scholarly journals Ectoine in the Treatment of Irritations and Inflammations of the Eye Surface

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Andreas Bilstein ◽  
Anja Heinrich ◽  
Anna Rybachuk ◽  
Ralph Mösges
Keyword(s):  
Ocular Surface ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Eye Drops ◽  
Ophthalmic Surgery ◽  
Ocular Symptoms ◽  
Preclinical And Clinical Studies ◽  
Standard Treatment Regimen

The ocular surface is facing various unspecific stress factors resulting in irritation and inflammation of the epithelia, causing discomfort to the patients. Ectoine is a bacteria-derived extremolyte with the ability to protect proteins and biological membranes from damage caused by extreme environmental conditions like heat, UV-light, high osmolarity, or dryness. Evidence from preclinical and clinical studies attest its effectiveness in treating several epithelium-associated inflammatory diseases, including the eye surface. In this review, we analysed 16 recent clinical trials investigating ectoine eye drops in patients with allergic conjunctivitis or with other unspecific ocular inflammations caused by e.g. ophthalmic surgery. Findings from these studies were reviewed in context with other published work on ectoine. In summary, patients with irritations and unspecific inflammations of the ocular surface have been treated successfully with ectoine-containing eye drops. In these patients, significant improvement was observed in ocular symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, postoperative secondary dry eye syndrome, or ocular reepithelisation after surgery. Using ectoine as an add-on therapy to antihistamines, in allergy patients accelerated symptom relief by days, and its use as an add-on to antibiotics resulted in faster wound closure. Ectoine is a natural substance with an excellent tolerability and safety profile thus representing a helpful alternative for patients with inflammatory irritation of the ocular surface, who wish to avoid local reactions and side effects associated with pharmacological therapies or wish to increase the efficacy of standard treatment regimen.

Ocular Involvement in COVID-19: Conjunctivitis and More

2021 ◽  
Vol 238 (05) ◽  
pp. 555-560
Author(s):  
Alexander C. Rokohl ◽  
Rafael S. Grajewski ◽  
Philomena A. Wawer Matos ◽  
Adam Kopecky ◽  
Ludwig M. Heindl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ocular Surface ◽  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Ocular Infection ◽  
Ocular Involvement ◽  
Fisher Syndrome ◽  
Cotton Wool Spots ◽  
Ocular Symptoms ◽  
Global Pandemic

AbstractSince the beginning of 2020, SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen of COVID-19, has led to a global pandemic that also affects ophthalmology. Ophthalmologists can be confronted at any time with potentially COVID-19 associated ocular symptoms or manifestations in patients and also become infected through close patient contact. Even without systemic infection, the ocular surface can come into direct contact with aerosols or liquids containing SARS-CoV-2 particles. A smear infection through hand-to-eye contact is also possible. A purely isolated ocular infection has not yet been shown. Rather, it seems that ocular complications occur in the context of a systemic infection. However, ocular symptoms can also be the first symptom of COVID-19. The most common ocular complication of COVID-19 is mild follicular conjunctivitis. Haemorrhagic conjunctivitis, dry eye disease, episcleritis, or retinal involvement can also occur less frequently. There are currently no evidence-based therapy recommendations for COVID-19 associated diseases of the ocular surface. Artificial tears might be helpful for symptom relief. There is no evidence for antiviral, antibiotic, or anti-inflammatory therapies, but these medications might be used in individual cases. Potential intraocular complications include retinal artery occlusions and haemorrhages, as well as cotton wool spots caused by complement-mediated thrombotic angiopathy. Neuro-ophthalmological complications including Miller-Fisher syndrome or infarct-related central blindness can also occur in very rare cases. Knowledge of potential transmission routes and personal protective equipment is just as essential for each ophthalmologist as a basic knowledge of potential ocular symptoms and complications.

scholarly journals A comparative study of efficacy of chloroquine phosphate 0.03% and sodium carboxymethylcellulose 1% in dry eye

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-307
Author(s):  
Vandana Sharma ◽  
Parag Tyagi ◽  
J P Chugh ◽  
R S Chauhan ◽  
Ashok Rathi
Keyword(s):  
Drug Therapy ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Dry Eye ◽  
Ocular Surface ◽  
Tear Film ◽  
Eye Drops ◽  
Onset Of Action ◽  
Dry Eyes ◽  
Ocular Symptoms ◽  
Group 2

