Abstract: A smooth and timely fitting of a visually appealing, custom-made eye prosthesis after the loss of an eye is not only essential from a cosmetic point of view but above all facilitates good social and psychological rehabilitation. Cryolite glass prostheses must be replaced at least once a year, PMMA prostheses polished once a year and renewed every five years. In children, especially in growth phases, the fit of the prosthesis should be checked at least every six months and adjusted, if necessary. Ocularists and ophthalmologists should determine an individual cleaning procedure together with the patient, which depends on both the prosthesis material and external factors. Complications such as allergic, giant papillary, viral, and bacterial conjunctivitis or even blepharoconjunctivitis sicca must be detected and treated at an early stage to avoid discomfort and to maintain the ability of prosthesis wear. In the case of inflammation-induced shrinkage of the conjunctival fornices or post-enucleation socket syndrome, surgical interventions are necessary. In summary, an early supply with an eye prosthesis, adequate treatment of complications, and attention to psychological aspects, form the basis for a successful long-term rehabilitation of anophthalmic patients.

Background: To measure the anterior and posterior segment structural features of acute primary angle-closure (APAC) eyes.

Methods: A total of 36 subjects with unilateral APAC were recruited in this study. The ocular biometric characteristics were measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), respectively at baseline, 2 weeks, and 1 month after surgical intervention.

Results: At baseline, when compared with the fellow eyes, APAC-affected eyes showed significantly greater corneal thickness (P=0.004), shallower anterior chamber depth (ACD) (P<0.001), smaller anterior chamber area (ACA) (P=0.013), angle opening distance at 750 μm from the scleral spur (AOD750) (P=0.002), trabecular–iris space area at 750 μm from the scleral spur (TISA750) (P=0.033), angle recess area (ARA) (P=0.014), and iris area (IARE) (P=0.003), less iris curvature (ICURVE) (P=0.003), and larger lens vault (LV) (P=0.030). After intervention, the corneal thickness was significantly decreased at 1 month (P<0.001), while ACD, ACA, and AOD750 were significantly increased at 2 weeks and 1 month (all P<0.017). Changes in ACD were correlated with decreasing LV (P<0.05). The posterior segment parameters did not change over the 4-week period.

Conclusions: When compared with the fellow eyes, APAC-affected eyes had greater corneal thickness, shallower anterior chamber, narrower angle, less ICURVE, and larger LV. After intervention, the corneal thickness was decreased, while the shallower anterior chamber was relieved to some extent.

Abstract: Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a devastating syndrome characterized by panuveitis, retinal necrosis, and a high rate of retinal detachment that may result in poor visual outcomes if not promptly diagnosed and treated. ARN is most commonly caused by viruses within the herpesvirus family. Etiologies include varicella-zoster virus, herpes simplex virus, and cytomegalovirus, and may be promptly diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction testing of aqueous or vitreous fluid. The true incidence of ARN is not known due to its rarity; as a result, clinical treatment is often guided by retrospective case series, case reports, and expert opinion. Standard of care has evolved over time but currently includes a combination of systemic and intravitreal antiviral in conjunction with topical or oral steroids and surgical therapy as needed. Combination therapy may reduce the rate of severe vision loss and increase the rate of visual acuity gain, although further studies are needed in this area. In particular for patients with mild to moderate disease, combination therapy may reduce the rate of retinal detachment. Adjunctive therapies including oral corticosteroid and prophylactic laser barricade are incompletely studied, but corticosteroid in particular, may reduce inflammation, which also is involved in the severe disease pathogenesis observed in ARN. This review discusses the advances in diagnosis and treatment of ARN, including management with combination antiviral medication and surgical interventions.

