To evaluate the predictive value of pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) in the diagnosis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and its association with the stage of PDR. This observational case-control study included participants who underwent routine complete blood count testing. Inflammation-related indices, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and PIV, were derived and analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was applied to assess the diagnostic performance of these indices in distinguishing patients with PDR, with sensitivity, specificity, area under ROC, and optimal threshold values calculated. In addition, binary logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between inflammatory indices and PDR stage. This study included 205 patients: 60 with diabetes without retinopathy (mean age: 61.81±10.76y), 80 with PDR (mean age: 61.63±10.03y) and 65 healthy controls (mean age: 59.52±5.88y). The PDR group had significantly higher white blood cell (WBC, P<0.001), monocyte (MONO, P=0.009) and neutrophil (NEU) counts (P<0.001). SII and PIV had the highest sensitivity and area under ROC for predicting patients with PDR (0.822, 0.846, respectively). The optimal cut-off values for discriminating patients with PDR were determined to be >527.12 and >299.08 for SII and PIV, respectively. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a decrease in lymphocyte (LYM) count and an increase in platelet count (PLT), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), SII, and PIV were all significantly associated with the development of high-risk PDR (all P<0.05). PIV was more stable than independent MONO, LYM, PLT and NEU levels in predicting both the diagnosis and stage of PDR. The optimal cut-off value for PIV to discriminate patients with high-risk PDR was found to be >345.87 area under ROC=0.871, with sensitivity of 0.827 and specificity of 0.812. PIV is a reliable, valuable, and inexpensive blood index that can be used for early detection and staging of PDR. PIV may therefore be essential to be used for the follow-up of diabetic patients.

To investigate whether vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) mediates transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-β2)-caused epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inflammatory responses in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells through regulating snail family transcriptional repressor 1 (SNAI1), and to validate its role in a proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) mouse model. Human RPE cell line ARPE-19 cells were treated with TGF-β2 to construct an EMT model. Western blot detected VRK1 level. The effects of VRK1 on SNAI1 expression and biological behavior of ARPE-19 cells were detected by immunofluorescence, ELISA, Transwell, and scratch assay, and the interaction between VRK1 and SNAI1 was confirmed through immunoprecipitation. A PVR mouse model was constructed, and the effects of VRK1 or/and SNAI1 on retinal damage were assessed by pathologic staining. Inflammatory factors and EMT-related proteins were assessed with ELISA and Western blot. VRK1 was upregulated in ARPE-19 cells after TGF-β2 treatment. Overexpression of VRK1 increased cell viability, promoted cell migration and EMT, and the levels of inflammatory factors. Silencing of VRK1 reversed the above indexes. There was a direct interaction between VRK1 and SNAI1, and overexpresssion SNAI1 weakened the impacts of silencing of VRK1. In PVR mice, silencing of VRK1 ameliorated retinal structural damage, decreased proinflammatory factor levels, and suppressed SNAI1 and mesenchymal marker expression. SNAI1 overexpression antagonized the protective effects of silencing VRK1 and exacerbated EMT and inflammatory responses. VRK1 plays a key role in retinal structural and inflammatory damage in PVR mice by regulating SNAI1 and mediating TGF-β2-caused EMT and inflammatory responses in RPE cells.

