scholarly journals The microbiome and ophthalmic disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 244 (6) ◽  
pp. 419-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam D Baim ◽  
Asadolah Movahedan ◽  
Asim V Farooq ◽  
Dimitra Skondra

Progress in microbiome research has accelerated in recent years. Through the use of 16S rRNA assays and other genomic sequencing techniques, researchers have provided new insights about the communities of microorganisms that inhabit human and animal hosts. There is mounting evidence about the importance of these ‘microbiotas’ in a wide variety of disease states, suggesting potential targets for preventative and therapeutic interventions. Until recently, however, the microbiome received relatively little attention in ophthalmology. This review explores emerging research on the roles that ocular and extraocular microbiotas may play in the pathogenesis and treatment of ophthalmic diseases. These include diseases of the ocular surface as well as autoimmune uveitis, age-related macular degeneration, and primary open angle glaucoma. Many questions remain about the potential impacts of microbiome research on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ophthalmic disease. In light of current findings, we suggest directions for future study as this exciting area of research continues to expand. Impact statement This review describes a growing body of research on relationships between the microbiome and eye disease. Several groups have investigated the microbiota of the ocular surface; dysregulation of this delicate ecosystem has been associated with a variety of pro-inflammatory states. Other research has explored the effects of the gastrointestinal microbiota on ophthalmic diseases. Characterizing the ways these microbiotas influence ophthalmic homeostasis and pathogenesis may lead to research on new techniques for managing ophthalmic disease.

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 2886
Author(s):  
A. O. Direev ◽  
I. V. Munts ◽  
E. S. Mazurenko ◽  
M. Yu. Shapkina ◽  
A. N. Ryabikov ◽  
...  

Aim. To study associations of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes (T2D) with ophthalmic diseases in a population sample of men and women from middle to old age (Novosibirsk).Material and methods. The population cohort was initially studied in 2003-2005 (n=9360, 45-69 years old, Novosibirsk, the Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) project). At the second survey (2015-2017) in a random subsample (n=1011), the following ophthalmic diseases were identified: hypertensive retinopathy (HR), diabetic retinopathy (DR), cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), optic disc abnormalities, etc.Results. The prevalence of HR signs in persons with and without hypertension (HTN) was 81 and 46%, respectively (p<0,001). This association persisted regardless of other factors (odds ratio, 2,27 (95% confidence interval: 1,78-4,17). The prevalence of AMD, cataract and DR increased in HTN, but associations were largely explained by metabolic factors in multivariate models. People with T2D more often than without T2D had signs of DR (9,3 vs 0,4%, p<0,001), AMD (22 vs 17%, p=0,042) and glaucoma (14 vs 7%, p=0,001). Associations of T2D with DR and glaucoma persisted regardless of other factors. Individuals with carotid atherosclerosis (CA) were 1,6 times more likely to have HR than those without CA when adjusted for sex, age, and smoking (p=0,013).Conclusion. In the surveyed population sample of mainly elderly people, a number of associations between cardiometabolic and common ophthalmic diseases were revealed. The identified comorbidities may have important therapeutic and prophylactic applications in an aging population.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 235-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Wałek ◽  
Joanna Przeździecka-Dołyk ◽  
Iwona Helemejko ◽  
Marta Misiuk-Hojło

