Purpose: To investigate the effect of intravitreal injection of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on activation and proliferation of endogenous retinal progenitor cells in the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat.

Methods: Twenty-four rats were studied after the 30th postnatal day (≥30). Eighteen RCS-p⁺/LAV rats were divided into 3 groups: bFGF-treated, vehicle-treated, and untreated groups randomly, and 6 RCS-ray⁺p⁺/Lav rats were used as normal controls. 6 μl of bFGF (5 μg /10 μl) or vehicle was injected into the vitreous on day 31, 33, and 35 after birth (P31, P33, P35) in the bFGF group and vehicle group respectively, and no injections were administered in the untreated and control groups. All the rats were euthanized, and their eyes were enucleated, hemisected, and fixed at 50 days after birth for immunohistochemistry and measurement of outer nuclear layer thickness.

Results: Nestin and Chx10 were positive in all retinal layers. Intravitreal injection of bFGF in retina-dystrophic RCS (RCS-p⁺/Lav) rats induced intense labeling for the retinal progenitor cell markers Chx10 and Nestin, which were highly colocalized. Fluorescence intensity for both labels was somewhat less in the control rats, and much less in the vehicle-injected rats as well as in the untreated RCS rats. The outer nuclear layer (ONL) was significantly thicker in the bFGF group than that in the vehicle-treated or untreated group (P < 0.01), but thinner than that of the control group (P < 0.01). No significant difference was observed in the ONL thickness between the vehicle group and untreated group (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: bFGF may contribute to the activation of retinal progenitor cells in RCS rats, thus counteracting degeneration by promoting the proliferation of the progenitor cells.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of intravitreal injection of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on activation and proliferation of endogenous retinal progenitor cells in the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat.

Methods: Twenty-four rats were studied after the 30th postnatal day (≥30). Eighteen RCS-p⁺/LAV rats were divided into 3 groups: bFGF-treated, vehicle-treated, and untreated groups randomly, and 6 RCS-ray⁺p⁺/Lav rats were used as normal controls. 6 μl of bFGF (5 μg /10 μl) or vehicle was injected into the vitreous on day 31, 33, and 35 after birth (P31, P33, P35) in the bFGF group and vehicle group respectively, and no injections were administered in the untreated and control groups. All the rats were euthanized, and their eyes were enucleated, hemisected, and fixed at 50 days after birth for immunohistochemistry and measurement of outer nuclear layer thickness.

Results: Nestin and Chx10 were positive in all retinal layers. Intravitreal injection of bFGF in retina-dystrophic RCS (RCS-p⁺/Lav) rats induced intense labeling for the retinal progenitor cell markers Chx10 and Nestin, which were highly colocalized. Fluorescence intensity for both labels was somewhat less in the control rats, and much less in the vehicle-injected rats as well as in the untreated RCS rats. The outer nuclear layer (ONL) was significantly thicker in the bFGF group than that in the vehicle-treated or untreated group (P < 0.01), but thinner than that of the control group (P < 0.01). No significant difference was observed in the ONL thickness between the vehicle group and untreated group (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: bFGF may contribute to the activation of retinal progenitor cells in RCS rats, thus counteracting degeneration by promoting the proliferation of the progenitor cells.

目的：评价白内障患者超声乳化术中植入Acrysof IQ Restor多焦点Toric人工晶体矫正术前规则角膜 散光的早期临床效果、安全性，以及术后人工晶状体眼的视功能状态。方法：搜集自2013年至今 在我院行白内障超声乳化术并植入Acrysof IQ Restor多焦点Toric人工晶状体的白内障患者18例(23眼) 进行分析，术前患者散光均大于1.0 D。术后随访3个月，分别观察术后1周、1个月以及3个月的裸眼远视力，最佳矫正远视力以及裸眼近视力，术前散光以及术后3个月时残余散光、等效球镜度数 和人工晶状体的旋转度。结果：术后3个月患者裸眼远视力0.89±0.21，最佳矫正远视力0.95±0.38， 等效球镜为?0.5~+0.25D，裸眼近视力为0.82±0.19。术后3个月验光全眼散光为(0.38±0.15) D，较术前散光(1.79±0.43) D有明显降低(P<0.05)。术后3个月人工晶状体的轴位平均偏离(3.48±1.21)°。结论：Acrysof IQ Restor多焦点Toric人工晶状体为白内障患者提供了良好的术后全程视力和视觉质 量，并校正了术前角膜散光，实现了患者高度满意率和脱镜率，可预测性好，并有良好的旋转稳定性。

