Real-time digital image processing to optimally enhance low vision is now realizable with recent advances in personal computers. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a wearable smartphone-based low vision aid (LVA) with customizable vision enhancement in patients with visual impairment. We recruited 35 subjects with visual impairment and who were literate and cognitively capable. The subjects completed a training session and were provided a smartphone-based LVA for a 4-week use. Visual functions including binocular best-corrected distance, intermediate, and near visual acuities; reading performance (reading speed and accuracy); and facial recognition performance were measured at baseline and after 4-weeks use. All subjects also completed the Low Vision Quality of Life (LVQOL) Questionnaire. Thirty-four subjects (mean age, 43.82 ± 15.06 years) completed the study. Significant improvements in binocular best-corrected distance, intermediate, and near visual acuities were observed after smartphone-based LVA use (all p < 0.001). Reading accuracy and facial recognition performance also improved significantly (p = 0.009 and p < 0.001, respectively), but reading speed did not. LVQOL scores significantly improved after 4 weeks of use in subjects aged < 40 years (p = 0.024), but not in subjects aged ≥ 40 years (p = 0.653). Ocular and non-ocular adverse events were infrequent and resolved when the device was removed. The smartphone-based LVA with customizable vision enhancement could provide clinically significant improvements in the visual function of patients with visual impairment and was generally well tolerated. This study suggests that the smartphone-based LVA would be beneficial for visual rehabilitation.

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We evaluated the reliability and validity of the 5-scale grading system to interpret the point-of-care immunoassay for tear matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9. Six observers graded red bands of photographs of the readout window in MMP-9 immunoassay kit (InflammaDry) two times with 2-week interval based on the 5-scale grading system (i.e. grade 0–4). Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients. The interobserver agreements were analyzed according to the severity of tear MMP-9 expression. To validate the system, a concentration calibration curve was made using MMP-9 solutions with reference concentrations, then the distribution of MMP-9 concentrations was analyzed according to the 5-scale grading system. Both intraobserver and interobserver reliability was excellent. The readout grades were significantly correlated with the quantified colorimetric densities. The interobserver variance of readout grades had no correlation with the severity of the measured densities. The band density continued to increase up to a maximal concentration (i.e. 5000 ng/mL) according to the calibration curve. The difference of grades reflected the change of MMP-9 concentrations sensitively, especially between grade 2 and 4. Together, our data indicate that the subjective 5-scale grading system in the point-of-care MMP-9 immunoassay is an easy and reliable method with acceptable accuracy.

Purpose: To report two cases of atypical conjunctival lesions that differ from the well-known typical papillary or follicular conjunctivitis after the use of brimonidine. Case summary: In the first case, a 46-year-old female patient diagnosed with binocular normal tension glaucoma visited our hospital. After topical application of 1% brinzolamide/0.2% brimonidine fixed-combination eye drops for 7 months, a number of yellow follicles confined to the left upper bulbar conjunctiva with mild conjunctival injection and conjunctival edema were observed under slit lamp microscopy examination. After stopping brimonidine for 2 weeks, conjunctival injection and follicles decreased and, 1 month later, bulbar conjunctival follicles had disappeared completely. Since changing the eye drops to a brinzolamide/timolol fixed combination, there was no recurrence of the condition. In the second case, a 70-year-old female patient who had been diagnosed with binocular normal tension glaucoma a year ago had been using 0.15% brimonidine. On slit lamp examination, bilateral eyelid edema and overall diffuse conjunctival tissue hypertrophy and multiple follicles appeared on the upper and lower palpebral conjunctiva, the bulbar conjunctiva, the conjunctival fornix, and the lacrimal caruncle. Bilateral conjunctival biopsy was performed to differentiate conjunctival lymphoma, and granulomatous inflammation was confirmed by biopsy. After stopping 0.15% brimonidine treatment and changing to latanoprost, conjunctival lesions improved and there was no recurrence. Conclusions: If atypical conjunctival lesions are observed in patients using topical brimonidine, side effects related to brimonidine should be considered. Our results indicated marked improvement within 2 weeks of stopping brimonidine treatment.

Purpose: We describe a patient with Stevens-Johnson syndrome who exhibited recurrent anterior corneal granulomas after corneal perforation (despite multiple amniotic membrane [AM] transplantations); the patient was successfully treated by lamellar grafting of an acellular, preserved human cornea. Case summary: Corneal granulomas developed four times in a 46-year-old man who had been diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome 17 years priorly and who had undergone multiple AM transplantations after corneal perforation. A corneal granulomatous mass recurred 2 months prior to presentation in our clinic; it rapidly increased in size. With the patient under general anesthesia, the corneal mass was excised and a 4.0-mm-diameter, acellular preserved human cornea (Halo; Eversight Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) was grafted. A similarly sized AM was placed over the grafted cornea. Although the engrafted cornea exhibited stromal infiltration 1 month after surgery, the keratitis improved following brief antibiotic treatment. At 8 months postoperatively, the wound was stable; no granuloma recurrence, no graft melting, and no suspected microbial keratitis were observed in the region of the graft. Conclusions: In patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and recurrent anterior granulomas (despite multiple AM transplantations), a lamellar graft of acellular, preserved human cornea may be a good therapeutic choice.