Nanoparticle-Based gene therapy strategies in retinal delivery.

Vision loss and blindness are significant issues in both developed and developing countries. There are a wide variety of aetiologies that can cause vision loss, which are outlined in this review. Although treatment has significantly improved over time for some conditions, nearly half of all people with vision impairment are left untreated.

Uncovering genetic loci and biological pathways associated with age-related cataracts through GWAS meta-analysis.

Age-related cataracts is a highly prevalent eye disorder that results in the clouding of the crystalline lens and is one of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness. The disease is influenced by multiple factors including genetics, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and a history of diabetes. However, the extent to which each of these factors contributes to the development of cataracts remains unclear.

Exploring the Effects of Age at Menarche and Pregnancy on Myopia.

Purpose: Associations between age at menarche and myopia have been observed in studies that included older women. Furthermore, pregnancy-related hormone surges in young women are associated with short-term changes in refractive error, although the long-term effects are less known. This study explored associations of age at menarche and parity with refractive error and ocular biometry in young women, and the relationship between age at menarche and refractive error in middle-aged adults for comparison.

Choroidal Changes During and After Discontinuing Long-Term 0.01% Atropine Treatment for Myopia Control.

Purpose: Few studies have explored choroidal changes after cessation of myopia control. This study evaluated the choroidal thickness (ChT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) during and after discontinuing long-term low-concentration atropine eye drops use for myopia control.

Methods: Children with progressive myopia (6-16 years; n = 153) were randomized to receive 0.

Endophthalmitis following intravitreal injections administered by junior medical officers in rural Western Australia.

Background: Patients in rural Australia have limited access to intravitreal treatments due to a maldistribution of the ophthalmology workforce. To improve access, a novel outreach service model was implemented whereby junior medical staff administered intravitreal injections under a supervising ophthalmology consultant. This model involves outreach visits in hospitals, mobile clinics and a remote hub with intravitreal injections administered by junior doctors overseen by an ophthalmologist.

Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 restrictions on the efficacy of atropine 0.01% eyedrops for myopia control - Findings from the Western Australia Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia study.

This study explored the impact of short-term coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions on the efficacy of atropine 0.01% eyedrops on myopia control in a multiethnic cohort of Australian children. In the Western Australia Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia study, 104 and 49 children were randomized to receive atropine 0.

Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the progression, prevalence, and incidence of myopia: A systematic review.

We systematically reviewed the literature on the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the progression, prevalence, and incidence of myopia. A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus databases. Studies included in the review assessed myopia progression, prevalence, and/or incidence as the primary outcome.

Polymer-Based Nanoparticles with Probucol and Lithocholic Acid: A Novel Therapeutic Approach for Oxidative Stress-Induced Retinopathies.

Oxidative stress is pivotal in retinal disease progression, causing dysfunction in various retinal components. An effective antioxidant, such as probucol (PB), is vital to counteract oxidative stress and emerges as a potential candidate for treating retinal degeneration. However, the challenges associated with delivering lipophilic drugs such as PB to the posterior segment of the eye, specifically targeting photoreceptor cells, necessitate innovative solutions.

Polygenic Prediction of Keratoconus and its Measures: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses in Community-Based Young Adults.

Purpose: This study evaluates the performance of a multitrait polygenic risk score (PRS) in an independent cohort to predict incident or progression of keratoconus.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional and cohort study METHODS: Setting: Single-center; Study population: 1478 community-based young adults (18-30 years; 51% female), including 609 (52% female) who returned for an 8-year follow-up; Observation procedures: Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam, Oculus), genotyping and development of a multitrait PRS previously validated to predict keratoconus in older adults.; Main outcome measure: Belin/Ambrόsio enhanced ectasia display (BAD-D) score and keratoconus, defined as BAD-D ≥2.

Myopia progression following 0.01% atropine cessation in Australian children: Findings from the Western Australia - Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia (WA-ATOM) study.

Background: A rebound in myopia progression following cessation of atropine eyedrops has been reported, yet there is limited data on the effects of stopping 0.01% atropine compared to placebo control. This study tested the hypothesis that there is minimal rebound myopia progression after cessation of 0.

The long and short of it: a comprehensive assessment of axial length estimation in myopic eyes from ocular and demographic variables.

Background/objectives: Axial length, a key measurement in myopia management, is not accessible in many settings. We aimed to develop and assess machine learning models to estimate the axial length of young myopic eyes.

Subjects/methods: Linear regression, symbolic regression, gradient boosting and multilayer perceptron models were developed using age, sex, cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and corneal curvature.

Changes in Refractive Error During Young Adulthood: The Effects of Longitudinal Screen Time, Ocular Sun Exposure, and Genetic Predisposition.

Purpose: Changes in refractive error during young adulthood is common yet risk factors at this age are largely unexplored. This study explored risk factors for these changes, including gene-environmental interactions.

Methods: Spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length (AL) for 624 community-based adults were measured at 20 (baseline) and 28 years old.

A new polygenic score for refractive error improves detection of children at risk of high myopia but not the prediction of those at risk of myopic macular degeneration.

Background: High myopia (HM), defined as a spherical equivalent refractive error (SER) ≤ -6.00 diopters (D), is a leading cause of sight impairment, through myopic macular degeneration (MMD). We aimed to derive an improved polygenic score (PGS) for predicting children at risk of HM and to test if a PGS is predictive of MMD after accounting for SER.

Agreement between a new swept-source ocular coherence tomography and a Placido disc-dual Scheimpflug ocular biometric devices.

Purpose: To evaluate the agreement between two biometry devices, the Heidelberg Anterion and the Galilei G6 Lens Professional.

Methods: Eyes were scanned with both biometry devices. Analysis of inter-device agreement was conducted for the following metrics: flat (K1), steep (K2) and mean K (Km) for anterior, posterior and total cornea, lens thickness (LT), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), white to white (WTW) and axial length (AL).

Low-concentration atropine eyedrops for myopia control in a multi-racial cohort of Australian children: A randomised clinical trial.

Background: To test the hypothesis that 0.01% atropine eyedrops are a safe and effective myopia-control approach in Australian children.

Methods: Children (6-16 years; 49% Europeans, 18% East Asian, 22% South Asian, and 12% other/mixed ancestry) with documented myopia progression were enrolled into this single-centre randomised, parallel, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial and randomised to receive 0.

The Relationship Between Fetal Growth and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in a Cohort of Young Adults.

Purpose: To explore relationships between patterns of fetal anthropometric growth, as reflective of fetal wellbeing, and global retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured in young adulthood.

Methods: Participants (n = 481) from within a Western Australian pregnancy cohort study underwent five serial ultrasound scans during gestation, with fetal biometry measured at each scan. Optic disc parameters were measured via spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging at a 20-year follow-up eye examination.

Choroidal Thickening During Young Adulthood and Baseline Choroidal Thickness Predicts Refractive Error Change.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the age-related change in choroidal thickness (ChT) and test the hypothesis that baseline ChT is predictive of refractive error change in healthy young adults.

Methods: Participants underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging and autorefraction at 20 (baseline) and 28 years old. The enhanced depth imaging mode on the SD-OCT was used to obtain images of the choroid.