目的：评价白内障患者超声乳化术中植入Acrysof IQ Restor多焦点Toric人工晶体矫正术前规则角膜 散光的早期临床效果、安全性，以及术后人工晶状体眼的视功能状态。方法：搜集自2013年至今 在我院行白内障超声乳化术并植入Acrysof IQ Restor多焦点Toric人工晶状体的白内障患者18例(23眼) 进行分析，术前患者散光均大于1.0 D。术后随访3个月，分别观察术后1周、1个月以及3个月的裸眼远视力，最佳矫正远视力以及裸眼近视力，术前散光以及术后3个月时残余散光、等效球镜度数 和人工晶状体的旋转度。结果：术后3个月患者裸眼远视力0.89±0.21，最佳矫正远视力0.95±0.38， 等效球镜为?0.5~+0.25D，裸眼近视力为0.82±0.19。术后3个月验光全眼散光为(0.38±0.15) D，较术前散光(1.79±0.43) D有明显降低(P<0.05)。术后3个月人工晶状体的轴位平均偏离(3.48±1.21)°。结论：Acrysof IQ Restor多焦点Toric人工晶状体为白内障患者提供了良好的术后全程视力和视觉质 量，并校正了术前角膜散光，实现了患者高度满意率和脱镜率，可预测性好，并有良好的旋转稳定性。

Background: To investigate the 1-time success rate of probing alone and nasolacrimal duct probing combined with nasolacrimal injection of levofloxacin ophthalmic gel on congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) in young children.

Methods: A retrospective case series was performed on 494 cases (647 eyes) of 3–12 month-old children with CNLDO between July 2014 and July 2015. Material obtained from the lacrimal sac was cultured to isolate infectious agents. Susceptibility testing was done. Children from 3–12 months of age who were found to be sensitive to Levofloxacin (n=493 eyes) were separated into two groups: 3–6 months of age (276 eyes) and 7–12 months of age (217 eyes). Each of the groups were then randomized into group A (138 eyes of 3–6 months of age; 102 eyes of 7–12 months of age) and group B (138 eyes of 3–6 months of age; 115 eyes of 7–12 months of age). Children in group A underwent nasolacrimal duct probing alone; those in group B underwent nasolacrimal duct probing plus nasolacrimal duct injection of levofloxacin and the efficacy of probing was evaluated.

Results: The average detection rate of pathogenic bacteria in dacryocystitis was 75.1%, and Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the main pathogenic bacteria (42.59%, 106 cases). Among children from 7–12 months of age, the 1-time success rate of nasolacrimal duct probing alone was 88.24% and the 1-time success rate of probing combined with nasolacrimal duct injection of levofloxacin ophthalmic gel was 96.52% (statistical significance, P=0.02<0.05).

Conclusions: Most pathogenic bacteria (96.81%) were sensitive to levofloxacin. Nasolacrimal duct probing combined with nasolacrimal duct injection of levofloxacin may improve the success rate of probing in children older than 6 months of age.

Background: To investigate the 1-time success rate of probing alone and nasolacrimal duct probing combined with nasolacrimal injection of levofloxacin ophthalmic gel on congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) in young children.

Methods: A retrospective case series was performed on 494 cases (647 eyes) of 3–12 month-old children with CNLDO between July 2014 and July 2015. Material obtained from the lacrimal sac was cultured to isolate infectious agents. Susceptibility testing was done. Children from 3–12 months of age who were found to be sensitive to Levofloxacin (n=493 eyes) were separated into two groups: 3–6 months of age (276 eyes) and 7–12 months of age (217 eyes). Each of the groups were then randomized into group A (138 eyes of 3–6 months of age; 102 eyes of 7–12 months of age) and group B (138 eyes of 3–6 months of age; 115 eyes of 7–12 months of age). Children in group A underwent nasolacrimal duct probing alone; those in group B underwent nasolacrimal duct probing plus nasolacrimal duct injection of levofloxacin and the efficacy of probing was evaluated.