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease of the tear film which leads to ocular discomfort, visual disturbances and damage to ocular surface. The objective of treatment of DED has now shifted from managemnt of ocular symptoms and patient relief to attainment of normal physiological composition of the tear film.Aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of chloroquine phosphate 0.03% (CQP) eye drops with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 1% (CMC) eye drops in the management of DED. A single blind, prospective and comparative study including 100 patients of dry eyes was planned. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, each comprising of 50 patients. Group-1 patients were given CMC 1% eye drops 4 times a day for 12 weeks and Group-2 patients were given CQP 0.03% eye drops as the treatment modality 2 times a day for 12 weeks. The efficacy of both the drugs was compared and evaluated statistically. The study showed that both CQP and CMC eye drops are effective in treating DED, although faster onset of action was observed with CQP on ocular surface staining tests and Schirmer’s test. Also, it was noted that patients with severe DED showed least improvement in both the groups suggesting that mono-drug therapy is least effective in treatment of severe DED and multi drug therapy should be used early in treatment of severe DED.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of the Bacteria Derived Extremolyte Ectoine for the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Andreas Bilstein ◽  
Nina Werkhäuser ◽  
Anna Rybachuk ◽  
Ralph Mösges
Keyword(s):  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Nasal Spray ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Concomitant Treatment ◽  
Good Tolerability ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Preclinical And Clinical Studies

Nonpharmacological therapies with a good tolerability and safety profile are of interest to many patients with allergic rhinitis, as a relevant proportion of them have reservations about guideline-concordant pharmacological therapies due to their local irritations and side effects. Ectoine is a bacterial-derived extremolyte with an ability to protect proteins and biological membranes against damage caused by extreme conditions of salinity, drought, irradiation, pH, and temperature. Evidence from preclinical and clinical studies attests its effectiveness in the treatment of several inflammatory diseases, including allergic rhinitis. In this review, we analyzed 14 recent clinical trials investigating ectoine nasal spray in patients with allergic rhinitis and/or conjunctivitis, including sensitive patient groups like children or pregnant women. Some studies investigated monotherapy with ectoine; others investigated combination therapy of ectoine and an antihistamine or a corticosteroid. Analysis of the study results demonstrated that patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms of allergic rhinitis can be successfully treated with ectoine-containing nasal spray. When applied as monotherapy, ectoine exerted noninferior effects compared to first-line therapies such as antihistamines and cromoglicic acid. Using ectoine as an add-on therapy to antihistamines or intranasal glucocorticosteroids accelerated symptom relief by days and improved the level of symptom relief. Importantly, concomitant treatment with ectoine was proven beneficial in a group of difficult-to-treat patients suffering from moderate-to-severe rhinitis symptoms. Taken together, the natural substance ectoine represents a viable alternative for allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis patients who wish to avoid local reactions and side effects associated with pharmacological therapies.

scholarly journals The role of KPI-121 0.25% in the treatment of dry eye disease: penetrating the mucus barrier to treat periodic flares

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 251584142110127
Author(s):  
Preeya K. Gupta ◽  
Nandini Venkateswaran
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Dry Eye ◽  
Ocular Surface ◽  
Dry Eye Disease ◽  
Eye Disease ◽  
Eye Drops ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Treatment ◽  
Loteprednol Etabonate ◽  
Mucus Barrier

The tear film, which includes mucins that adhere to foreign particles, rapidly clears allergens and pathogens from the ocular surface, protecting the underlying tissues. However, the tear film’s ability to efficiently remove foreign particles during blinking can also pose challenges for topical drug delivery, as traditional eye drops (solutions and suspensions) are cleared from the ocular surface before the drug can penetrate into the conjunctival and corneal epithelium. In the past 15 years, there has been an increase in the development of nanoparticles with specialized coatings that have reduced affinity to mucins and are small enough in size to pass through the mucus barrier. These mucus-penetrating particles (MPPs) have been shown to efficiently penetrate the mucus barrier and reach the ocular surface tissues. Dry eye disease (DED) is a common inflammatory ocular surface disorder that often presents with periodic flares (exacerbations). However, currently approved immunomodulatory treatments for DED are intended for long-term use. Thus, there is a need for effective short-term treatments that can address intermittent flares of DED. Loteprednol etabonate, an ocular corticosteroid, was engineered to break down rapidly after administration to the ocular surface tissues and thereby reduce risks associated with other topical steroids. KPI-121 is an ophthalmic suspension that uses the MPP technology to deliver loteprednol etabonate more efficiently to the ocular tissues, achieving in animal models a 3.6-fold greater penetration of loteprednol etabonate to the cornea than traditional loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspensions. In clinical trials, short-term treatment with KPI-121 0.25% significantly reduced signs and symptoms of DED compared with its vehicle (placebo). Recently approved KPI-121 0.25%, with its novel drug delivery design and ease of use, has the potential to effectively treat periodic flares of DED experienced by many patients.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of 0.66% Povidone-Iodine Eye Drops on Ocular Surface Flora before Cataract Surgery: A Nationwide Microbiological Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2198
Author(s):  
Rosario Musumeci ◽  
Pasquale Troiano ◽  
Marianna Martinelli ◽  
Matteo Piovella ◽  
Claudio Carbonara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cataract Surgery ◽  
Ocular Surface ◽  
Povidone Iodine ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Bacterial Flora ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Eye Drops ◽  
Microbiological Analysis ◽  
Contralateral Eye

