Treatment Of Keratopathy Research Articles

Effectiveness of calcific band keratopathy treatment with Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid combined with cataract extraction in pediatric patients

Effectiveness of calcific band keratopathy treatment with Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid combined with cataract extraction in pediatric patients

Levator palpebrae superioris lengthening in the treatment of keratopathy caused by lagophthalmos after orbital inflammation

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of various management strategies for lagophthalmos in a 56-year-old female patient, with a focus on both non-surgical and surgical interventions. The patient underwent an array of non-surgical treatments, including artificial tears, ointments, and therapeutic contact lenses, aimed at maintaining ocular surface integrity. For surgical intervention, the study compared the outcomes of gold weight implantation (GWI), platinum weight implants, modified tarsorrhaphy (MT), and the elongation of the aponeurosis levator superioris muscle. Non-surgical management provided symptomatic relief and temporary protection of the corneal surface. Botulinum toxin A injection may result in improved eyelid closure without significant adverse effects. Surgically, GWI and platinum implants effectively reduced corneal exposure, though the latter presented fewer complications. MT proved advantageous in terms of accessibility and cost. The elongation technique showed improved aesthetic and functional outcomes, as evidenced by patient satisfaction scores.

The research progress of mesenchymal stem cell induction and differentiation into corneal tissue

Keratopathy is one of the most important blinding eye diseases in the world. Corneal opacity caused by keratopathy can seriously damage visual function. For example, corneal ulcer can lead to perforation and even loss of the eyeball. Although corneal transplantation is a routine treatment in clinical practice, there are not only a serious shortage of corneal donors in our country, but also various complications after keratoplasty that can not be avoided. In recent years, with the rapid development of regenerative medicine, it has been found that mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into a variety of functional cells including corneal tissue under suitable induction conditions, which has a broad prospect of clinical application. This finding provides new ideas and methods for the treatment of keratopathy and corneal blindness in many aspects. This article reviews the research status of induction methods of mesenchymal stem cells in various specialties, particularly in the corneal subspecialty.

Exploration of biomimetic poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) fibrous scaffolds for corneal nerve regeneration.

Poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBG) made biomimetic scaffolds are explored as candidate materials for corneal nerve regeneration and neurotrophic keratopathy treatment. The PBG with built-in neurotransmitter glutamate was synthesized and fabricated into 3D fibrous scaffolds containing aligned fibers using electrospinning. In in vitro experiments, primary mouse trigeminal ganglia (TG) cells were used. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis shows that TG cells cultured on PBG have no cytotoxic response for 21 days. Without any nerve growth factor, TG cells have the longest neurite length of 225.3 μm in the PBG group and 1.3 times the average length as compared with the polycaprolactone and no scaffold groups. Also, aligned fibers guide the neurite growth and extension unidirectionally. In vivo assays were carried out by intracorneal implantation of PBG on clinical New Zealand rabbits. The external eye photos and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) show a low immune response. The corneal neural markers (βIII tubulin and SMI312) in the IHC analysis are consistent with the position stained by glutamate of implanted scaffolds, indicating that PBG induces neurogenesis. PBG exhibits mechanical stiffness to resist material deformation possibly caused by surgical operations. The results of this study demonstrate that PBG is suitable for corneal nerve regeneration and the treatment of neurotrophic keratopathy.

Immunohistochemical proofs of the efficiency of hyaluronic acid in keratopathy treatment

An analysis of changes in the CD44 and MMP9 expression during the keratopathy after corneal inflammatory diseases treatment with injected hyaluronic acid is presented.

Targeting growth factor supply in keratopathy treatment: comparison between maternal peripheral blood and cord blood as sources for the preparation of topical eye drops.

Epitheliotrophic growth factors (GF) can be supplied topically to patients with severe keratopathy through a variety of blood-derived products. We compared GF content in adult peripheral blood serum (PB-S) and cord blood serum (CB-S) as potential sources of GF. To limit inter-individual variability the assessment was performed in maternal-child pairs at the time of delivery. The amounts of epidermal GF (EGF), insulin-like GF (IGF), transforming GF-beta (TGF-β), vascular endothelial GF (VEGF) in CB units collected from the umbilical vein and PB from mothers (each group n=30) were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Obstetric characteristics and haematological data were recorded from the archives of the Emilia Romagna Cord Blood Bank. Statistical evaluations were performed by Wilcoxon's test and correlations between variables were determined using Spearman's (ρ) coefficient; p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. EGF, TGF-β and VEGF levels were significantly higher in CB-S than in PB-S (median 1,254.4 vs 646.0 pg/mL, 51.3 vs 38.4 μg/mL and 686.8 vs 30 pg/mL, respectively; all p<0.0001) whereas IGF content was significantly higher in PB-S than in CB-S (159.9 vs 53.5 pg/mL, respectively; p<0.0001). In CB-S, the CD34(+) cell concentration appeared to be related to EGF, IGF and TGF-β levels whereas white blood cell count appeared to be related to EGF and TGF-β levels. VEGF levels showed no relation to the haematological parameters considered. Platelet counts were not related to GF level in either CB or PB. The GF content in the two blood sources was different, with CB containing larger amounts. Each GF selectively regulates cellular processes involved in corneal healing, so the use of PB or CB should be targeted to supply specific GF on the basis of the type and severity of the keratopathy.

