Abstract: Four challenging and unusual retinal cases: (I) 11-year follow-up for retinal hemangioblastoma with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease; (II) treatment for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC)—observation, half does photodynamic therapy (PDT) or micropulse laser photocoagulation; (III) diagnosis and treatment for a child with optic nerve defect; (IV) the optional treatment for retinal detachment (RD) with iridolenticular choroidal coloboma, were presented and discussed by three international retinal specialists at a retinal clinical round in Fundus Diseases Center of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC). The discussion helps us a better understanding of the pathogenesis and managements of these four retinal diseases and their association with systemic conditions.

Abstract: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a proliferative disorder of the developing retina in premature and low birth weight infants. Recently, the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathophysiology of ROP has been well studied and anti-VEGF drugs have been used in phase 2 to treat ROP patients in many ways. At first, ophthalmologists began to give intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) or ranibizumab off-label to treat ROP as a salvage treatment after failure in laser photocoagulation or in combination with laser as an adjuvant treatment for patients had media opacity or rigid pupil. Now anti-VEGF drugs are also used as monotherapy in type I ROP or perioperative use in stage 4/5 ROP. Questions remain regarding long-term safety, dose, timing, visual outcomes and long-term effects, including systemically.

Abstract: The highly competitive offer of medical training programs and schools, globalization and constant mobility of physicians and medical students (MS), and the commitment to society to deliver competent physicians, demands the definition of performance standards. This would allow to make their performances comparable no matter where they studied or which textbook did they used as reference, to have evaluation mechanisms that guarantee mastery of the integral evaluation of the performance. Assessment has been the key in the teaching-learning process as this obtains a formative and summative element, at different moments, from the extent to which the students have acquired knowledge, skills and attitudes. The progress of the learner must be enhanced with effective feedback on their performance and self-direction of the results obtained in each of the mechanisms established. If, traditionally, this has been considered as the accreditation of compliance with a standard, the evaluation also functions in an integral way as a formative process that identifies advances and deficiencies in the training of residents that allows the definition of actions and strategies for improving the operation of the programs. Different assessment mechanisms are associated with the areas of competence domain, some of the most common tools are: theoretical exams, checklists and rubrics, portfolio, projects and challenges. However, the importance of defining standards which are perceived as fair and designed according to the learning objectives remains a priority to guarantee the credibility of the evaluation agencies and institutions. Some strategies to assure credibility include the involvement of expert and trained evaluators, allowing the process to be carried out with transparency and diligence, and the principles employed should be supported by educational research.

Abstract: Vision loss in retinal disease is often secondary to neural cell loss. Neural loss of any type including that of the retina has always been considered irreversible as these cells rarely retain the ability to regenerate. The recent identification of stable stem cell sources and the advances in stem cell technology have transformed this area of research science into an important area of strong therapeutic possibility. These sources include human embryonic stem cells (hESC), induced pleuripotent stem cell sources (iPS) as well as adult sources. The main advantage of using a stem cell source is that there is an infinite capacity to reproduce and therefore an infinite capacity to produce cells, including neural cells for transplantation. The challenge more recently has been to transform these stem cells into differentiated cells that are useful for transplantation in disease. In terms of the retina, hESC have been successfully developed into retinal pigment epithelial cells. These cells have been characterised as identical to native human RPE cells structurally, functionally and biochemically. Previous studies of macular translocation and RPE/choroidal transplantation have shown that vision loss from AMD can be reversed. Early animal studies show that the transplanted HESC RPE survive and can prevent vision loss in animal models of disease. Initial hESC based RPE transplantation trials using suspension cultures were successful in demonstrating safety of the cells in the context of disease and sub-retinal delivery. More recently, we have carried out the first 2 transplantations of sheets of hESC based RPE on a coated artificial Bruch’s membrane, in the London Project’s RPE transplantation trial, with promising results. As well as RPE— Bruch’s transplantation I will also briefly discuss the recent advances in neuro-retinal and vascular reconstructions using stem cells.

Abstract: Corneal collagen-crosslinking (CXL) has been widely investigated in the adult population. There is still little available in the literature, however, on the effects of CXL in children. A review of the literature on CXL in the pediatric population is presented here, with a particular emphasis on the refractive effects. Although several studies demonstrate promising results, most studies have small sample sizes with relatively short follow-up periods. Further investigation on the effects of CXL in the pediatric population is required to better understand long-term effects.

Background: The purpose of this study is to summarize the application of day surgery combined with fast track program in strabismus operation under general anesthesia.

Methods: The clinical data of 2,000 cases of strabismus patients who had underwent surgery in day surgery or traditional hospitalization in the duration from 2015 to 2016 was retrospectively analyzed. The safety and efficacy were assessed by comparing the average length of stay in hospitals, anesthesia recovery time, patient satisfaction and number of adverse events.

Results: Compared with the traditional group, the average length of stay in hospital and recovery time in day surgery group were significantly lower (P<0.001) and the satisfaction of patient was improved (P<0.05), which were statistically significant difference. Moreover, no adverse events occurred among these patients.

Conclusions: The application of day surgery in strabismus operation under general anesthesia is feasible, which can reduce the recovery time and shorten the hospital stay of patients safely and effectively, and their satisfaction was improved at the same time.

Abstract: High speed and small gauge vitrectomy systems have made surgical intervention in complications of diabetic retinopathy (DR) safer. The availability of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) compounds for use in DR has significantly improved intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. This review discusses the indications for surgical intervention in DR. The role of anti-VEGF compounds is discussed as surgical adjuvants with an emphasis on timing of treatment before surgery.