Purpose
To evaluate the optical characteristics of the Boston Keratoprosthesis (KPro), identify glare sources, evaluate possible glare control, and examine the benefit of implanting when the fellow eye has normal vision.
Methods
Computed and optical-bench-measured point spread function (PSF) and glare sources were compared. A translucent plastic cornea was used to determine the impact of glare due to scatter in the cornea, and its control with a dark-iris tinted contact lens. The effect of glare in implanted eyes was measured with a Mentor Brightness Acuity Test (BAT), with and without the dark-iris contact lens. The computed and measured visual fields were compared. Stereopsis was measured in patients with an intact fellow eye.
Results
The computed and measured MTFs for the KPro were found to be very close to the diffraction limit. Both the model-eye measurements and patients' BAT glare responses identified that the hazy corneal graft surrounding the KPro is the main source of glare, and can be controlled with a dark-iris contact lens. The lid effectively blocks the light that would be scattered in the hazy cornea of patients implanted with the Type II KPro. An intact fellow eye remains the dominant eye, with better acuity, and the KPro eye supports only minimal stereo ability and does not expand the binocular visual field.
Conclusion
Glare can be reduced significantly with the use of a contact lens with a dark iris. Implanting the KPro in a patient whose fellow eye has normal or near normal vision does not seem to improve visual function.
Lipids secreted by the meibomian glands (MGs) of the eyelids are essential to the protection of the eye's surface. An altered meibum composition represents the primary cause of evaporative dry eye disease (DED). Despite the critical importance of the meibum, its biosynthetic pathways and the roles of individual lipid components remain understudied. Here, we report that the genetic deletion of Acyl‐CoA:wax alcohol acyltransferase 2 (AWAT2) causes the obstruction of MGs and symptoms of evaporative DED in mice. The lipid composition of the meibum isolated from Awat2−/− mice revealed the absence of wax esters, which was accompanied by a compensatory overproduction of cholesteryl esters. The resulting increased viscosity of meibum led to the dilation of the meibomian ducts, and the progressive degeneration of the MGs. Overall, we provide evidence for the main physiological role of AWAT2 and establish Awat2−/− mice as a model for DED syndrome that can be used in studies on tear film‐oriented therapies.
The characterization of ephrin ligand and Eph receptor expression during cornea angiogensis in this study suggests that the Eph/ephrin family of receptor tyrosine kinases and their ligands may play a role in the regulation of corneal angiogenesis.
Intrathecal delivery of bupivacaine and low dose fentanyl in the upper cervical spine can be effective in controlling refractory eye pain in properly selected patients and treatment centers.
To describe a non-penetrating TASER gun injury resulting in a small exudative retinal detachment but significant visual acuity and retinal function loss as demonstrated by electroretinography (ERG). A 39-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a TASER barb embedded in his right lower lid. A complete clinical ophthalmologic examination and surgical extrication were performed, as well as radiologic imaging and Ganzfeld electroretinography. No scleral penetration was observed on surgical exploration. Retinal examination showed a peripheral exudative detachment. Subsequent follow-up revealed progressive resolution of the detachment and improvement in visual acuity. The ERG showed a 63–70% decrease in rod a- and b-waves, while isolated cone responses were reduced by only 10%, with a minimal increase in implicit time. This case shows that periocular TASER injuries, even if apparently superficial, may result in significant ocular damage. ERG may be useful in the diagnosis of visual loss attributed to disturbance in photoreceptor function, in the absence of anatomically evident damage.
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