Background: To assess the outcome of Keraring (Mediphacos, Brazil) implantation according to a topographic pattern-based nomogram in eyes with mild to moderate keratoconus. Materials and Methods: A topographic pattern-based nomogram was used to guide Keraring selection in 47 consecutive eyes with stage I-II keratoconus (Amsler-Krumeich staging), which underwent femtosecond laser-assisted implantation at a single center. Electronic data of LogMar uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) manifest refraction and tomographic analysis (Pentacam HR, Oculus, Germany) measured preoperatively and at the last postoperative examination were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Mean follow-up was 18.8 months. (range 3–35). Mean UDVA improved (p < 0.001) from 0.87 ± 0.27 to 0.35 ± 0.21. UDVA increased on average by 5.13 lines. Mean CDVA improved from 0.21 ± 0.10 to 0.09. ± 0.07, and the proportion of eyes with CDVA ≥ 20/25 increased from 29.8% to 85.1% after surgery. No eyes lost lines of CDVA. The Alpins correction index of astigmatism was 0.77 and the mean refractive cylinder decreased from 4.99 ± 1.89 to −2.31 ± 1.47 D (p < 0.001). Mean and maximal keratometry was reduced on average by −2.10 ± 1.42 D and −3.02 ± 3.68 D, respectively (p < 0.001). The RMS of corneal high-order aberrations dropped from 3.296 ± 1.180 µm to 2.192 ± 0.919 µm, and that of vertical coma from −2.656 ± 1.189 µm to −1.427 ± 1.024 µm (p < 0.001). All topometric indices improved after surgery. Conclusions: Planning Keraring implantation using the topographic pattern-based nomogram is very effective and safe in eyes with mild to moderate keratoconus. Using that nomogram of UDVA and CDVA are clinically significant.
Uveal melanoma is a malignant neoplasm that derives from pigmented melanocytes of the uvea and involves, in order of decreasing prevalence, the choroid, ciliary body and iris. Its prognosis is related to histopathologic and genetic features, tumor size and location, extraocular extension. The diagnosis is fundamentally based on clinical evaluation (ophthalmoscopy, biomicroscopy) and ultrasonography. MRI is useful in case of untransparent lens or subretinal effusion. Moreover, MRI has a significant role to confirm the diagnosis, in the evaluation of the local extent of the disease with implications for treatment planning, and in the follow-up after radiotherapy treatment. Uveal melanoma can show different morphologic features (lentiform, dome or mushroom shape) and often determines retinal detachment. MR appearance of uveal melanoma mainly depends on the melanin content. Uveal melanoma typically displays high signal intensity on T1-weighted images and low signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Nevertheless, imaging appearance may be variable based on the degree of pigmentation and the presence of areas of necrosis or cavitation. Differential diagnosis includes other uveal lesions. The radiologists and in particular MRI play a significant role in the clinical management of uveal melanoma. The purpose of this pictorial review is to provide the radiologists with awareness about diagnostic methods and therapeutic options of uveal melanoma. In the present first section we summarize the MR anatomy of the eye and describe ophthalmological and radiological imaging techniques to diagnose uveal melanomas, with emphasis on the role of MR imaging. Additionally, we review MR imaging appearance of uveal melanomas.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the variation of dry eye disease (DED) prevalence in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) treated with dupilumab. Methods: This prospective case–control study included consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe AD scheduled for dupilumab between May and December 2021 and healthy subjects. DED prevalence, the Ocular Surface Disease Index, tear film breakup time test, osmolarity, Oxford staining score, and Schirmer test results were collected at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months after dupilumab therapy. The Eczema Area and Severity Index was assessed at baseline. Ocular side effects and discontinuation of dupilumab were also recorded. Results: Seventy-two eyes from 36 patients with AD treated with dupilumab and 36 healthy controls were included. Prevalence of DED increased from 16.7% at baseline to 33.3% at 6 months in the dupilumab group ( P = 0.001), whereas it remained unchanged in the control group ( P = 0.110). At 6 months, the Ocular Surface Disease Index and Oxford score increased (from 8.5 ± 9.8 to 11.0 ± 13.0, P = 0.068, and from 0.1 ± 0.5 to 0.3 ± 0.6, P = 0.050, respectively), the tear film breakup time test and Schirmer test results decreased (from 7.8 ± 2.6 s to 7.1 ± 2.7 s, P < 0.001, and from 15.4 ± 9.6 mm to 13.2 ± 7.9 mm, P = 0.036, respectively) in the dupilumab group, whereas they remained stable in the control group ( P > 0.05). Osmolarity was unchanged (dupilumab P = 0.987 and controls P = 0.073). At 6 months after dupilumab therapy, 42% of patients had conjunctivitis, 36% blepharitis, and 2.8% keratitis. No severe side effects were reported, and none of the patients discontinued dupilumab. No association between Eczema Area and Severity Index and DED prevalence was shown. Conclusions: DED prevalence increased in patients with AD treated with dupilumab at 6 months. However, no severe ocular side effects were found and no patient discontinued therapy.
Uveal melanoma, in spite of its rarity, represents the most common primitive intraocular malignant neoplasm of the adults; it affects choroid, ciliary bodied and iris and remains clinically silent for a long time, being accidentally discovered by routine ophthalmic exams. Prognosis of uveal melanoma is poor and frequently characterized by liver metastases, within 10–15 years from diagnosis. Autophagy is a multi-step catabolic process by which cells remove damaged organelles and proteins and recycle nutrients. It has been hypothesized that in early stages of tumorigenesis autophagy has a tumor suppressor role while, in more advanced stages, it may represent a survival mechanism of neoplastic cells in response to stress. Several proteins related to autophagy cascade have been investigated in numerous subtypes of human cancer, with overall controversal results. In this paper we studied the immunohistochemical expression of 3 autophagy related proteins (Beclin-1, p62 and ATG7) in a cohort of 85 primary uveal melanoma treated by primary enucleation (39 with metastasis and 46 non metastatic) and correlated their expression with clinico-pathological parameters and blood vascular microvessel density, in order to investigate the potential prognostic role of autophagy in this rare neoplasm. We found that high immunohistochemical levels of Beclin-1 correlated with a lower risk of metastasis and higher disease-free survival times, indicating a positive prognostic role for Beclin-1 in uveal melanoma. No statistically significative differences regarding the expression of ATG7 and p62 between metastatic and non metastatic patients was detected.
