Role of B-scan in management of ocular trauma

The present study aimed to study the effectiveness of B scan in assessing the posterior segment in patients with ocular trauma, so that further treatment plan can be decided and prognosis can be improved. The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study at tertiary care centre during the study period of 1 year on 42 patients presenting with history of ocular trauma. Patients were subjected to detailed history and ocular examination followed by B scan ultrasonography for ruling out posterior segment pathology. Mean age of 42.7±20.2 years and 45.2% patients belonged to 41 to 60 years of age. About 54.8% cases were females. About 50% cases had one or the other posterior segment finding. Retinal detachment followed by vitreous hemorrhage were the most common findings, observed in 19% and 11.9% cases respectively. Avulsion of optic nerve was the least common finding (2.4%). B scan ultrasonography plays an important role in management of patients with ocular trauma for the detection of hidden posterior segment lesions. B scan must be performed routinely in all the cases of ocular trauma for early diagnosis and appropriate management of each case and to reduce the ocular morbidities.

Topical Drug Delivery to the Posterior Segment of the Eye

Topical drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye is a very complex challenge. However, topical delivery is highly desired, to achieve an easy-to-use treatment option for retinal diseases. In this review, we focus on the drug characteristics that are relevant to succeed in this challenge. An overview on the ocular barriers that need to be overcome and some relevant animal models to study ocular pharmacokinetics are given. Furthermore, a summary of substances that were able to reach the posterior segment after eye drop application is provided, as well as an outline of investigated delivery systems to improve ocular drug delivery. Some promising results of substances delivered to the retina suggest that topical treatment of retinal diseases might be possible in the future, which warrants further research.

Future of anti-VEGF: biosimilars and biobetters

The advent of Anti- VEGFs like Lucentis (Ranibizumab), Eylea (Aflibercept) and off-label Avastin (Bevacizumab) have radically improved visual outcomes in patients of neovascular Age Related Macular Degeneration (nARMD), Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) and Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO). It is a matter of great concern that the US patents for Ranibizumab and Aflibercept expired in 2020 with European patents to expire in 2022 and 2025, respectively. With the expiry of these biologics, Biosimilars can prove to be saviours in the posterior segment pharmacotherapy owing to their cost effectiveness and availability of various options. Numerous biosimilars are expected to gain approval for clinical use from the US-FDA and EMA soon. Biobetters are better than the original biologic in one or more parameters but require more research and development resources. With the emergence of better manufacturing and purification processes it is imperative that the biologics and biosimilars become better. The Ophthalmologists need to have in depth knowledge about these Biosimilars and Biobetters before these molecules take over the mainstream market.

Slit Lamp Examination on Pediatric Patients

Slit lamp examination is an important component of a pediatric eye exam. The slit lamp instrument, also known as a biomicroscope, is used to provide a stereoscopic magnified view of the ocular structures. The slit lamp facilitates the examination of both the anterior segment as well as the posterior segment of the eyes. For posterior segment examination, handheld lenses are used in conjunction with the slit lamp. Different tools and examination techniques are often needed to examine infants, toddlers, and other pediatric patients who cannot be positioned in the slit lamp. This chapter discusses the techniques and equipment used to facilitate the ocular health examination, including anterior segment structures, posterior segment structures, and intraocular pressure measurements in the pediatric population.

Fundus Examination in Pediatric Patients

There are a number of different pieces of equipment and techniques available for examination of the fundus of a pediatric patient. Two of these tools are handheld devices, the direct ophthalmoscope and PanOpticTM ophthalmoscope. Both of these devices allow for examination of the posterior pole of the eye. This chapter will discuss the indications, advantages, and disadvantages of both of these pieces of equipment in addition to how to use the equipment to examine the posterior segment of a pediatric patient.

Lipid Nanoparticles for the Posterior Eye Segment

This review highlights the application of lipid nanoparticles (Solid Lipid Nanoparticles, Nanostructured Lipid Carriers, or Lipid Drug Conjugates) as effective drug carriers for pathologies affecting the posterior ocular segment. Eye anatomy and the most relevant diseases affecting the posterior segment will be summarized. Moreover, preparation methods and different types and subtypes of lipid nanoparticles will also be reviewed. Lipid nanoparticles used as carriers to deliver drugs to the posterior eye segment as well as their administration routes, pharmaceutical forms and ocular distribution will be discussed emphasizing the different targeting strategies most recently employed for ocular drug delivery.

Vitrectomy in Lens and Glaucoma Pathologies

Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is currently used as an effective method in many posterior segment pathologies. Although the most common indication is retina and vitreous pathologies, PPV is also preferred in some cases associated with lens and glaucoma. In case the crystalline lens or artificial intraocular lens, which is a product of industrial development, falls into the vitreous, it is essential to remove it mostly with the PPV approach. In some types of secondary glaucoma, especially malignant glaucoma, successful results are obtained in terms of visual prognosis and complications with vitreoretinal surgery techniques.

Targeted drug delivery vehicles mediated by nanocarriers and aptamers for posterior eye disease therapeutics: barriers, recent advances and potential opportunities

Nanomedicine and aptamer have excellent potential in giving play to passive and active targeting respectively, which are considered to be effective strategies in the retro-ocular drug delivery system. The presence of closely adjoined tissue structures in the eye makes it difficult to administer the drug in the posterior segment of the eye. The application of nanomedicine could represent a new avenue for the treatment, since it could improve penetration, achieve targeted release, and improve bioavailability. Additionally, a novel type of targeted molecule aptamer with identical objective was proposed. As an emerging molecule, aptamer shows the advantages of penetration, non-toxicity, and high biocompatibility, which make it suitable for ocular drug administration. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the recent studies on the effectiveness of nanoparticles as a drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye. This paper also creatively looks forward to the possibility of the combined application of nanocarriers and aptamers as a new method of targeted drug delivery system in the field of post-ophthalmic therapy.

Thickness of the choroid, ciliary body and retina according to optical coherence tomography in patients after Femto LASIK

Background. In the available literature, there are isolated publications devoted to the topic of the possible effect of laser correction by the Femto LASIK method on the myopic eye choroid. In this connection, in our opinion, the relevance of continuing research in this direction remains.The aim of this study was to examine the volume of the retina in the macular zone, the thickness of the choroid and the ciliary body using optical coherence tomography on myopic eyes after femtosecond-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis in the short term.Material and methods. 30 patients (30 right eyes) aged 20 to 35 years, suffering from mild and moderate myopia, but without pathological changes in the retina according to OCT, made up the study group. All patients underwent myopia correction using the Femto LASIK method. Before the operation, after 4 hours and the next day, they underwent the examination of the retinal volume in the macular zone, the choroidal and the ciliary body thickness using OCTResults. The analysis of the obtained results of the studied parameters showed that the ciliary body thickness and the retinal volume in the macular zone did not undergo statistically signifi cant changes and remained within the preoperative values (p > 0.05). We observed a tendency to an increase in the thickness of the choroid 4 hours after the operation, but the carried out statistical analysis did not confi rm the reliability of its changes (p > 0.05). On the next day, the choroidal thickness indices practically recovered to the preoperative level (p > 0.05).Conclusion. A study of the retinal volume in the macular zone, the thickness of the choroid and ciliary body using OCT in myopic eyes in the short term after Femto LASIK showed the absence of statistically signifi cant changes in the studied parameters, which indirectly indicates the safety of this method of laser correction for the posterior segment of the eye.