Val-Val-GCV demonstrates excellent corneal permeability and chemical stability, high aqueous solubility, and substantial in vivo antiviral activity against the HSV-1.

To detect and quantitate the causative pathogens in patients with corneal ulcer using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by cycling probe.Design: Clinical and laboratory study of 40 eyes of 40 patients diagnosed with corneal ulcer. Two methods were used for pathogen detection: bacterial culture and realtime PCR with the patient's corneal scrapings. Probes and primers of real-time PCR were designed to be pathogen specific for simultaneous detection of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant S aureus, Candida species, and Fusarium species. Results by both methods were evaluated and compared. Results: Of 40 eyes, 20 eyes had the same pathogens detected by both methods and those were S aureus (3 eyes; mean [SE], 3.8 [1.3]ϫ10 1 copies/sample), S pneumoniae (5 eyes; mean [SE], 5.6 [5.1]ϫ10 3 copies/sample), P aeruginosa (8 eyes; 5.1 [4.0]ϫ10 3 copies/sample), methicillinresistant S aureus (1 eye; 1.0ϫ10 2 copies/sample), and Candida species (3 eyes; mean [SE], 8.8 [4.9]ϫ10 3 copies/ sample). Six eyes showed negative results by both methods.Results of both methods disagreed in 14 eyes; specifically, 11 had positive PCR results only, 2 had positive culture results only, and 1 eye had positive results for different pathogens. Conclusions:The real-time PCR assay can simultaneously detect and quantitate bacterial and fungal pathogens in patients with corneal ulcer. Real-time PCR can be a fast diagnostic tool and may be useful as an adjunct to identify potential pathogens.

The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Real-time PCR can be a useful method for a rapid and precise diagnosis of AK. Moreover, utility of the Acanthamoeba DNA copy number obtained by real-time PCR can help ophthalmologists in making the best treatment decision.

Bromfenac Na eye drops can suppress HSV-1 reactivation.

Our case example suggests that when frequent application, blurred vision, and foreign body sensation after ACV-O application cause difficulty for patients to follow treatment, oral VACV might be an effective and safe option for patients with herpetic keratitis.

Keratocytes, corneal resident cells in the corneal stroma, exist between collagen lamellae and maintain the corneal stromal structure. When the corneal stroma is damaged, keratocytes are transformed to myofibroblasts to aid corneal wound healing by phagocytizing debris. Keratocytes and extracellular collagen influence each other because keratocytes cultured in a 3D collagen gel undergo morphological changes and keratocytes produce metalloproteases that degrade extracellular collagen. IL-1 and plasminogen are critical mediators for collagen degradation. The plasminogen system contributes to tissue repair by activating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), releasing growth factors from the extracellular matrix and extracellular matrix degradation. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is thought to be involved in corneal disorders and regulates corneal wound healing. uPA is a serine protease synthesized by various cells such as corneal epithelial cells, corneal fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, monocytes, macrophages, and malignant tumor cells of different origins. Here, we review the role of uPA in corneal stromal wound healing. uPA is expressed in leukocytes and corneal fibroblasts in the corneas of patients with corneal ulcerations suggesting it is a key regulator of corneal stromal wound healing. uPA is directly involved in plasmin-mediated collagen degradation induced by IL-1. Moreover, uPA is critically involved in promoting leukocyte infiltration in corneal inflammation by activating MMP-9. This activation is presumably directly and indirectly mediated by the plasminogen/plasmin cascade. Moreover, uPA mediates the release of inflammatory cytokines from corneal fibroblasts to promote leukocyte infiltration.

Purpose:The objective of the study was to compare the intraocular penetration levels of the newer fluoroquinolones, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, and levofloxacin in the rabbit’s cornea, aqueous humor, and conjunctiva after topical instillation.Methods:0.5% moxifloxacin, 0.3% gatifloxacin, and 0.5% levofloxacin were instilled in random sequence in both eyes of nine New Zealand White rabbits at two-minute intervals. Instillation was repeated every 15 minutes for a total of three drops of each fluoroquinolone per eye. Three additional animals had only moxifloxacin instilled bilaterally using the same schedule. Sixty minutes after the final instillation, the rabbits were sacrificed for determination of corneal, aqueous humor, and conjunctival fluoroquinolone concentrations using high-performance liquid chromatography.Results:Moxifloxacin achieved significantly higher concentrations than levofloxacin and gatifloxacin in the cornea (P = 0.0102 and P = 0.0006, respectively), aqueous humor (P = 0.0015 and P < 0.0001, respectively), and conjunctiva (P = 0.0191 and P = 0.0236, respectively).Conclusions:0.5% moxifloxacin eyedrops provided superior intraocular penetration in rabbits’ eyes compared with the two other fluoroquinolones, 0.5% levofloxacin and 0.3% gatifloxacin.