To determine the prevalence of tropia, phoria, and abnormality of near point of convergence (NPC), along with associated ocular symptoms, in high school students. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Erbil, Iraq. The target population consisted of high school students selected through a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Comprehensive visual examinations were performed for all students, including measurement of uncorrected and corrected visual acuity, objective and subjective refraction, and distance and near cover tests. NPC was evaluated using a single 6/12 visual target mounted on a centrally positioned Gulden fixation stick. Ocular symptoms were investigated through interviews. Of the 996 selected students, 921 participated in the study. Of them, 543 (58.96%) were female, and their ages ranged from 13 to 22y. The prevalence of tropia was 3.58% [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.38%-4.78%], observed in 3.44% of males and 3.68% of females. Exotropia (1.95%, 95%CI: 1.06%-2.85%) was more common than esotropia (1.52%, 95%CI: 0.73%-2.31%). The 15.42% (95%CI: 13.09%-17.75%) of students had phoria. Exophoria (13.79%, 95%CI: 11.56%-16.02%) was significantly more prevalent than esophoria (1.63%, 95%CI: 0.81%-2.45%). The prevalence of NPC abnormality in the total study population was 24.97% (95%CI: 22.18%-27.77%). It was 26.72% (95%CI: 22.26%-31.18%) in males and 23.76% (95%CI: 20.18%-27.34%) in females (P=0.307). The most common symptom in phoria was headache (86.62%, 95%CI: 81.02%-92.22%), followed by tired or sore eyes (61.97%, 95%CI: 53.99%-69.96%). The most common symptoms in tropia were blurry vision (93.94%, 95%CI: 79.77%-99.26%) and difficulty concentrating (87.88%, 95%CI: 76.74%-99.01%). Among Erbil's high school students, the prevalence of strabismus, particularly the exodeviation type, is relatively high, and a significant percentage of students have NPC abnormalities. Addressing and correcting these binocular vision problems, due to their associated visual symptoms, can lead to an improvement in students' quality of life and academic performance.

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of a new minimally invasive technique using horizontal mattress sutures and Hoffman pockets for four-point refixation of dislocated four-haptic intraocular lenses (IOLs). This retrospective consecutive case series included eyes with dislocated Akreos AO60 IOLs underwent scleral refixation using a horizontal mattress double-needle suture technique with intralamellar knot burial via Hoffman pockets. Clinical outcomes assessed included pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), spherical equivalent (SE), suture duration, IOL centration, and perioperative complications. A total of 10 eyes from 10 patients (6 males) were included. The mean age at the time of IOL refixation was 53.10±13.07y (range: 28-68y). The mean interval between initial IOL implantation and dislocation was 8.44±3.54y. The mean postoperative follow-up duration was 11.45±10.30mo. Surgical time averaged 15.3±1.77min, with no intraoperative complications. The mean axial length was 27.16±4.35 mm, with high myopia (HM) as the leading comorbidity (4/10 eyes). Postoperative BCVA significantly improved compared to preoperative values (P=0.025). Postoperative SE was significantly improved compared with preoperative (P=0.01). All IOLs remained centered throughout follow-up. This minimally invasive four-point scleral fixation technique offers a safe and effective refixation strategy for dislocated four-haptic IOLs. The horizontal mattress suture configuration combined with Hoffman pockets facilitates durable centration, avoids conjunctival dissection, and could be adopted into routine surgical practice.

To clarify the clinical correlations and causal relationships between lipid metabolism and the progression of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). This case-control study retrieved clinical data from 2018 to 2023. A total of 2591 patients were enrolled, including 197 patients with TAO (case group) and 2394 patients with hyperthyroidism without TAO (control group). Serum lipid parameters, including triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and the HDL/total cholesterol ratio, as well as thyroid function markers, were compared between the two groups. Correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between serum lipid levels and key ocular manifestations of TAO, including exophthalmos degree, clinical activity score, and disease severity. Furthermore, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted using genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets, with hyperthyroidism as the exposure variable and serum lipid parameters as the outcome variables, to infer the causal relationship between hyperthyroidism, lipid metabolism, and TAO progression. The TAO group consisted of 101 males and 96 females, while the hyperthyroidism group included 706 males and 1688 females. Compared with the control group, patients with TAO had significantly higher levels of triglycerides (1.83±1.21 vs 1.40±1.08 mmol/L, P<0.01), total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL. Correlation analysis showed that triglyceride levels were positively correlated with exophthalmos degree, whereas HDL levels were inversely correlated with exophthalmos degree. No significant associations were found between serum lipid levels and clinical activity score (P>0.1). MR analysis confirmed that hyperthyroidism exerted a causal effect in reducing serum triglycerides [inverse-variance weighting odds ratio (OR)=0.035, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01-0.12] and total cholesterol (OR=0.085, 95%CI: 0.02-0.34), with no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy (MR-PRESSO P>0.05). Elevated serum triglyceride levels are an independent risk factor for TAO severity, especially exophthalmos, and triglyceride metabolism is inversely regulated by thyroid function.

