Pilot Study on the Use of the “Monocyte-Rich” Platelet-Rich Plasma in Combination with 1927 nm Fractional and 308 nm Excimer Lasers for the Treatment of Vitiligo

Background and objectives: Vitiligo is an acquired chronic and idiopathic skin disorder, characterized by selective loss of melanocytes and resulting in a cutaneous depigmentation. Treatment for vitiligo remains a challenge for dermatologists; thus, it is frustrating both for physicians and patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate a combination treatment characterized by the use of a leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma, which is particularly rich in monocytes (defined here as monocyte-rich PRP), in combination with a 1927 nm fraxel laser and a 308 nm excimer laser. Materials and Methods: Treatment with monocyte-rich PRP combined with 1927 nm fraxel laser and 308 nm excimer laser was performed in nine sessions in 80 days and the median follow-up of the patients was 10 months. A total of 27 Caucasian patients were included in the present study. The median age of patients was 41 years, ranging between 20 and 69 years. Results: A re-pigmentation occurred in 16 cases (59%) with a reduction of the Vitiligo Extent Score (VES) and absence of re-pigmentation in untreated areas. Performing a rank correlation between VES and re-pigmentation in the treated areas, we found that there was a significant correlation (p < 0.0001). The presence of progressive vitiligo (p = 0.1) and the anatomic areas (p = 0.1) did not influence the treatment. Untreated areas did not show any improvement of the depigmented lesions, except in one case (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: in this report, we show for the first time how PRP rich in monocytes, in combination with laser therapies, gives a long therapeutic response, which persists even after 10 months of follow-up.

Visual Outcomes of the FemtoLASIK Technology Using Excimer Lasers with Frequency More 1000 Hz in Low to Moderate Myopia Correction

Purpose: to evaluate the clinical and functional results of the operation the FemtoLASIK by excimer lasers with frequency more 1000 Hz in patients with low to moderate myopia.Patients and methods. The 84 eyes of 84 patients with low to moderate myopia who had undergone FemtoLASIK procedure using with excimer lasers: Schwind Amaris 1050 Hz (Germany) and Microscan Visum 1100 Hz (Russia) were included in the study. The “Schwind Amaris 1050 Hz” and “Microscan Visum 1100 Hz” groups were comparable in terms of pre-operative data (age, sex, corneal curvature, central thickness of the cornea, sphere, cylinder, SE) (p > 0.05). All patients underwent complete ophthalmological examination before refractive laser surgery, and also patients were examined on the 1st day and 1 month after FemtoLASIK.Results. One month postoperatively, in the “Schwind Amaris 1050 Hz” group the UDVA 1.0 or better (20/20 or better by Snellen) was achieved in 100 %, in the “Microscan Visum 1100 Hz” group — in 100 % (p > 0.05). There wasn’t observed a loss of the CDVA lines in both groups. In the “Schwind Amaris 1050 Hz” group gain of one or more lines of the CDVA was 14 %, in the “Microscan Visum 1100 Hz” group — in 12.2 % (p > 0.05). In the “Schwind Amaris 1050 Hz” group the predictability of targeted refraction within ±0.5 D was in 90.7, within ± 1.0 D — in 100 %, in the “Microscan Visum 1100 Hz” group — in 90.2 % and 100 %, respectively (p > 0.05).Conclusions. The FemtoLASIK procedure using with different high-frequency excimer lasers is an effective, safe and predictable method for correcting low to moderate myopia.

Myopic Laser-Assisted Subepithelial Keratectomy (LASEK) outcomes using three different excimer laser platforms: a retrospective observational study

Background To compare the visual and refractive outcomes after myopic LASEK using three different excimer lasers and standardized surgical and mitomycin C (MMC) application protocols. Methods In this retrospective, observational cohort study, we examined 122 eyes treated with Allegretto, 135 eyes treated with Esiris and 137 eyes treated with Technolas excimer lasers. All eyes were treated under the same surgical protocol, and a standardized MMC dosage was used. The three groups were refraction-matched, and both visual and refractive outcomes were evaluated at 1 and 7 days and 1 and 3 months after surgery. Results At 3 months postsurgery, Allegretto provided significantly better outcomes than Esiris and Technolas in terms of postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) (1.11 ± 0.2 vs 1.01 ± 0.2 vs 0.98 ± 0.2) (P = 0.0001), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) (1.13 ± 0.2 vs 1.10 ± 0.1 vs 1.04 ± 0.2) (P = 0.0001), residual sphere (− 0.01 ± 0.2 vs + 0.29 ± 0.7 vs + 0.27 ± 0.6) (P = 0.0001), and efficacy index (0.99 ± 0.2 vs 0.90 ± 0.2 vs 0.91 ± 0.2) (P = 0.0004). Conclusions We found slightly better visual and refractive outcomes in the Allegretto group at 3 months post-op after LASEK with MMC to correct myopia.