The main treatment for pterygium is surgical removal. However, pterygium surgery is concerned with high rates of postoperative recurrence. Predicting factors of recurrence are not fully understood, yet, but they probably depend on a multitude of patient-related, clinical, and/or surgical factors. Several adjuvant treatments have been proposed to reduce postoperative pterygium recurrence, including different antimetabolites, antiangiogenetic factors, and radiation therapy. The purpose of this review is to collect the current evidence regarding application and limits of different therapeutic approaches for preventing postoperative recurrence of pterygium, giving insights and perspectives for better management of this disease. In the light of the current evidence, pterygium surgery cannot disregard wound coverage with conjunctival autografting or rotational flap combined with adjuvant treatments. The rotational flap technique is associated with shorter surgical time rates and prevents graft displacement and necrosis, given its vascular pedicle. Amniotic membrane may still be reserved in case of great conjunctival defects or insufficient conjunctiva. Repeated subconjunctival antivascular endothelial growth factor injections can be considered as an effective and safe adjuvant treatment. Moreover, management of postoperative pain is crucial. Innovative treatment strategies will probably target different molecular pathways, considering recent findings regarding pterygium pathogenesis, to improve better understanding and develop universally shared guidelines. Great importance shall be dedicated to the identification of novel molecular biomarkers and favoring factors of recurrence, in order to achieve a customized surgical treatment for each patient and obtain maximal reduction of postoperative recurrence.

Glaucoma is a common degenerative disease affecting retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and optic nerve axons, with progressive and chronic course. It is one of the most important reasons of social blindness in industrialized countries. Glaucoma can lead to the development of irreversible visual field loss, if not treated. Diagnosis may be difficult due to lack of symptoms in early stages of disease. In many cases, when patients arrive at clinical evaluation, a severe neuronal damage may have already occurred. In recent years, newer perspective in glaucoma treatment have emerged. The current research is focusing on finding newer drugs and associations or better delivery systems in order to improve the pharmacological treatment and patient compliance. Moreover, the application of various stem cell types with restorative and neuroprotective intent may be found appealing (intravitreal autologous cellular therapy). Advances are made also in terms of parasurgical treatment, characterized by various laser types and techniques. Moreover, recent research has led to the development of central and peripheral retinal rehabilitation (featuring residing cells reactivation and replacement of defective elements), as well as innovations in diagnosis through more specific and refined methods and inexpensive tests.

The majority of significant complications occurred in patients receiving multiple bevacizumab administrations. However, results may be affected by the difference in the utilization amount for each drug. AMD patients were the most represented, probably due to greater indication to treatment.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate visual outcomes for different working distances (far, 60 cm and 33 cm) and impact on vision quality of multifocal IOLs AcrySof ResTOR SN6AD1 and SN6AD3 (Alcon, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, USA) as well as REVIEW FIL611PV multifocal and OPTOFLEX FIL618 accommodative IOLs (Soleko, Ltd., Rome, Italy) in patients undergoing bilateral phacoemulsification.MethodsIn this observational prospective study 63 patients undergoing binocular cataract surgery were divided into four groups for implantation of one of the IOLs under evaluation. Visual outcomes were evaluated at 1 day, 7 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after surgery. Patients’ satisfaction and spectacle independence were evaluated with questionnaires administered at the 6-months follow-up.ResultsImprovements in visual acuity for the three working distances were statistically significant in all cases compared to the preoperative status, especially after binocular implantation. The AcrySof ReSTOR SN6AD1 multifocal IOL provided the best visual acuity results and tolerability for all working distances. While performing worse than SN6AD1, FIL611PV and FIL618 provided better uncorrected visual acuity and spectacles independence for intermediate/close-up and far distances respectively, in comparison with the SN6AD3 group.ConclusionsSN6AD1 was confirmed the best choice for all working distances. However, FIL611PV IOL may represent a valid and more cost-effective alternative, especially if surgeons intend to prioritize spectacle independence and patient autonomy at intermediate and close-up distances, in accordance to specific needs and requests.Trial registrationTrial retrospectively registered in ISRCTN Registry on 02/02/2017. TRN: ISRCTN14145737.

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Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of subconjunctival bevacizumab injections, before and after surgical excision with bare sclera technique, in preventing postoperative pterygium recurrence. Material and Methods 83 eyes of 83 patients affected with primary pterygia underwent surgical excision. 42 eyes received two subconjunctival bevacizumab injections, at the dosage of 2.5 mg/0.1 ml, one week prior surgery and one week after intervention. Recurrence rate was evaluated among the two groups. Moreover, modifications of pterygium size and grade one week after the first injection were evaluated. Results At 6 months after surgery, the recurrence rate was 7.14% in the bevacizumab group and 24.39% in the control group. Significant changes of pterygium size and grade were reported after the first injection. No important complications related to bevacizumab subconjunctival injections were registered. Conclusions The application of subconjunctival bevacizumab injections, at the dosage of 2.5 mg/0.1 ml, before and after surgical pterygium excision, may be useful in preventing lesion recurrence after bare scleral procedures. Furthermore, bevacizumab subconjunctival administration is well tolerated and may represent a safer alternative if compared with other surgical techniques and adjunctive drugs. This trial is retrospectively registered with ISRCTN Registry on 18 April 2017, TRN: ISRCTN11424742.

Background:The aim of this study is to evaluate eye structures and function in patients receiving iron chelating therapy and to assess whether a correlation exists between the onset of ocular alterations and the intake of iron chelating drugs. Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed. Eighty-eight patients, composed of children and adults with thalassemia major (TM) who are taking or had taken iron chelating drugs (deferoxamine, deferiprone or deferasirox), have been initially enrolled in the study. The final sample featured 80 patients, including 18 children and 62 adults. These subjects received an eye examination to evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the presence of refractive defects, cornea, anterior chamber, lens, fundus oculi, visual field and mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. Logistic regression model analysis was performed in order to assess any correlation. In addition, a literature search regarding the relation between iron chelating drugs and ocular adverse events was carried out to compare the results obtained with the evidence in the literature. Results: Logistic regression did not report a significant correlation between the intake of iron chelating drugs and the onset of anterior ocular segment alterations, lens opacities, retinal diseases, optical neuropathies, astigmatism, visual field and RNFL thickness defects. Logistic regression returned a statistically significant correlation between myopia and iron chelation therapy (p-value 0.04; OR 1.05) and also between presbyopia and total duration of therapy with deferoxamine (p-value 0.03; OR 1.21). Although intraocular pressure levels remained within the normal range, a significant correlation with the length of deferoxamine therapy has been found (p-value 0.002; association coefficient −0.12). A negative correlation between deferiprone and presbyopia has also been observed. Conclusion: Iron chelation therapy is not associated with severe visual function alterations. Limitation of deferoxamine treatment can help prevent ocular complications. Deferiprone and/or deferasirox may be preferable, especially in patients over age 40 years.

The main treatment available for restoration of the corneal endothelium is keratoplasty and DMEK provides faster visual recovery and better postoperative visual acuity when compared to DSAEK. However, the technical challenges related to this technique and the steep technical learning curve seem to prevent the overcoming of DSAEK in favor of DMEK. Furthermore, the outcome of lamellar keratoplasty techniques is influenced by problems related to corneal grafting tissue availability, management, and quality. On the other hand, improvements in the field of cell engineering have opened the way for the use of stem cells-derived corneal endothelial cells with regenerative intent. In this overview, latest findings in endothelial cell engineering are reported, and perspectives of clinical application of mesenchymal stem cells for corneal endothelial replacement and regeneration are evaluated.