Abstract: An intestinal dysbiosis is connected to a number of inflammatory diseases through various mechanisms relating to its effect on immune cell function and differentiation. This is a review of the literature summarizing our current understanding of intestinal microbial contributions to non-infectious uveitis and strategies to target the intestinal microbiome to treat uveitis. Several groups have demonstrated an intestinal dysbiosis associated with certain types of non-infectious uveitis. Additionally, approaches to treat uveitis by modifying the intestinal microbiota, such as oral antibiotics or administration of oral short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are intestinal bacterial metabolites produced by fermentation of dietary fiber, can successfully treat uveitis in mouse models. This reduction in severity of ocular inflammation occurs via the following mechanisms: enhancement of regulatory T cells, decreasing intestinal permeability, and/or affecting T cell trafficking between the intestines and the spleen. Other strategies that are directed at the intestinal microbiota that might be effective to treat uveitis include dietary changes, probiotics, or fecal microbial transplantation. The commensal gut bacteria are influential in systemic and intestinal mucosal immunity and thus contribute to the development of extraintestinal inflammation like uveitis. Targeting the intestinal microbiome thus has the potential to be a successful strategy to treat non-infectious uveitis.

Abstract: Cavernous hemangioma is the most primary benign orbital tumor in adults, and majority of cases could be easily settled by surgical treatment. However, cavernous hemangioma lodged deep in the orbital apex remained a challenge because the surgery may pose a high risk of injury to the optic nerve and significant visual loss. This presentation would report a case of cavernous hemangioma located in orbital apex who presented superonasal and inferotemporal peripheral vision defect. The patient received fully transnasal endoscopic surgery, and a 2 cm × 1.5 cm tumor was successfully removed from the left orbital apex. The treatment results were satisfactory, with no after-effects and adverse reactions during follow-up. This case highlighted that transnasal endoscopic surgery is a promising technique for cavernous hemangiomas that are located deep in orbital apex. This approach provides direct pathway to tumor with limiting morbidity, maximal surgical field and ample illumination. The procedure represents a safe and less invasive management.

Abstract: Inherited retinal diseases (IRD) are a leading cause of blindness in the working age population. The advances in ocular genetics, retinal imaging and molecular biology, have conspired to create the ideal environment for establishing treatments for IRD, with the first approved gene therapy and the commencement of multiple therapy trials. The scope of this review is to familiarize clinicians and scientists with the current landscape of retinal imaging in IRD. Herein we present in a comprehensive and concise manner the imaging findings of: (I) macular dystrophies (MD) [Stargardt disease (ABCA4), X-linked retinoschisis (RS1), Best disease (BEST1), pattern dystrophy (PRPH2), Sorsby fundus dystrophy (TIMP3), and autosomal dominant drusen (EFEMP1)], (II) cone and cone-rod dystrophies (GUCA1A, PRPH2, ABCA4 and RPGR), (III) cone dysfunction syndromes [achromatopsia (CNGA3, CNGB3, PDE6C, PDE6H, GNAT2, ATF6], blue-cone monochromatism (OPN1LW/OPN1MW array), oligocone trichromacy, bradyopsia (RGS9/R9AP) and Bornholm eye disease (OPN1LW/OPN1MW), (IV) Leber congenital amaurosis (GUCY2D, CEP290, CRB1, RDH12, RPE65, TULP1, AIPL1 and NMNAT1), (V) rod-cone dystrophies [retinitis pigmentosa, enhanced S-Cone syndrome (NR2E3), Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy (CYP4V2)], (VI) rod dysfunction syndromes (congenital stationary night blindness, fundus albipunctatus (RDH5), Oguchi disease (SAG, GRK1), and (VII) chorioretinal dystrophies [choroideremia (CHM), gyrate atrophy (OAT)].

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) methods have become a focus of intense interest within the eye care community. This parallels a wider interest in AI, which has started impacting many facets of society. However, understanding across the community has not kept pace with technical developments. What is AI, and how does it relate to other terms like machine learning or deep learning? How is AI currently used within eye care, and how might it be used in the future? This review paper provides an overview of these concepts for eye care specialists. We explain core concepts in AI, describe how these methods have been applied in ophthalmology, and consider future directions and challenges. We walk through the steps needed to develop an AI system for eye disease, and discuss the challenges in validating and deploying such technology. We argue that among medical fields, ophthalmology may be uniquely positioned to benefit from the thoughtful deployment of AI to improve patient care.