Cost-effective strategies to knock down genes of interest in the retinas of adult zebrafish.

High throughput sequencing has generated an enormous amount of information about the genes expressed in various cell types and tissues throughout the body, and about how gene expression changes over time and in diseased conditions. This knowledge has made targeted gene knockdowns an important tool in screening and identifying the roles of genes that are differentially expressed among specific cells of interest. While many approaches are available and optimized in mammalian models, there are still several limitations in the zebrafish model.

Consensus on the definitions and descriptions of the domains of the OMERACT Core Outcome Set for shared decision making interventions in rheumatology trials.

Objective: To gain consensus on the definitions and descriptions of the domains of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) core domain set for rheumatology trials evaluating shared decision making (SDM) interventions.

Methods: Following the OMERACT Handbook methods, our Working Group (WG), comprised of 90 members, including 17 patient research partners (PRPs) and 73 clinicians and researchers, had six virtual meetings in addition to email exchanges to develop draft definitions and descriptions. The WG then conducted an international survey of its members to gain consensus on the definitions and descriptions.

'Ease of adaptation' predicts preferred spectacle prescriptions better than visual acuity: a retrospective analysis.

Clinical Relevance: Factors predicting patient acceptance of a new spectacle prescription need to be determined to make optimal prescribing decisions.

Background: Clinicians usually prescribe for best visual acuity. However, for some patients, a partial change is prescribed to ease adaptation, despite providing suboptimal visual acuity.

OMERACT Core outcome measurement set for shared decision making in rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions: a scoping review to identify candidate instruments.

Objectives: Shared decision making (SDM) is a central tenet in rheumatic and musculoskeletal care. The lack of standardization regarding SDM instruments and outcomes in clinical trials threatens the comparative effectiveness of interventions. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) SDM Working Group is developing a Core Outcome Set for trials of SDM interventions in rheumatology and musculoskeletal health.

Red light instruments for myopia exceed safety limits.

Purpose: Low-level red light (LLRL) therapy has recently emerged as a myopia treatment in children, with several studies reporting significant reduction in axial elongation and myopia progression. The goal of this study was to characterise the output and determine the thermal and photochemical maximum permissible exposure (MPE) of LLRL devices for myopia control.

Methods: Two LLRL devices, a Sky-n1201a and a Future Vision, were examined.

Novel tactile bottle neck adaptor facilitates eye drop adherence in visually impaired patients.

Purpose: To test the use of Ring-IT, a novel 3D tactile bottle neck adaptor in topical eye drop adherence in visually impaired patients.

Methods: Bottle neck ring adaptors with either one, two or three protrusions with cube or sphere endings were designed. In phase 1, low vision was simulated in healthy subjects (n=20) with a 20/200 vision simulator; while in phase 2, visually impaired patients (n=26; 20/70 or worse) were recruited.

Endogenous TSG-6 modulates corneal inflammation following chemical injury.

Purpose: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6) is upregulated in various pathophysiological contexts, where it has a diverse repertoire of immunoregulatory functions. Herein, we investigated the expression and function of TSG-6 during corneal homeostasis and after injury.

Methods: Human corneas, eyeballs from BALB/c (TSG-6), TSG-6 and TSG-6 mice, human immortalized corneal epithelial cells and murine corneal epithelial progenitor cells were prepared for immunostaining and real time PCR analysis of endogenous expression of TSG-6.

Characterizing Macular Neovascularization in Myopic Macular Degeneration and Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Swept Source OCTA.

Purpose: Visual prognosis and treatment burden for macular neovascularization (MNV) can differ between myopic macular degeneration (MMD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We describe and compare MNV associated with MMD and AMD using swept-source (SS)-OCTA.

Patients And Methods: Adult patients with documented MNV associated with MMD or AMD were consecutively recruited.

Evaluation of retinal structure and function in prediabetes.

Purpose: Alterations in retinal structure and function have been well documented in type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, few studies have evaluated the eye in prediabetes (preDM), a precursor to T2DM. It is unknown which retinal deficits, if any, occur before T2DM diagnosis.

Remote Monitoring of Visual Function in Patients with Maculopathy: The Aphelion Study.

Introduction: Remote monitoring of vision, using tools such as the shape discrimination hyperacuity (SDH) test, can detect disease activity in patients with maculopathy. We determined the in-clinic accuracy and repeatability of three myVisionTrack expanded version (mVTx) tests for self-testing of visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity.

