Effect of recombinant human nerve growth factor treatment on corneal nerve regeneration in patients with neurotrophic keratopathy.

Introduction: Neurotrophic Keratopathy (NK) is a neurodegenerative corneal disease that results in diminished corneal sensation. Previous studies have found that Cenegermin 0.002%, a recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF), improves corneal epithelial healing in stage 2 and 3 NK patients.

Corneal nerve regeneration is affected by scar location in herpes simplex keratitis: A longitudinal in vivo confocal microscopy study.

Purpose: To assess the effect of corneal scar location on corneal nerve regeneration in patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis in their affected and contralateral eyes over a 1-year period by in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), and to correlate these findings to corneal sensation measured by Cochet-Bonnet Esthesiometer.

Methods: Prospective, longitudinal, case-control study. Bilateral corneal nerve density and corneal sensation were analyzed centrally and peripherally in 24 healthy controls and 23 patients with unilateral HSV-related corneal scars using IVCM.

A Single Administration of OC-01 (Varenicline Solution) Nasal Spray Induces Short-Term Alterations in Conjunctival Goblet Cells in Patients with Dry Eye Disease.

Introduction: Dry eye disease is characterized by a persistently unstable or deficient tear film causing discomfort or visual impairment. Varenicline is a small-molecule nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist recently approved for use as a preservative-free nasal spray (OC-01 [varenicline solution] nasal spray [OC-01 VNS]) to treat signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, but its effect on conjunctival goblet cells has not been studied.

Methods: In this phase 2, single-center, vehicle-controlled study, patients aged 18 years or more with a diagnosis of dry eye disease and Ocular Surface Disease Index score of at least 23 were randomized 2:1 to receive a 50-µL single dose of OC-01 0.

Alterations in corneal nerves in different subtypes of dry eye disease: An in vivo confocal microscopy study.

Purpose: To evaluate corneal subbasal nerve alterations in evaporative and aqueous-deficient dry eye disease (DED) as compared to controls.

Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional, controlled study, eyes with a tear break-up time of less than 10 s were classified as DED. Those with an anesthetized Schirmer's strip of less than 5 mm were classified as aqueous-deficient DED.

Efficacy and tolerability of nortriptyline in the management of neuropathic corneal pain.

Purpose: Neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) is a recently acknowledged disease entity. However, there is no consensus in potential treatment strategies, particularly in patients with a centralized component of pain. This study aims to assess the efficacy and tolerability of the tricyclic antidepressant, nortriptyline, among NCP patients.

Dry Eye Disease Practice in Ghana: Diagnostic Perspectives, Treatment Modalities, and Challenges.

Significance: There is a dearth of studies investigating the challenges encountered in dry eye practice. Profiling these barriers is crucial to improving dry eye diagnosis and patient care.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the diagnostic and treatment perspectives, and challenges in dry eye practice in Ghana.

A Review of Imaging Biomarkers of the Ocular Surface.

A biomarker is a "characteristic that is measured as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or responses to an exposure or intervention, including therapeutic interventions." Recently, calls for biomarkers for ocular surface diseases have increased, and advancements in imaging technologies have aided in allowing imaging biomarkers to serve as a potential solution for this need. This review focuses on the state of imaging biomarkers for ocular surface diseases, specifically non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT), tear meniscus measurement and corneal epithelial thickness with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT), meibomian gland morphology with infrared meibography and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), ocular redness with grading scales, and cellular corneal immune cells and nerve assessment by IVCM.

Effect of the Bruder moist heat eye compress on contact lens discomfort in contact lens wearers: An open-label randomized clinical trial.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the Bruder Moist Heat Compress on contact lens (CL) discomfort in subjects with contact lens-related dry eye (CLDE). This was a 4-week, single-center, three-arm, randomized, open-label clinical trial in subjects diagnosed with CLDE using the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire. Fifty-one CL wearers were randomized to one of three treatment groups: application of the Bruder Compress twice a day, Bruder Compress once a day, or warm washcloth used for ten minutes twice a day without reheating.

A Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Effect of Toric Versus Spherical Contact Lenses on Vision and Eyestrain.

Objectives: To compare the effect of toric versus spherical soft contact lenses on objective measures of visual performance using visual acuity and electromyography of the orbicularis oculi muscle.

Methods: Current soft contact lens wearers with -0.75 to -1.

Efficacy of Toric Contact Lenses in Fitting and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Contact Lens Wearers.

Objectives: To assess whether patient-reported measures are improved with soft toric contact lenses (TCLs) compared with soft spherical contact lenses (SCLs) and whether clinical time needed to fit TCL is greater than SCL.

Methods: Habitual contact lens wearers with vertexed spherical refraction +4.00 to +0.

TFOS DEWS II pain and sensation report.

Pain associated with mechanical, chemical, and thermal heat stimulation of the ocular surface is mediated by trigeminal ganglion neurons, while cold thermoreceptors detect wetness and reflexly maintain basal tear production and blinking rate. These neurons project into two regions of the trigeminal brain stem nuclear complex: ViVc, activated by changes in the moisture of the ocular surface and VcC1, mediating sensory-discriminative aspects of ocular pain and reflex blinking. ViVc ocular neurons project to brain regions that control lacrimation and spontaneous blinking and to the sensory thalamus.

Eyelid Margin and Meibomian Gland Characteristics and Symptoms in Lens Wearers.

Purpose: To describe the lid margin characteristics of contact lens wearers and relate them to comfort during lens wear.

Methods: Three study sites enrolled habitual contact lens wearers. Subjects completed the Comfort domain of the Contact Lens User Experience (CLUE) questionnaire, and each eye was graded for the presence of mucocutaneous junction (MCJ) displacement, lid margin irregularity, and lid margin vascularity.

Association Between Meibomian Gland Testing and Ocular Surface Sensitivity.

Purpose: To assess whether corneal sensitivity is associated with clinical tests assessing the tear film and meibomian glands.

Methods: Subjects were recruited based on the history of contact lens wear and the extent of meibomian gland dropout. Clinical examination included assessment of symptoms, redness of the lower eyelid margin, lipid layer thickness, esthesiometry of the inferior cornea and palpebral conjunctiva, noninvasive tear breakup time, Schirmer test assessment, and meibomian gland assessment through orifice count and expressed meibum quality grade.

Agreement between Automated and Traditional Measures of Tear Film Breakup.

Purpose: To determine the repeatability and agreement between the noninvasive Keratograph tear break-up time (NIK-BUT) as measured by the Oculus Keratograph 4 and fluorescein tear break-up time (FBUT).

Methods: Sixty subjects were recruited for two study visits separated by 7 (± 2) days. At each visit, three NIK-BUT measures and FBUT measures were obtained.

The neurobiology of the meibomian glands.

This article compiles research regarding the neuroanatomy of the meibomian glands and their associated blood vessels. After a review of meibomian gland morphology and regulation via hormones, a case for innervation is made based on anatomical findings whereby the nerves lack a myelin sheath and Schwann cells. The localization and co-localization of dopamine beta-hydroxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase, neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and substance P are explored with emphasis on differences that exist between species.