Results: The average detection rate of pathogenic bacteria in dacryocystitis was 75.1%, and Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the main pathogenic bacteria (42.59%, 106 cases). Among children from 7–12 months of age, the 1-time success rate of nasolacrimal duct probing alone was 88.24% and the 1-time success rate of probing combined with nasolacrimal duct injection of levofloxacin ophthalmic gel was 96.52% (statistical significance, P=0.02<0.05).

Conclusions: Most pathogenic bacteria (96.81%) were sensitive to levofloxacin. Nasolacrimal duct probing combined with nasolacrimal duct injection of levofloxacin may improve the success rate of probing in children older than 6 months of age.

Background: To explore the difference between the outcomes of correlations between a series of variables and adverse reactions (ARs) to fluorescein from univariate and multivariate analysis and to evaluate the nausea effects in different age groups.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients undergoing consecutive fluorescein angiography between March 2010 and February 2012 was conducted. No patients were excluded on the ground of age, presence of atopy, allergy history, previous procedures without severe allergic ARs, asymptomatic hypertension and kidney failure with serum creatinine levels lower than 250 μmol/L or with renal dialysis.

Results: A total of 829 patients were enrolled and 22.2% of them had ARs. The majority of reactions were nausea (12.1%) which occurred less when age became old (P<0.0001). When the correlations between a series of variables and ARs were assessed separately, age (P<0.0001), prior reactions (P<0.0001) and motion sickness (P=0.0062) were highly and cardio/cerebrovascular disease (P=0.0015), diabetes (P=0.0001) and renal disease (P=0.0219) were lowly related to ARs. However, when the correlations were assessed simultaneously, only age [odd ratio (OR) 0.974; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.962–0.986], prior reactions (OR 5.596; 95% CI, 2.083–15.029) and motion sickness (OR 4.849; 95% CI, 1.583–14.856) were statistically correlated with ARs.

Conclusions: Fluorescein angiography is a safe procedure for patients who are relatively healthy but with a history of any systemic disease. Young age, prior reactions and motion sickness which are highly related to emetic events should be considered in the evaluation of ARs to fluorescein.

Background: To explore the difference between the outcomes of correlations between a series of variables and adverse reactions (ARs) to fluorescein from univariate and multivariate analysis and to evaluate the nausea effects in different age groups.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients undergoing consecutive fluorescein angiography between March 2010 and February 2012 was conducted. No patients were excluded on the ground of age, presence of atopy, allergy history, previous procedures without severe allergic ARs, asymptomatic hypertension and kidney failure with serum creatinine levels lower than 250 μmol/L or with renal dialysis.

Results: A total of 829 patients were enrolled and 22.2% of them had ARs. The majority of reactions were nausea (12.1%) which occurred less when age became old (P<0.0001). When the correlations between a series of variables and ARs were assessed separately, age (P<0.0001), prior reactions (P<0.0001) and motion sickness (P=0.0062) were highly and cardio/cerebrovascular disease (P=0.0015), diabetes (P=0.0001) and renal disease (P=0.0219) were lowly related to ARs. However, when the correlations were assessed simultaneously, only age [odd ratio (OR) 0.974; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.962–0.986], prior reactions (OR 5.596; 95% CI, 2.083–15.029) and motion sickness (OR 4.849; 95% CI, 1.583–14.856) were statistically correlated with ARs.

Conclusions: Fluorescein angiography is a safe procedure for patients who are relatively healthy but with a history of any systemic disease. Young age, prior reactions and motion sickness which are highly related to emetic events should be considered in the evaluation of ARs to fluorescein.

Background: To compare the structural outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and laser treatment for type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: This is a retrospective comparative study. From December 2002 to April 2009, patients with type 1 ROP according to criteria of Early Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ETROP) study were treated by peripheral retinal diode laser photocoagulation in nearly confluent pattern. From May 2009 to January 2015, we performed IVB for patients with type 1 ROP. The patients were closely followed until disappearance of retinal neovascularization in the laser group and regression of avascular zone in the bevacizumab group. The demographical data, postmenstrual age (PMA) for treatment, and fundus findings were recorded by chart review. The difference between laser and bevacizumab groups was compared by Student t-test and Fisher exact test.

