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Many recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD); however, its effective treatment targets have not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the baseline characteristics associated with an improvement in symptoms after IPL treatment; to examine the course of change in inflammatory tear cytokines, meibomian gland function, and tear stability; and to investigate the correlation between cytokines and ocular surface parameters. Thirty participants underwent three sessions of IPL treatment. During each examination, tear film lipid layer interferometry, meibography, tear meniscus height measurement, tear sampling, and slit-lamp examination were performed, and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire was administered. Meibum quality, meibum expressibility, lid margin abnormality, tear film break-up time (TBUT), ocular surface staining, and the OSDI significantly improved after treatment. Poor meibum expressibility and short TBUT were associated with greater recovery in the OSDI after IPL. Tear levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, and TNF-α decreased after IPL, and IL-6, and TNF-α were correlated with the improvement in meibum expressibility. Therefore, IPL treatment improved meibomian gland function, stabilized the tear film, and decreased ocular surface inflammation. Patients with obstructive MGD and tear instability were more likely to experience an improvement in ocular discomfort after IPL treatment.

Oxybuprocaine is similar to proparacaine in terms of the severity of its effect on corneal thickness. Corneal thickness instability may occur for 5 minutes after proparacaine administration. Changes in corneal thickness after topical anesthetic instillation should be considered when performing measurements for refractive surgery or central corneal thickness in glaucoma patients.

The extent to which the MGD grade was aggravated following cataract surgery differed based on preoperative MGD grade. Preoperative MGD and ocular surface status should be carefully evaluated.

Transplantation of cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation has been proven to restore the corneal surface in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). Here we comparatively investigated the optimized conditions and the efficiency of limbal epithelial sheet growth in three media conditions as well as with substrate free (transwell), human amniotic membrane (HAM) sutured onto transwell inserts (HAMTW), and HAM slide scaffold (HAMS). Outcomes evaluated were outgrowth sheet size from limbal explants, expression of stem/progenitor cell markers p63α, ABCG2 and CK15, and colony formation efficiency (CFE). Additionally, limbal epithelial sheets on HAMS were transplanted into corneas of LSCD rabbit models. Limbal epithelial sheets with 5% human AB serum showed the greatest increase in ABCG2 efflux activity (JC1low), p63α expression, and CFE compared in both conditions without HAM and with HAM, respectively. The outgrowth sheet size, cell yield, and Ki67 expression were increased in limbal epithelial sheets on HAMS compared to transwell and HAMTW. ABCG2 efflux activity, p63α and CK15 expressions, and CFE were also increased in limbal epithelial sheets on HAMS as well. In corneas of transplanted rabbit LSCD models, p63α expressions were noted in the basal layers and CK12 expressions were observed in superficial layers. Cultivation of limbal epithelial sheet on HAMS with xeno-free medium enhances the growth and stemness of limbal epithelial sheets.

No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.