A multicenter, nonrandomized, prospective, controlled study was conducted to evaluate, as perioperative prophylactic treatment, the anti-infective effectiveness of 0.66% povidone-iodine eye drops (IODIM®) against the bacterial flora of the conjunctival surface of patients who undergo cataract surgery. Eye drops containing 0.66% povidone-iodine were applied to the eye undergoing cataract surgery; the untreated contralateral eye was used as control. One hundred and twenty patients set to receive unilateral cataract surgery were enrolled in 5 Italian Ophthalmology Centers and pretreated for three days with 0.66% povidone-iodine eye drops. The contralateral eye, used as control, was left untreated. Conjunctival swabs of both eyes were collected at the baseline visit and after three days of treatment, just before the cataract surgery. A qualitative and quantitative microbiological analysis of bacterial presence was evaluated by means of bacterial culture, followed by identification. Methicillin resistance determination was also performed on staphylococci isolates. Bacterial load before and after treatment of the eye candidate for cataract surgery was evaluated and compared to the untreated eye. A reduction or no regrowth on the culture media of the bacterial load was observed in 100% of the study subjects. A great heterogenicity of bacterial species was found. The 0.66% povidone-iodine eye drops, used for three days prior to cataract surgery, were effective in reducing the conjunctival bacterial load. The 0.66% povidone-iodine eye drops (IODIM®) might represent a valid perioperative prophylactic antiseptic adjuvant treatment to protect the ocular surface from microbial contamination in preparation of the surgical procedure.

Amniotic membrane extract eye drops for ocular surface diseases: use and clinical outcome in real-world practice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noelia Sabater-Cruz ◽  
◽  
Marc Figueras-Roca ◽  
Miriam Ferrán-Fuertes ◽  
Elba Agustí ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Amniotic Membrane ◽  
Real World ◽  
Ocular Surface ◽  
Eye Drops ◽  
Ocular Surface Diseases ◽  
Membrane Extract

scholarly journals Using pre-existing social networks to determine the burden of disease and real-life needs in rare diseases: the example of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rana Saad ◽  
Sami Saad ◽  
Oscar Haigh ◽  
Domitille Molinari ◽  
Marc Labetoulle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Burden Of Disease ◽  
Ocular Surface ◽  
Eye Drops ◽  
Patient Support ◽  
Patient Support Group ◽  
Thygeson's Superficial Punctate Keratitis ◽  
Punctate Keratitis

Abstract Background Thygeson’s superficial punctate keratitis (TSPK) is a rare and still poorly understood disease of the ocular surface, responsible for recurrent episodes of photophobia and eye pain. While TSPK is considered as a benign condition, a subset of patients has frequent recurrences or even chronic disease, two situations in which there are currently no therapeutic guidelines. We used a preexisting Facebook TSPK patient support group to assess the clinical journey and the burden of disease of TSPK. Results An online survey was sent to the patient support group. The first part of the questionnaire gathered information on demographics and the patient’s clinical journey [diagnostic modalities, symptoms, duration and frequency of recurrent episodes (RE), efficacy and tolerance to treatments]. The second part focused on quality of life (QoL) using the Ocular Surface Disease-QoL (OSD-QoL) questionnaire. Seventy-two patients out of 595 members of the support group completed the questionnaire during the 3-months study period. Eighty percent of patients developed symptoms before 30 years old, and 47% reported a delay in the diagnosis above 1 year. Sixty percent of patients reported over 5 RE yearly, and 18% of RE lasted more than 3 months. Forty percent of all patients used cyclosporine eyedrops (50% of those with > 5 episodes/year) and it was perceived as effective by 72% of these patients. The impact on daily life activities was judged as severe by 22% of patients, while 38% reported reduced professional activity and 80% were deeply saddened by their eye condition. Conclusion TSPK patients may present with frequent recurrences and/or chronic disease, that result in a severe impact on QoL, and an off-label use of topical immunomodulatory eye drops, suggesting the urgent need for controlled studies. The utility of using social networks for rare ophthalmic disease research includes, faster data collection, data from patients across the globe, and also raises relevant questions about their real needs.