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of postoperative management with 5-fluorouracil injections after XEN Gel Stent implantation. Methods Prospective real-world evidence study included 39 eyes (of 36 patients) with primary open-angle glaucoma without previous glaucoma surgery and with uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma progression, or intolerance to IOP-lowering therapy. Patients underwent mitomycin C-augmented XEN implantation either as a stand-alone procedure or combined with cataract extraction. 5-Fluorouracil subconjunctival injections were a first-choice therapy for bleb failure and were administered according to predetermined criteria (analogous to pro re nata regimen in age-related macular degeneration treatment). Primary outcome was unqualified success, defined as postoperative IOP < 18 mmHg and > 20% reduction from medicated baseline without any antiglaucoma medications and no detected glaucoma progression. Results At median follow-up of 8 months (range 3–24 months), IOP decreased from a medicated baseline value of 23 mmHg (95% CI 21–24 mmHg) to 13 mmHg (95% CI 12–15 mmHg) and number of medications decreased from 3 (95% CI 2–3) to 0 (p < 0.0001 for both). Median number of 5-fluorouracil injections per eye was 3 (95% CI 2–3), and median time to first injection was 0.5 months (95% CI 0.25–3 months) after surgery. Thirteen eyes (33.3%) underwent ≥ 1 needling, and surgical revision was performed in three cases (7.7%). The primary outcome measure, which allows performing additional procedures, was achieved in 27 eyes (69%). Conclusions 5-Fluorouracil subconjunctival injections are safe and effective in postoperative management of bleb failure after XEN implantation and represent a viable alternative to other methods.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria H. Madeira ◽  
Raquel Boia ◽  
Paulo F. Santos ◽  
António F. Ambrósio ◽  
Ana R. Santiago

Retinal degenerative diseases are major causes of vision loss and blindness worldwide and are characterized by chronic and progressive neuronal loss. One common feature of retinal degenerative diseases and brain neurodegenerative diseases is chronic neuroinflammation. There is growing evidence that retinal microglia, as in the brain, become activated in the course of retinal degenerative diseases, having a pivotal role in the initiation and propagation of the neurodegenerative process. A better understanding of the events elicited and mediated by retinal microglia will contribute to the clarification of disease etiology and might open new avenues for potential therapeutic interventions. This review aims at giving an overview of the roles of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in major retinal degenerative diseases like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.


2014 ◽  
Vol 601 ◽  
pp. 143-146
Author(s):  
Andrea Corvi ◽  
Sara Matteoli

The focus of this research is the investigation of the Ocular Surface Temperature (OST) in both healthy and pathological (e.g. age-related macular degeneration, eye dry syndrome and choroidal lesions) eyes by using Infrared Thermography (IR). Specifically, the temperature of different anatomical areas (or points) of the eye is measured by applying image processing procedures on the infrared images recorded. It is known that the pathogenesis of some ocular pathology is related to the variation of ocular blood perfusion, and thus to the temperatures of the anterior segment of the eye. Results demonstrated that thermography can provide quantitative documentation of these temperature measurements. Furthermore, thermography is a non-invasive, cheap, harmless and portable technique. The challenge is to make ocular thermography part of the daily diagnostic procedure by providing more and more reliable experimental data.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla Tratsk

PURPOSE: In ophthalmology many diseases lead to irreversible blindness, something that implies millions of dollars in care because people with these difficulties loose their autonomy, becoming dependent in all their everyday activities. This presentation will focus on clinical cases of the following pathologies treated with Ozone Therapy because all these were already being treated in a conventional way without signs of improvement. They are primary open-angle glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, occlusion of the central retinal artery, facial paralysis and herpetic polyneuropathy associated with orbital apex syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION: As an example, a patient, 73 , female, insulin-dependent diabetes for 10 years, with primary open angle glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy with various laser photocoagulations, vitrectomies and intravitreal injections in both eyes (BE). Visual acuity (VA) of 20/200 in right eye (RE) and 20/100 in left eye (LE). Subjected to the facectomy in RE and with cataract in LE. The fundoscopy was stable in BE. The VA went to 20/200 on 1st day of postoperative period and remained stable until 21st day. After integrative treatment with Ozone Therapy the patient got a VA of 20/60-2 in RE and 20/40-2 in LE, restoring vision and improving her quality of life. Furthermore, she stopped to be insulin dependent, only having to take oral medication. CONCLUSION: The result shows that Ozone therapy should be a therapeutic tool to be associated with Ophthalmology because in many cases, including difficult treatment and evolution, it recovers visual acuity and re-establishes ocular physiology, promoting the maintenance of eye health and vision, contributing to the preservation of autonomy in the lives of patients.


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