Results: We collected 43 patients (86 eyes) with type 1 ROP, including 30 male and 13 female infants. Their mean gestation age and birth body weight (BBW) were 27.5 weeks and 1,034 gm. Zone I and zone II disease were found in 8 and 35 patients. The mean PMA for treatment was 37.3 weeks. The mean follow-up period was 54.4 months. Laser treatment was administered in 26 patients, and bevacizumab injection for 17 infants. Single session of laser was performed in all patients of laser group without recurrence of retinal neovascularization. Complete regression of ROP was found in 15 infants of bevacizumab group following the first IVB. Four eyes in two patients (2/17, 11.7%) had recurrence of ROP and received additional injections and adjuvant laser treatment. There was no unfavorable anatomical results such as retinal detachment or macular ectopia or complications such as cataract or endophthalmitis in either bevacizumab or laser management.

Conclusions: Laser therapy and IVB were both effective treatments for type 1 ROP to cause favorable anatomical outcomes. Single session of laser ablation in nearly confluent pattern was sufficient for complete regression of ROP in laser group. Single IVB was appropriate for managing most of cases with ROP in bevacizumab group, but a small proportion (nearly one tenth) of them had recurrent episodes requiring adjuvant therapies.

Background: To compare the structural outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and laser treatment for type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: This is a retrospective comparative study. From December 2002 to April 2009, patients with type 1 ROP according to criteria of Early Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ETROP) study were treated by peripheral retinal diode laser photocoagulation in nearly confluent pattern. From May 2009 to January 2015, we performed IVB for patients with type 1 ROP. The patients were closely followed until disappearance of retinal neovascularization in the laser group and regression of avascular zone in the bevacizumab group. The demographical data, postmenstrual age (PMA) for treatment, and fundus findings were recorded by chart review. The difference between laser and bevacizumab groups was compared by Student t-test and Fisher exact test.

Results: We collected 43 patients (86 eyes) with type 1 ROP, including 30 male and 13 female infants. Their mean gestation age and birth body weight (BBW) were 27.5 weeks and 1,034 gm. Zone I and zone II disease were found in 8 and 35 patients. The mean PMA for treatment was 37.3 weeks. The mean follow-up period was 54.4 months. Laser treatment was administered in 26 patients, and bevacizumab injection for 17 infants. Single session of laser was performed in all patients of laser group without recurrence of retinal neovascularization. Complete regression of ROP was found in 15 infants of bevacizumab group following the first IVB. Four eyes in two patients (2/17, 11.7%) had recurrence of ROP and received additional injections and adjuvant laser treatment. There was no unfavorable anatomical results such as retinal detachment or macular ectopia or complications such as cataract or endophthalmitis in either bevacizumab or laser management.

Conclusions: Laser therapy and IVB were both effective treatments for type 1 ROP to cause favorable anatomical outcomes. Single session of laser ablation in nearly confluent pattern was sufficient for complete regression of ROP in laser group. Single IVB was appropriate for managing most of cases with ROP in bevacizumab group, but a small proportion (nearly one tenth) of them had recurrent episodes requiring adjuvant therapies.

Background: To evaluate the inflammatory response after accelerated collagen cross-linking (CXL) in eyes with keratoconus.

Methods: Consecutive eyes with keratoconus undergoing CXL surgery were included in this nonrandomized interventional study. Aqueous flare was measured pre- and post-operatively with a laser flare photometer at 1 week, 1, 3 and 6 months after CXL.

Results: Sixty eyes of 60 patients were entered into the study. Before CXL, the mean flare value was 4.5 photons per millisecond (ph/ms). The flare values observed at week 1 (7.1 ph/ms; P=0.008), month 1 (6.5 ph/ms; P=0.04), month 3 (6.7 ph/ms; P=0.004) and month 6 (6.7 ph/ms; P=0.004) were significantly higher compared to baseline. Flare values were not significantly different from week 1 up to 6 months after CXL (P=0.930). No statistically significant correlation was detected between the amount of inflammation and keratometric indices.

Conclusions: Accelerated CXL in patients with keratoconus may cause a subclinical inflammatory response which is evident as slight but rather long-lasting rise of aqueous flare.