To explore the mechanisms underlying ocular infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we conducted a comprehensive review of current literature, focusing on viral entry pathways, receptor expression in ocular tissues, and associated clinical manifestations. This review encompasses studies published within the last five years with a focus on original research and systematic reviews that provide molecular, histological, or clinical evidence. The findings show that SARS-CoV-2 can infect ocular tissues through multiple receptors beyond angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), including transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), CD147, alanyl aminopeptidase N (ANPEP), dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), angiotensin II receptor type 2 (AGTR2), and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR), which are expressed in retinal, conjunctival, corneal, limbal, and photoreceptor cells. The virus may also reach ocular structures via neurovascular invasion. Clinically, patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may present with a broad spectrum of ophthalmic manifestations, including conjunctivitis, hyperreflective lesions in the inner retinal layers, flame-shaped hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, retinal pallor, hard exudates, and various forms of maculopathy, such as paracentral acute middle maculopathy and acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN). These signs reflect both direct viral damage and secondary effects of systemic inflammation and microvascular injury. Understanding the molecular and clinical spectrum of ocular involvement is essential for early diagnosis, appropriate ophthalmologic care, and the prevention of long-term visual sequelae in patients affected by COVID-19.

To perform a bibliometric analysis of publications focusing on inflammatory mechanisms in glaucoma, thereby comprehensively understanding the current research status and identifying potential frontier directions for future studies. A systematic search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database to retrieve relevant literature published from January 1, 2000, to August 31, 2025 (data accessed on September 12, 2025). Multiple data visualization tools were employed to conduct in-depth analyses of the included publications, covering aspects such as publication quantity and quality, evolutionary trends of research hotspots, keyword co-occurrence networks, and collaborative patterns among countries/regions, institutions, and authors. A total of 3381 articles related to glaucoma inflammation were extracted from WoSCC. The analysis showed that the USA had the highest research output in this field (29.04%, n=982), followed by China (18.40%, n=622) and UK (6.01%, n=203). Based on citation frequency and burst intensity, the USA also ranked as the most influential country. Baudouin C and Sun X were identified as the most productive authors, while Journal of Glaucoma and Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science were the journals with the highest number of published relevant articles. Additionally, keyword analysis revealed that "neuroinflammation", "retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)", "pathophysiology", and "traditional Chinese medicine" are emerging research hotspots in the field of immune-inflammatory responses in glaucoma. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric overview of research on glaucoma-related inflammation, indicating that this field has received extensive scientific attention with a steady upward trend in research activity. Furthermore, it establishes a theoretical basis for the development of neuroinflammation-targeted therapeutic strategies for glaucoma and emphasizes the necessity of strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration to promote the clinical translation of research findings.

To construct an intelligent segmentation scheme for precise localization of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) leakage points, thereby enabling ophthalmologists to deliver accurate laser treatment without navigational laser equipment. A dataset with dual labels (point-level and pixel-level) was first established based on fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) images of CSC and subsequently divided into training (102 images), validation (40 images), and test (40 images) datasets. An intelligent segmentation method was then developed, based on the You Only Look Once version 8 Pose Estimation (YOLOv8-Pose) model and segment anything model (SAM), to segment CSC leakage points. Next, the YOLOv8-Pose model was trained for 200 epochs, and the best-performing model was selected to form the optimal combination with SAM. Additionally, the classic five types of U-Net series models [i.e., U-Net, recurrent residual U-Net (R2U-Net), attention U-Net (AttU-Net), recurrent residual attention U-Net (R2AttU-Net), and nested U-Net (UNet++)] were initialized with three random seeds and trained for 200 epochs, resulting in a total of 15 baseline models for comparison. Finally, based on the metrics including Dice similarity coefficient (DICE), intersection over union (IoU), precision, recall, precision-recall (PR) curve, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the proposed method was compared with baseline models through quantitative and qualitative experiments for leakage point segmentation, thereby demonstrating its effectiveness. With the increase of training epochs, the mAP50-95, Recall, and precision of the YOLOv8-Pose model showed a significant increase and tended to stabilize, and it achieved a preliminary localization success rate of 90% (i.e., 36 images) for CSC leakage points in 40 test images. Using manually expert-annotated pixel-level labels as the ground truth, the proposed method achieved outcomes with a DICE of 57.13%, an IoU of 45.31%, a precision of 45.91%, a recall of 93.57%, an area under the PR curve (AUC-PR) of 0.78 and an area under the ROC curve (AUC-ROC) of 0.97, which enables more accurate segmentation of CSC leakage points. By combining the precise localization capability of the YOLOv8-Pose model with the robust and flexible segmentation ability of SAM, the proposed method not only demonstrates the effectiveness of the YOLOv8-Pose model in detecting keypoint coordinates of CSC leakage points from the perspective of application innovation but also establishes a novel approach for accurate segmentation of CSC leakage points through the "detect-then-segment" strategy, thereby providing a potential auxiliary means for the automatic and precise real-time localization of leakage points during traditional laser photocoagulation for CSC.

