Ophthalmology Training in Greece as Perceived by Resident Ophthalmologists in the Times of Crisis: A National, Questionnaire-based Survey.

Purpose: To assess the level of perceived satisfaction with the current level of ophthalmology training in Greece from the perspective of residents and to identify deficiencies in the training curriculum.

Methods: This is a prospective, cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. An online, semi-structured questionnaire was designed to evaluate ophthalmology residents' extent of satisfaction with the quality of their postgraduate medical training.

Comparison of Chemokine CXCL-1 and Interleukin-6 Concentrations in the Subretinal Fluid and Vitreous in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

: Comparison of IL-6 and CXCL-1 concentrations and CXCL-1/IL-6 ratio correlations with clinical parameters (RRD extent, duration, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy - PVR-grade) between subretinal fluid (SRF) and vitreous during rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) complicated with PVR.: A total of 71 eyes of 71 patients with primary RRD possibly complicated with PVR were included; 36 eyes treated with scleral buckling and 35 eyes with pars-plana vitrectomy. Enzyme-Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay was employed for CXCL-1/IL-6 measurement (ng/ml).

Design and fabrication of drug-eluting polymeric thin films for applications in ophthalmology.

To study the development, characterisation, and drug release of one- and two-layered thin films based on organic polymers [poly(D,L-lactide--glycolide) lactide:glycolide (65:35), poly(D,L-lactide--glycolide) lactide:glycolide (75:25), and polycaprolactone] and dexamethasone. To examine their applicability for intraocular lenses (IOLs) and function in intraocular drug delivery systems. Four series of thin films, single and double-layer, were prepared by the spin-coating method on a silicon substrate.

Comparing hospital compensation to actual costs based on the Greek Diagnosis-Related Group system in ophthalmology.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the new system of pricing medical services in the field of ophthalmology in Greece. In addition, it attempts to benchmark the system with respective interventions at an international level.

Materials And Methods: The study deals with the implementation of the new system, presenting systematic pairing of ophthalmic coding with other coded information regarding registration and management.

The omega-3 and retinopathy of prematurity relationship.

The aim of this article is to examine the effect of omega-3 (ω-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) intake on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) by reviewing the experimental and clinical trials conducted on animal models and infants. LCPUFAs demonstrate cytoprotective and cytotherapeutic actions contributing to a number of anti-angiogenic and neuroprotective mechanisms within the retina. Their intake appears to have a beneficial effect on ischemia, oxidative stress, inflammation and cellular signaling mechanisms, influencing retinal cell gene expression and cellular differentiation.

Decreased hyaluronan concentration during primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Purpose: To evaluate the concentration and molecular weight of hyaluronan (HA) polysaccharides as well as hyaluronidase activity in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Methods: Twenty vitreous samples from 20 patients with RRD and 19 samples from 19 patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane, macular hole, or vitreomacular traction syndrome were collected during surgical management with pars plana vitrectomy. The molecular weight of various HA fragments was assessed using agarose gel electrophoresis.

Bilateral intermediate uveitis with appearance of frosted branch angiitis and association with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection: case report and review of the literature.

A 12-year-old girl presented with acute bilateral visual loss following a mild upper respiratory tract infection. Clinical examination revealed bilateral severe peripheral retinal vasculitis with an appearance of frosted branch angiitis and cystoid macular edema. All tests for etiological diagnosis were negative, apart from positive IgM and IgG antibodies for Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

In Vitro Study of the Deturgescence Ability of Cultivated Human Corneal Endothelial Cells.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficiency of cultivated human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) to dehydrate the cornea, using models of the posterior cornea, composed of artificial collagen mass (to represent corneal stroma) and equine collagen membranes (to represent Descemet membrane).

Methods: HCECs were isolated from donor corneal rings and cultivated at 37°C in 5% CO2 and 95% humidified air. The study design included 4 different sets of models: in set 1, the HCECs were placed directly on the collagen mass complex; in set 2, HCECs were placed on a thin equine collagen membrane and laid over the collagen mass; in set 3, HCECs were placed on a thick equine collagen membrane laid over the collagen mass; and in set 4 (the control group), the hydrophilic collagen mass was left alone to interact with the nutritional medium.

Training of Resident Ophthalmologists in Cataract Surgery: A Comparative Study of Two Approaches.

Purpose. To evaluate and compare the efficacy of two different training methods in resident-performed phacoemulsification surgery. Methods.

Macular edema after uncomplicated cataract surgery: a role for phacoemulsification energy and vitreoretinal interface status?

Purpose: To study postoperative macular thickness fluctuations measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to investigate a potential correlation among macular edema (ME) incidence, cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) released during phacoemulsification, and vitreoretinal interface status.

Methods: This is a prospective, cross-sectional study of 106 cataract patients with no macular disorder who underwent phacoemulsification. Best-corrected visual acuity measurement, slit-lamp examination, OCT scans were performed preoperatively and 30 and 90 days postoperatively.

Contribution of integrated teaching in the improvement of an undergraduate ophthalmology curriculum.

