Use of a silicone shield to protect the optical cylinder following osteo- and osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (O/OKP) procedures.

Purpose: To describe the placement of a silicone shield to protect the optical cylinder following osteo-keratoprosthesis or osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (O/OKP) procedures in four patients.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we reviewed all patients who underwent O/OKP in our tertiary medical centre. We found four patients in whom a protective cellphone silicone shield (VisionGuard, Zagg, Utah, USA) was cut with a 3 mm dermal punch and placed on the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) optical cylinder of an O/OKP 3-4 months after implantation to either correct or prevent abrasions.

The initial rate of tumour response to vismodegib treatment, can predict a complete response outcome for periocular LA-BCC.

Purpose: To establish a model to predict treatment outcome of periocular locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (POLA BCC) based on initial response to treatment with vismodegib (Erivedge), a sonic hedgehog inhibitor.

Design: Subgroup analysis of data from the STEVIE study database.

Methods: Analysis of medical history, treatment protocol, and treatment outcome of POLA BCC tumours in a STEVIE study population of 244 POLA BCC patients treated with ≥1 dose of vismodegib.

Trametinib for orbital plexiform neurofibromas in young children with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Introduction: Plexiform neurofibromas (PNF) in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are usually diagnosed in childhood and can grow rapidly during this period. In 10% of patients, PNF involve the orbital-periorbital area and may cause visual problems including glaucoma, visual loss from amblyopia (deprivational, strabismic, or refractive), optic nerve compression, or keratopathy. Ptosis, proptosis, and facial disfigurement lead to social problems and decreased self-esteem.

Vismodegib improves quality of life in patients with periocular locally advanced basal cell carcinoma: subgroup analysis, STEVIE trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of locally advanced periocular basal cell carcinoma (POLA-BCC) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the benefit of vismodegib treatment among participants in the Safety Events in Vismodegib (STEVIE) trial between 2011 and 2017.

Methods: The STEVIE trial was conducted in patients with BCC (all anatomic locations) who were treated with vismodegib in 28-day cycles. Patients completed the Skindex-16, a validated questionnaire for the analysis symptoms, emotions, and functioning, at baseline, on day 1 of cycle 2, on day 1 of cycle 7, and at the end-of-study visit.

Low-dose Bleomycin Injections for Orbital Lymphatic and Lymphatic-Venous Malformations: A Multicentric Case Series Study.

Purpose: Orbital lymphatic malformations (LM) are associated with ocular morbidity and facial disfigurement. Surgery is challenging and may not be effective. We describe the outcome of bleomycin injections for venous LM and lymphatic-venous malformation (LVM) malformations of the orbit in 5 tertiary referral centers between January 2010 and December 2018.

Outcomes of Vismodegib for Periocular Locally Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma From an Open-label Trial.

Importance: The outcomes of vismodegib treatment in a relatively large cohort of study participants with periocular locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (POLA-BCC) may guide physicians when considering this treatment.

Objective: To report the outcomes of vismodegib treatment in patients with POLA-BCC in the Safety Events in Vismodegib (STEVIE) study.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This post hoc subgroup analysis from the STEVIE single-arm, multicenter, open-label cohort study screened all 1215 participants for ocular or periocular involvement and identified 244 participants with POLA-BCC or metastatic BCC.

Gene-Related Response of Basal Cell Carcinoma to Biologic Treatment with Vismodegib.

We aimed to characterise the response of locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC) to systemic treatment with Vismodegib, a Hedgehog pathway inhibitor, by changes in the expression levels of Hedgehog pathway genes. Data were collected prospectively on 12 patients treated systemically for locally advanced BCC. Biopsy samples taken on admission and after treatment cessation were analysed pathologically and with the NanoString nCounter system to quantify the expression of 40 Hedgehog signaling pathway genes.

Investigating animal models of optic neuropathy: An accurate method for optic nerve and chiasm dissection in mice.

Background: Numerous disorders affecting the optic nerve require histological examination of whole length optic nerves and chiasm. Most methods employed to study the histopathology of the optic nerves in animal models of human diseases involve resection of a short retrobulbar section after eye globe exenteration, commonly obtained in mice. This approach might affect the morphology of the optic nerve, thus limiting accurate identification of pathological changes in the tissue.

Prostaglandin analogue drops for the treatment of soft tissue expansion and exophthalmos in patients with inactive thyroid eye disease.

Objective: Thyroid eye disease (TED) is characterized by an inflammatory response leading to soft tissue expansion within the bony orbit, which may cause exophthalmos. Studies of glaucoma patients reported periorbital fat atrophy after treatment with prostaglandin analogue drops. We hypothesize that owing to this side effect, prostaglandin analogue drops may benefit patients with TED-induced exophthalmos.

Efficacy of Vismodegib for the Treatment of Orbital and Advanced Periocular Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of vismodegib, a Hedgehog pathway inhibitor, in treating orbital and advanced periocular basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in Israeli multidisciplinary medical centers.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: Background, treatment, and outcome data were retrospectively collected from the medical records of all patients with locally advanced and metastatic orbital or periocular BCC treated with vismodegib in 2012-2017 at 2 tertiary medical centers.

[PREVALENCE OF DEMODEX PARASITES IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC BLEPHARITIS AND HEALTHY CONTROLS IN ISRAEL].

Introduction: Previous studies demonstrated the potential pathogenic relationship between infestation of the eyelashes by the parasite Demodex and chronic blepharitis, whereas other studies did not demonstrate such relations and concluded that Demodex is a normal eyelid flora.

Aims: This study examines the prevalence of Demodex in patients with blepharitis compared to a healthy control group in Israel, in order to further explore and establish its pathogenic role in cases of chronic blepharitis.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted including 110 participants: 60 patients with chronic blepharitis attending a tertiary medical center and 50 subjects with no signs of blepharitis.

Challenging Management of Double Vision After Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery-A Series of 6 Cases.

Purpose: To present 6 cases of orbital trauma, diplopia and strabismus after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

Design: Retrospective observational case series.

Methods: The medical charts of suitable patients were reviewed for information on medical examination, imaging studies, the type of corrective surgery, and surgical outcomes.

Severe cranial neuropathies caused by falls from heights in children.

Purpose: Falls from heights are the most common traumatic event associated with emergency department visits in children. This study investigated the incidence and clinical course of cranial neuropathies caused by falls from heights in children.

Methods: The computerized records of a tertiary pediatric medical center were searched for all patients admitted to the emergency department in 2004-2014 with a head injury caused by falling from a height.

[Thyroid orbitopathy].

Thyroid Orbitopathy (T.O) is the most common orbital disease caused by a systemic illness. The clinical manifestations of T.

Analysis of prothrombotic and vascular risk factors in patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

Objective: To determine whether genetic or acquired thrombophilias and other risk factors are associated with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Participants: Sixty-one patients with NAION diagnosed between 1984 and 1997.

Analysis of genetic polymorphisms related to thrombosis and other risk factors in patients with retinal vein occlusion.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of genetic polymorphisms associated with venous and arterial thrombosis in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). One-hundred and two consecutive patients with RVO were examined for factor V G1691A and factor II G20210A, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and apolipoprotein E4 by amplification of specific DNA fragments and restriction analysis. The risks exerted by these polymorphisms and by the conventional risk factors of RVO were evaluated by comparing their frequencies among patients and controls and by estimating the respective odds ratios.