models of human disease with its unique characteristics, such as small body, fecundity, fast development and growth, embryo transparency, and so on. Furthermore, the structure and gene of zebrafish eye are highly conservative with human eye, which make ophthalmologists to pay close attention to zebrafish. This review focus on the studies and applications on zebrafish embryonic development of anterior segment, including the morphogenesis of cornea, lens and anterior chamber, and diseases of anterior segment (corneal diseases, cataract, glaucoma).

Insulin-like growth factor-2 antisense oligonucleotides inhibits myopia by expression blocking of retinal insulin-like growth factor-2 in guinea pig.

Objective:   To clarify the role of IGF-2 on the development of myopia, the dynamic expression of IGF-2 was investigated in the FD eyes' retina, and the effects of intravitreous injection with IGF-2 ASON was studied on the diopter and axial eye length of FD eyes.

Methods:   64 guinea pigs were divided into 2 groups. In group A (n = 24), the right eyes were covered.

Proteomic profiling of inflammatory signaling molecules in the tears of patients on chronic glaucoma medication.

Purpose: To identify the tear proteins associated with the long-term use of glaucoma medication by using proteomic analysis and to compare these proteins to those previously reported in primary dry eye disease.

Methods: Eighteen patients treated with topical antiglaucoma medications and 10 normal age-matched subjects with no prior topical treatment were recruited for the study. Tears were collected by using Schirmer's strip and analyzed by iTRAQ (isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation) for tear proteins by mass spectrometry.