Methods: Aphelion, a single-arm, prospective study conducted at two sites in the USA, included adults with any maculopathy and a baseline VA of 0.

ROM1 is redundant to PRPH2 as a molecular building block of photoreceptor disc rims.

Visual signal transduction takes place within a stack of flattened membranous 'discs' enclosed within the light-sensitive photoreceptor outer segment. The highly curved rims of these discs, formed in the process of disc enclosure, are fortified by large hetero-oligomeric complexes of two homologous tetraspanin proteins, PRPH2 (a.k.

Alterations to foveal crowding with microsaccade preparation.

Visual stimuli presented around the time of a saccade have been shown to be perceived differently by the visual system, including a reduction in the harmful impact of flankers (crowding). However, whether the effects observed are due strictly to crowding remains controversial, and the effects have only been measured with large saccades in peripheral vision. Here we investigate how crowded stimuli placed 20 arc minutes from the center of gaze are affected by an upcoming microsaccade.

Refractive extended depth-of-focus lens design based on periodic power profile for presbyopia correction.

Purpose: Limitations of existing diffractive multifocal designs for presbyopia correction include discrete foci and photic phenomena such as halos and glare. This study aimed to explore a methodology for developing refractive extended depth-of-focus (EDoF) lenses based on a periodic power profile.

Methods: The proposed design technique employed an optical power profile that periodically alternated between far, intermediate and near distances across the pupil radius.

Recent advances in age-related meibomian gland dysfunction (ARMGD).

Meibomian glands (MGs), located within the tarsal plate of the eyelid, secrete meibum which is the lipid-rich secretion necessary for stabilizing the tear film and preventing tear evaporation. Changes in the quality and quantity of meibum produced causes MG dysfunction (MGD), the leading cause of evaporative dry eye disease (EDED). MGD is an underdiagnosed disease and it is estimated that, in the US, approximately 70 % of the population over 60 have MGD.

Molecular basis of retinal remodeling in a zebrafish model of retinitis pigmentosa.

A hallmark of inherited retinal degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is progressive structural and functional remodeling of the remaining retinal cells as photoreceptors degenerate. Extensive remodeling of the retina stands as a barrier for the successful implementation of strategies to restore vision. To understand the molecular basis of remodeling, we performed analyses of single-cell transcriptome data from adult zebrafish retina of wild type AB strain (WT) and a P23H mutant rhodopsin transgenic model of RP with continuous degeneration and regeneration.

A Hue-Value method for semi-automated assessment of Lid Wiper Epitheliopathy.

Background: Lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE) is a marker of an abnormal lid/cornea interaction. This study proposes an automated Hue-Value grading algorithm of LWE staining following manual selection of the region of interest.

Methods: Images of LWE staining were processed using Hue and Value from HSV (Hue-Saturation-Value) color space with a custom MATLAB program.

Retinal Arteriolar Wall Remodeling in Diabetes Captured With AOSLO.

Purpose: Adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) enables the visualization and measurement of the retinal microvasculature structure in humans. We investigated the hypothesis that diabetes mellitus (DM) induces remodeling to the wall structure in small retinal arterioles. These alterations may allow better understanding of vascular remodeling in DM.

Platelet-rich plasma for treating dry eye disease - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Dry eye disease has public health and economic significance. Platelet-rich plasma is rich in anti-inflammatory agents and growth factors, both beneficial for ocular surface repair. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the benefits of platelet-rich plasma for treating dry eye disease and its adverse effects.

Age related changes in hyaluronan expression leads to Meibomian gland dysfunction.

The prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) ranges from ∼5 to 50 % and its associated symptoms decrease productivity and reduce the quality of life. Approximately 85 % of all DED cases are caused by Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). As humans and mice age, their Meibomian glands (MGs) undergo age-related changes resulting in age related-MGD (ARMGD).

A competition framework for fixation-preference in strabismus.

Strabismic subjects often develop the ability to fixate on a target with either eye. Previous studies have shown that fixation-preference behavior varies systematically depending on spatial location of the target. We hypothesized that, when an eccentric target is presented, oculomotor fixation-preference in strabismus may be accounted for in a competitive decision framework wherein the brain must choose between two possible retinal errors to prepare a conjugate saccade that results in one of the eyes acquiring the eccentric target.