To evaluate the differences in near point of convergence (NPC), fusional vergence, saccadic eye movements, versional eye movements, and heterophoria between patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy subjects. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted, enrolling two cohorts: a PD group and a healthy control group. The PD group was recruited via non-random convenience sampling, while the control group was selected randomly from individuals without PD. All participants were screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria before undergoing a comprehensive optometric assessment, which included measurements of uncorrected visual acuity, corrected visual acuity, and objective and subjective refraction. Subsequently, binocular vision function evaluations were performed, covering NPC measurement, fusional vergence reserve assessment at both distance and near, saccadic eye movement testing, and versional eye movement and heterophoria assessment. A total of 42 PD patients and 41 healthy controls were included in the final analysis. The two groups were well-matched in terms of sex distribution [29 males (69.0%) in the PD group vs 29 males (70.7%) in the control group, P=0.867] and mean age (55.3±9.6y in the PD group vs 54.9±9.8y in the control group, P=0.866). The prevalence of abnormal versional eye movements was significantly higher in the PD group than in the control group (23.81%, 95%CI: 12.05%-39.45% vs 7.32%, 95%CI: 1.54%-19.92%; P=0.025). Near exophoria was more prevalent in PD patients (61.90%, 95%CI: 45.64%-76.43%) than in controls (17.07%, 95%CI: 7.15%-32.06%), with a significant difference [odds ratio (OR)=7.99; 95%CI: 2.83-21.99; P<0.001]. The mean NPC was significantly greater (more receded) in the PD group than in the control group (9.01±3.74 cm vs 7.20±2.15 cm; P=0.007). A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between PD severity and NPC values (Pearson's correlation coefficient=0.309; P=0.046). Except for distance base-out break and distance base-out recovery values, all other fusional vergence parameters were significantly lower in the PD group than in the control group (P<0.05). The mean saccadic test score was significantly lower in PD patients than in controls (3.29±0.57 vs 3.78±0.42; P<0.001). Among all fusional vergence indices, near base-in blur yielded the highest area under the curve (AUC=0.877), with a sensitivity of 69% and specificity of 90%, followed by distance base-out blur (AUC=0.824, sensitivity=97.6%, specificity=66.7%), near base-out blur (AUC=0.814, sensitivity=76.2%, specificity=72.7%), near base-out break (AUC=0.749, sensitivity=78.6%, specificity=67.6%), and near base-out recovery (AUC=0.749, sensitivity=95.2%, specificity=50%). PD is associated with significant binocular vision function impairment, with receded NPC and reduced near fusional vergence reserves being the most prominent disorders. These findings highlight the potential value of binocular vision assessment as a non-invasive biomarker for the early detection and clinical monitoring of PD.

Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) is a hypothalamic releasing hormone that plays a crucial physiological role in regulating the synthesis and release of anterior pituitary hormones. In recent years, studies have found that GHRH possesses functions like anti-inflammation, promoting cell proliferation, and facilitating cell migration. It participates in regulating the development of uveitis and diabetic retinopathy. Additionally, it also has an impact on the development of retinal ganglion cells by modulating the inflammatory response and mediating the immune response. Given the important roles of GHRH in ophthalmic diseases, elucidating the molecular regulation of the GHRH-GHRH receptor (GHRHR) signal and the innovative development of intervention pathways that directly or indirectly target GHRH serve as strong evidence of how basic research guides innovation and translation. In this review, research reports on GHRH in ophthalmic diseases including retinal diseases and uveitis were summarized and analyzed.