Purpose: Conventional medical curriculum is the rule of medical teaching in Greek Medical Schools. Medical students are often taught irrelevant details with little or no reference to their potential clinical significance. Alternatively, integrated teaching warrants that the complete teaching material is covered by each faculty member not considering areas of personal expertise.

Diabetic retinopathy treated with laser photocoagulation and the indirect effect on glycaemic control.

Purpose: To identify any possible relation between glycaemic control and previous laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: Seventy-two patients with diabetes were included in the study and were separated into 2 groups according to previous treatment (group A) or not (group B) with argon laser photocoagulation. Glycaemic control was estimated by measuring blood levels of HbA1c in four consecutive measurements.

Postoperative glaucoma following infantile cataract surgery: an individual patient data meta-analysis.

Importance: Infantile cataract surgery bears a significant risk for postoperative glaucoma, and no consensus exists on factors that may reduce this risk.

Objective: To assess the effect of primary intraocular lens implantation and timing of surgery on the incidence of postoperative glaucoma.

Data Sources: We searched multiple databases to July 14, 2013, to identify studies with eligible patients, including PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, Central, Google Scholar, Intute, and Tripdata.

Comparison of interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase expression in the subretinal fluid and the vitreous during proliferative vitreoretinopathy: correlations with extent, duration of RRD and PVR grade.

Introduction: The full extent of IL-6 involvement in PVR pathophysiology has not yet been comprehensively investigated. The aim of this study was the comparison of the IL-6 effect on MMP expression between SRF and the vitreous in the context of RRD complicated by PVR.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-one SRF samples from 31 eyes of 31 consecutive patients suffering from RRD with PVR were collected during treatment by scleral buckling.

Safety and efficacy of combined immunosuppression and orbital radiotherapy in thyroid-related restrictive myopathy: two-center experience.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral steroids when combined with long-term oral azathioprine (AZA) and orbital radiotherapy in patients with active thyroid-related restrictive myopathy.

Methods: A total of 88 patients from adnexal outpatient clinics of Bristol Eye Hospital, UK, and 2nd Department of Ophthalmology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, were enrolled in a retrospective, twin-center study. All patients were diagnosed with active thyroid eye disease and concomitant restrictive myopathy.

Chemokine CXCL-1 expression in the subretinal fluid during rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Purpose: To investigate the expression of chemokine CXCL-1 in the subretinal fluid (SRF) during rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and identify potential correlations with number of quadrants involved and duration of the detachment.

Methods And Results: Inclusion criteria were patients aged 18 years or older and primary RRD possibly complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). CXCL-1 levels were measured in 36 SRF samples from 36 RRD patients.

Imaging characteristics of delayed surface calcification in hydrophilic intraocular lens models.

We report two cases of opacified explanted intraocular lenses (IOL).The first lens was explanted from a cataract patient, then treated in vitro with trypsin/ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid. The second hydrophilic acrylic IOL was explanted from a patient who had undergone sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas endotamponade surgery to repair a retinal detachment.

Surgical outcomes in phacoemulsification after application of a risk stratification system.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether application of a risk stratification system during preoperative assessment of cataract patients and subsequent allocation of patients to surgeons with matching experience may reduce intraoperative complications.

Methods: Nine hundred and fifty-three consecutive patients (1109 eyes) undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery were assigned to two groups, ie, group A (n = 498 patients, 578 eyes) and group B (n = 455 patients, 531 eyes). Patients from group A were allocated to surgeons with varying experience with only a rough estimate of the complexity of their surgery.

Binocularity enhances visual acuity of eyes implanted with multifocal intraocular lenses.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of binocularity on long-term visual acuity in patients who have undergone bilateral implantation of a presbyopia-correcting diffractive multifocal intraocular lens (IOL).

Methods: Twenty patients (9 men and 11 women) with an average age of 70 ± 7 years (range: 56 to 78 years) underwent bilateral implantation of a diffractive multifocal IOL (AcrySof IQ ReSTOR IOL, SN60D3; Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX).

Acute postoperative Staphylococcus schleiferi endophthalmitis following uncomplicated cataract surgery: first report in the literature.

Introduction: We report a rare case of acute postoperative Staphylococcus schleiferi endophthalmitis following an uneventful cataract extraction.


Methods: An 83-year-old woman underwent uneventful phacoemulsification without receiving the usual intracameral cefuroxime solution due to cephalosporin intolerance. Two days postoperatively, she presented with acute ocular pain and blurred vision in the operated eye.

Self-retaining bicanaliculus stents as an adjunct to 3-snip punctoplasty in management of upper lacrimal duct stenosis: a comparison to standard 3-snip procedure.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of self-retaining bicanaliculus stents when used as an adjunct to 3-snip punctoplasty in comparison with standard 3-snip procedure between fellow eyes.

Methods: Prospective, randomized, comparative study. Thirty-two eyes of 16 consecutive patients with acquired, nontraumatic stenosis of the proximal lacrimal duct were randomly distributed into 2 equal study groups.