Background: To evaluate the inflammatory response after accelerated collagen cross-linking (CXL) in eyes with keratoconus.

Methods: Consecutive eyes with keratoconus undergoing CXL surgery were included in this nonrandomized interventional study. Aqueous flare was measured pre- and post-operatively with a laser flare photometer at 1 week, 1, 3 and 6 months after CXL.

Results: Sixty eyes of 60 patients were entered into the study. Before CXL, the mean flare value was 4.5 photons per millisecond (ph/ms). The flare values observed at week 1 (7.1 ph/ms; P=0.008), month 1 (6.5 ph/ms; P=0.04), month 3 (6.7 ph/ms; P=0.004) and month 6 (6.7 ph/ms; P=0.004) were significantly higher compared to baseline. Flare values were not significantly different from week 1 up to 6 months after CXL (P=0.930). No statistically significant correlation was detected between the amount of inflammation and keratometric indices.

Conclusions: Accelerated CXL in patients with keratoconus may cause a subclinical inflammatory response which is evident as slight but rather long-lasting rise of aqueous flare.

Background: Refractive errors are among the most frequent reasons for demand of eye-care services. Publications on refractive errors prevalence in our country are few. This study has the purpose to assess the prevalence of refractive errors in an adult population of Villa Maria, Córdoba, Argentina.

Methods: The Villa Maria Eye Study is a population-based cross-sectional study conducted in the city of Villa Maria, Córdoba, Argentina from May 2008 to November 2009. Subject’s aged 40+ received a demographic interview and complete ophthalmological exam. Visual acuity was obtained with an ETDRS chart. Cycloplegic auto refraction was performed. The spherical equivalent was highly correlated between right and left eyes, so only data of right eyes are presented. Myopia and hyperopia were defined with a ±0.50 diopters (D) criterion and astigmatism >1 D.

Results: This study included 646 subjects, aged 40 to 90 (mean age: 59.6±10.3 years old). Four hundred and sixty two (71.5%) were females. The mean spherical equivalent was +0.714±2.41 D (range, ?22.00 to +8.25 D) and the power of the cylinder was, on average, ?0.869±0.91 D (range, 0 to ?6.50 D). In this sample, 61.6% subjects were hyperopic, and 13.5% were myopic. Myopia prevalence was lower in men (9.8% versus 14.9%) but this difference among genders was not statistically significant. There were 141 subjects (21.8%) with anisometropia greater than 1 D, and 168 subjects (26.0%) with astigmatism greater than 1 D.

Conclusions: The present study shows the prevalence of cycloplegic refractive errors in an adult population of Argentina. The prevalence of hyperopia was high, while myopia prevalence was very low.

Background: Refractive errors are among the most frequent reasons for demand of eye-care services. Publications on refractive errors prevalence in our country are few. This study has the purpose to assess the prevalence of refractive errors in an adult population of Villa Maria, Córdoba, Argentina.

Methods: The Villa Maria Eye Study is a population-based cross-sectional study conducted in the city of Villa Maria, Córdoba, Argentina from May 2008 to November 2009. Subject’s aged 40+ received a demographic interview and complete ophthalmological exam. Visual acuity was obtained with an ETDRS chart. Cycloplegic auto refraction was performed. The spherical equivalent was highly correlated between right and left eyes, so only data of right eyes are presented. Myopia and hyperopia were defined with a ±0.50 diopters (D) criterion and astigmatism >1 D.

Results: This study included 646 subjects, aged 40 to 90 (mean age: 59.6±10.3 years old). Four hundred and sixty two (71.5%) were females. The mean spherical equivalent was +0.714±2.41 D (range, ?22.00 to +8.25 D) and the power of the cylinder was, on average, ?0.869±0.91 D (range, 0 to ?6.50 D). In this sample, 61.6% subjects were hyperopic, and 13.5% were myopic. Myopia prevalence was lower in men (9.8% versus 14.9%) but this difference among genders was not statistically significant. There were 141 subjects (21.8%) with anisometropia greater than 1 D, and 168 subjects (26.0%) with astigmatism greater than 1 D.

Conclusions: The present study shows the prevalence of cycloplegic refractive errors in an adult population of Argentina. The prevalence of hyperopia was high, while myopia prevalence was very low.