Topical glaucoma medications – Clinical implications for the ocular surface

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. The use of topical eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure remains the mainstay treatment. These eye drops frequently contain preservatives designed to ensure sterility of the compound. A growing number of clinical and experimental studies report the detrimental effects of not only these preservatives but also the active pharmaceutical compounds on the ocular surface, with resultant tear film instability and dry eye disease. Herein, we critically appraise the published literature exploring the effects of preservatives and pharmaceutical compounds on the ocular surface.     

Neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular trap components: Emerging biomarkers and therapeutic targets for age-related eye diseases

Age-related eye diseases, including dry eye, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, represent a major global health issue based on their increasing prevalence and disabling action. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying these diseases will provide novel opportunities to reduce the burden of age-related eye diseases and improve eye health, contributing to sustainable development goals achievement. The impairment of neutrophil extracellular traps formation/degradation processes seems to be one of these mechanisms. These traps formed by a meshwork of DNA and neutrophil cytosolic granule proteins may exacerbate the inflammatory response promoting chronic inflammation, a pivotal cause of age-related diseases. In this review, we describe current findings that suggest the role of neutrophils and their traps in the pathogenesis of the above-mentioned age-related eye diseases. Furthermore, we discuss why these cells and their constituents could be biomarkers and therapeutic targets for dry eye, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. We also examine the therapeutic potential of some neutrophil function modulators and provide several recommendations for future research in age-related eye diseases.     

Terminology of Peters’ anomaly variants: Summary of histopathological findings in 6 corneas and detailed clinicopathological correlation in 2 cases

Peters’ anomaly accounts for the highest type of Anterior Segment Dysgenesis (ASD). The main features of Peters’ anomaly are: congenital corneal opacity centrally, defect in the posterior stroma and absence of Descemet’s membrane and the endothelium. However, this condition has wide clinical and histopathological variations in appearance, associations and severity. In this case series, we summarize 6 corneas in 5 Saudi cases of Peters’ anomaly (and describe 2 in detail) with unique histopathological findings that are additional to the typical known ones, shedding some light on the nomenclature of these variants according to the reported cases in the English-written literature. This will widen the spectrum of findings known to ophthalmic pathologists and ophthalmologists about this anomaly. This is also of importance in the assessment of the congenital glaucoma cases commonly seen in Saudi Arabia that often happens in association with ASD.     

Cataract,Glaucoma, and Dry Eye Disease in Adults with Atopic Dermatitis: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study from the Republic of Korea

BackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disorder characterized by relapsing eczema with intractable itching. Ocular diseases in patients with AD, including cataract, retinal detachment, blepharitis, glaucoma, keratoconjunctivitis, and keratoconus, have frequently been reported worldwide. However, only a few studies using a large-sample, population-based study design have been reported so far.ObjectiveWe investigated the association between cataract, glaucoma, and dry eye disease and AD in an adult population in the Republic of Korea.MethodsA total of 14,900 adults who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional survey, between 2010 and 2012 were included in the study. Multiple logistic regression analyses identified the possible association between cataract, glaucoma, and dry eye disease and AD relative to matched controls.ResultsAfter we adjusted for confounding factors in patients with AD, cataract and glaucoma were significantly associated with AD. Moreover, patients with AD had a higher prevalence of ophthalmic surgery compared to those without AD.ConclusionDermatologists should therefore be aware of possible ocular disorders in patients with AD and should recommend regular ophthalmic screening for early detection.