Cornea

Femtosecond lasers differ in their indications, energy delivery parameters, and hardware features. Understanding the implications of these factors will enable an objective assessment of the available technology.

Corneal asphericity, OCT angiography, and balance control issues in glaucoma patients are analyzed in this industry update roundup.

Occasionally, post-cataract surgery endothelial cells don’t function well enough to keep the cornea clear, which can commonly cause corneal oedema. Here, Prof. Feinbaum describes a new treatment modality that has been designed to reduce and in most cases stop the oedema in 24–48 hours.

The FDA has approved AcuFocus’ corneal inlay product (KAMRA inlay.) The device is indicated to improve near vision by extending depth of focus in patients with presbyopia who have emmetropic refractions (+0.50 to –0.75 D).

Contrast sensitivity is a more valuable metric than many ophthalmologists realize, with applications in preoperative and postoperative management of corneal and refractive surgery patients and routine screening of patients’ quality of vision.

Keratoneuralgia, also known as “pain without stain” is primarily a clinical diagnosis made for patients with corneal pain symptoms with minimal-to-no clinical signs and minimally, if at all, relieved by conventional dry eye treatments.

Early experience with a new intrastromal corneal ring segment arc length appears to be a valuable addition to the keratoconus treatment armamentarium for one surgeon.

Endothelial keratoplasty makes it easier to follow patients with glaucoma and lowers the risk of ocular surface disease.

Immunomodulatory therapy for ocular inflammatory disease can be potent and effective, but physicians should be patient while awaiting results-and watch carefully for complications.

Autologous serum drops, amniotic membrane, and scleral lenses offer advanced options for management of persistent epithelial defects refractory to standard treatment modalities.

The rationale for epithelium-on crosslinking procedures is strong, and may ultimately make customized treatment of topographic abnormalities more attractive for therapeutic and refractive indications.

Results were encouraging from patients in a small study group receiving Bowman layer implantations to treat advanced keratoconus.

Premium IOLs can be used successfully in patients with corneal pathologies.

In a study in mice, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh demonstrated that stem cells harvested from extracted teeth could potentially be used to restore sight.

More research required to clarify the short- and long-term effects of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) on the corneal endothelium.

Peripheral melting disorders require surgical intervention when all else has failed and there is an impending risk of perforation. A peripheral C- or banana-shaped graft can restore tectonic integrity while maintaining a reasonable corneal contour to preserve vision.

A single thermodynamic treatment can serve as an effective treatment of MGD and the beneficial effects of the treatment can last for 6 months or longer.

The Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial allays some fears about using a topical corticosteroid as an adjunct to antibiotic treatment in eyes with a bacterial corneal ulcer.

Evidence for assessing the efficacy and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents for treating corneal and ocular surface disease is accumulating. However, there is clearly a need for more research to define if, when, and how this therapy should be used, said Anat Galor, MD.

Researchers at the University of Reading, UK, report that they have discovered a potential way of making eye drops more effective.

Optimal resistance to in vitro keratolysis by collagenase A can be achieved by collagen crosslinking the deepithelialized anterior corneal surface for 30 minutes, according to a recently published study.

Studies with follow-up of 2 to 6 years show that corneal crosslinking for progressive keratectasia is safe and induces long-term structural changes.

Aganirsen eye drops inhibited corneal neovascularization in patients with keratitis and reduced the need for transplantation in patients who have viral keratitis and central neovascularization, according to a Phase III study of 69 patients.

Fasting significantly reduces the amount of tears produced by the eye and increases the osmolarity of the tears, according to new research.

The addition of diquafosol tetrasodium (DQS) to a regimen of artificial tears and sodium hyaluronate helped relieve the symptoms of persistent dry eye in patients who had undergone laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), according to recent research.