scholarly journals Dry eye disease among Glaucoma patients on topical hypotensive medications, in a tertiary hospital, Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miraf Sahlu ◽  
Abeba T. Giorgis
Keyword(s):  
Dry Eye ◽  
Ocular Surface ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Dry Eye Disease ◽  
Eye Disease ◽  
Eye Drops ◽  
Schirmer Test ◽  
Ocular Surface Disease Index ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Corneal Staining

Abstract Background Dry eye disease is a multifactorial disease; causing various ocular symptoms with potential damage to the ocular surface. Applying hypotensive eye drops are presumed to initiate or exacerbate existing dry eye disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of signs and symptoms and severity of dry eye disease among glaucoma patients on topical hypotensive medications and controls. Methods A cross-sectional comparative study, involving 320 glaucoma patients and controls. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) symptoms score and Schirmer, tear breakup time and corneal staining tests were used to assess dry eye disease. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 24 software; p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results Among the 160 study glaucoma patients, the mean duration of topical hypotensive medication use was 5.2 ± 5.21 years (range, 4 months - 32 years). Mild to severe level of OSDI score was found in 122 (76%) glaucoma patients and in 137 (86%) controls (p = 0.033). Mild to sever abnormal clinical tests in the glaucoma patients and control, respectively, were 106 (66%) vs 80 (50%) corneal staining (p = 0.045), 79 (49%) vs 72 (45%) TBUT (p = 0.021), and 91 (57%) vs 83 (52%) Schirmer test (p = 0.242). Test results at the level of sever: 2 (1%) vs 0 (0%) corneal staining, 50 (31%) vs 39 (24%) TBUT and 65 (41%) vs 60 (38%) Schirmer test in the glaucoma patents and controls, respectively. Corneal staining and TBUT had correlation with the number of drugs (p = 0.004 and 0.031, respectively), and more relationship of the two tests with total number of drops applied per day (p = 0.01 and p <  0.001, respectively). Patients on pilocarpine and timolol had more corneal staining and lower TBUT [(p = 0.011 and p <  0.001) and (p = 0.04 and 0.012), respectively]. Conclusions The study has identified glaucoma patients to be more affected by dry eye disease than non-glaucoma patients, and presence of significantly lower TBUT and higher corneal staining in the glaucoma patients on multidrops and multidose per day. We recommend consideration of evaluation and management of DED for glaucoma patients on multidrops and multidose hypotensive medications.

scholarly journals Comparison of ocular surface assessment and adherence between preserved and preservative-free latanoprost in glaucoma: a parallel-grouped randomized trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dai Woo Kim ◽  
Jonghoon Shin ◽  
Chang Kyu Lee ◽  
Myungjin Kim ◽  
Sohyeon Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Free Group ◽  
Ocular Surface ◽  
Open Angle Glaucoma ◽  
Drug Tolerance ◽  
Adherence Rate ◽  
Eye Drops ◽  
Ocular Surface Disease Index ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Surface Assessment ◽  
Preservative Free

AbstractGiven that nonadherence is related to subject characteristics and drug tolerance and preserved eye drops tend to be more intolerable than preservative-free ones, we conducted a phase 4, parallel-grouped, investigator-blind, active-control, randomized, multicenter study. A total of 51 patients with intraocular pressure (IOP) ≥ 15 mmHg diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension were randomly assigned to the preserved latanoprost group (n = 26) and the preservative-free latanoprost group (n = 25). The efficacy variables were corneal/conjunctival staining grade, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), adherence at 12 weeks after the first administration; corneal/conjunctival staining grade at 4 weeks; and IOP, tear break-up time (TBUT), and hyperemia score at 4 and 12 weeks. The safety variables included visual acuity and drug tolerance questionnaire results. There was no statistically significant difference in corneal/conjunctival staining grade, OSDI, or TBUT between the groups at 4 and 12 weeks. However, the adherence rate was higher and the hyperemia score was lower in the preservative-free group than in the preserved group. The severity and duration of stinging/burning sensation were lower in the preservative-free group than in the preserved group. Overall, preservative-free latanoprost showed better ocular tolerance assessed by hyperemia scores and stinging/burning symptoms following higher adherence than preserved latanoprost.

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