Ocular surface changes in type II diabetic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

To detect and analyze the changes on ocular surface and tear function in type II diabetic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), an advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy (DR), using conventional ophthalmic tests and the high-resolution laser scanning confocal microscopy. Fifty-eight patients with type II diabetes were selected. Based on the diagnostic criteria and stage classification of DR, the patients were divided into the non-DR (NDR) group and the PDR group. Thirty-six patients with cataract but no other ocular and systemic disease were included as non-diabetic controls. All the patients were subjected to the conventional clinical tests of corneal sensitivity, Schirmer I Test, and corneal fluorescein staining. The non-invasive tear film break-up time (NIBUT) and tear interferometry were conducted by a Tearscope Plus. The morphology of corneal epithelia and nerve fibers was examined using the high-resolution confocal microscopy. The NDR group exhibited significantly declined corneal sensitivity and Schirmer I test value, as compared to the non-diabetic controls (P< 0.001). The PDR group showed significantly reduced corneal sensitivity, Schirmer I test value, and NIBUT in comparison to the non-diabetic controls (P < 0.001). Corneal fluorescein staining revealed the progressively injured corneal epithelia in the PDR patients. Moreover, significant decrease in the corneal epithelial density and morphological abnormalities in the corneal epithelia and nerve fibers were also observed in the PDR patients. Ocular surface changes, including blunted corneal sensitivity, reduced tear secretion, tear film dysfunction, progressive loss of corneal epithelia and degeneration of nerve fibers, are common in type II diabetic patients, particularly in the diabetic patients with PDR. The corneal sensitivity, fluorescein staining scores, and the density of corneal epithelial cells and nerve fibers in the diabetic patients correlate with the duration of diabetes. Therefore, ocular surface of the patients with PDR should be examined regularly by conventional approaches and confocal microscopy to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of keratopathy.

Effect of Glyceraldehyde Cross-Linking on a Rabbit Bullous Keratopathy Model.

Background. To evaluate the effects of corneal glyceraldehyde CXL on the rabbit bullous keratopathy models established by descemetorhexis. Methods. Fifteen rabbits were randomly divided into five groups. Group A (n = 3) is the control group. The right eyes of animals in Groups B,C, D, and E (n = 3, resp.) were suffered with descemetorhexis procedures. From the 8th day to the 14th day postoperatively, the right eyes in Groups C and D were instilled with hyperosmolar drops and glyceraldehyde drops, respectively; the right eyes in Group E were instilled with both hyperosmolar drops and glyceraldehyde drops. Central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal transparency score, and histopathological analysis were applied on the eyes in each group. Results. Compared with Group A, statistically significant increase in CCT and corneal transparency score was found in Groups B, C, D, and E at 7 d postoperatively (P < 0.05) and in Groups C, D, and E at 14 d postoperatively (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Chemical CXL technique using glyceraldehyde improved the CCT and corneal transparency of the rabbit bullous keratopathy models. Topical instillation with glyceraldehyde and hyperosmolar solutions seems to be a good choice for the bullous keratopathy treatment.

Endothelial keratoplasty for bullous keratopathy in eyes with an anterior chamber intraocular lens

To describe how to approach eyes with phakic or pseudophakic bullous keratopathy that have an anterior chamber intraocular lens (AC IOL) using thin Descemet-stripping endothelial keratoplasty (thin-DSEK) or Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) with or without AC IOL removal. Tertiary referral center. Comparative case series. Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty or thin-DSEK was performed in pseudophakic eyes with iris-claw AC IOLs (Group 1) or in phakic eyes with angle-supported AC IOLs (Group 2). In both groups, DMEK was routinely performed except in eyes with insufficient corneal transparency or a high risk for graft detachment. Preoperative surgical considerations, postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), endothelial cell density, and complications were documented. In Group 1, all AC IOLs were left in situ. In Group 2, AC IOLs were removed in 90% of cases. At 6 months, the CDVA was 20/40 (≥0.5 decimal) or better in 36% of eyes in Group 1 and 90% in Group 2. Graft detachment occurred in 20% of eyes and de novo or glaucoma exacerbation in 29%. Bullous keratopathy treatment in eyes with an AC IOL was feasible with DMEK. Intraocular lens removal may be required if postoperative complications are anticipated, but not to facilitate surgery. Overall, the surgical approach may aim to minimize postoperative complications; that is, thin-DSEK in eyes with low visual potential and/or concomitant pathology and DMEK in eyes with a phakic AC IOL and normal visual potential.

Trophic keratopathy treatment and lagophthalmos correction in neurosurgical patients

In the neuroophthalmological practice, there is an everyday necessity to correct neurogenic corneal xerosis and lagophthalmos in neurosurgical patients. Recently, the objectives of adequate treatment of patients with “dry eye” syndrome, coupled with n. trigemini and facial nerve dysfunction, gain more and more significance. 245 patients with lagophthalmos or trophic keratopathy were analyzed. We divided all patients into 4 groups according to methods initially used to correct lagophthalmos and/or trophic keratopathy: keratoprotective treatment, induced ptosis, surgical lagophthalmos correction, “bandage” soft contact lenses. An algorithm of therapy tactics choice for patients with lagophthalmos and/or trophic keratopathy is proposed.

6 years experience with reversible and surgical upper eyelid weighting in lagophthamos

The procedures for prophylaxis and treatment of keratopathy following facial palsy with lagophthalmos are unsatisfying from the functional point of view. Three years ago we created a "lid-dynamic" procedure and applied it to 46 patients with Bell's palsy or before implantation of a gold lid weight. Fixation of lead weights of 0.8-2.0 g to the upper lid by a foil adhesive on both sides (Tesafix), can lead to restoration of lid closure. Within 6 years we implanted 24-carat gold weights into the upper lid in 72 patients. In all cases lid function was markedly improved; all patients appreciated the procedure. The lead weights were well tolerated. In 27% of the operative cases we observed a slight underdosage, in 10% a slight overdosage. Lid loading is a simple and effective method for functional and cosmetical rehabilitation of patients with lagophthalmos. Despite the dependence upon gravity, the procedure can be recommended for all cases of facial palsy.