Current Ophthalmology Reports

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide an up-to-date review of the epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options for conjunctival nevi (CN). RECENT FINDINGS: Around 17.2%-42% of all conjunctival tumors have been found to be CN, which most frequently present in White individuals between the first to early third decade of life, with equal distribution between males and females. CN commonly occur in the interpalpebral bulbar conjunctiva with pigmentation ranging from amelanotic to dark...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In this article, we reviewed the impact resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic on the traditional model of care in ophthalmology. RECENT FINDINGS: Though virtual eye care has been present for more than 20 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has established a precedent to seriously consider its role in the evolving paradigm of vision and eye care. New hybrid models of care have enhanced or replaced traditional synchronous and asynchronous visits. The increased use of smart phoneography and mobile applications enhanced the remote examination of patients...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the role of ocular surface epithelial (corneal and conjunctival) ion transporters in the pathogenesis and treatment of dry eye disease (DED). RECENT FINDINGS: Currently, anti-inflammatory agents are the mainstay of DED treatment, though there are several agents in development that target ion transport proteins on the ocular surface, acting by pro-secretory or anti-absorptive mechanisms to increase the tear fluid Film volume. Activation or inhibition of selected ion transporters can alter tear fluid osmolality, driving water transport onto the ocular surface via osmosis...

BACKGROUND: Pythium keratitis is a difficult-to-treat corneal infection. METHODS: A meta-analysis of individual patient data from observational studies of Pythium keratitis was performed. The outcomes of interest were therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) and globe removal (evisceration, enucleation, or exenteration); the main exposures were linezolid and azithromycin use. FINDINGS: Of 46 eligible articles, individual patient data were available for 306 eyes (34 studies)...

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Purpose of Review: This article reviews socioeconomic elements that impact the access to glaucoma care, early intervention in susceptible patients, and longevity of treatment and patient compliance in various demographic groups. Recent Findings: Socioeconomic factors such as insurance eligibility, education, income, marital status, and access to technology can deeply impact the diagnosis and long-term treatment of glaucoma patients. Depending on the severity, and/or urgency of care, many individuals who face these barriers forgo annual eye exams, leading to a higher incidence of untreated glaucoma...

Purpose of review: The purpose of this revision is to sumarize the most important clinical features of the autoimune retinopathies (AIRs). Recent findings: AIRs are a group of inflammatory conditions affecting the retina characterized by progressive unexplained visual loss, abnormalities and contraction in visual fields, photoreceptor and electroretinographic dysfunction, and the presence of circulating anti-retinal antibodies. The pathogenesis of AIR remains unclear and various antiretinal antibodies have been associated to the disease...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In this article, we review the pathogenesis, clinical features, imaging modalities and latest management options for optic pit maculopathy (OPM). RECENT FINDINGS: The pathogenesis of OPM remains to be unclear, but imaging tools such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography are enhancing our knowledge. Observation continues to be the best management strategy for patients with good visual acuity, and many cases have demonstrated spontaneous resolution...

Purpose of Review: In this article, we review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on refractive surgery. Recent Findings: COVID-19 infection frequently causes eye symptoms, most commonly conjunctivitis or mild irritation. While virus can be detected in tears of symptomatic patients, the risk of transmission via this route appears low. Summary: Refractive surgery consultations were significantly reduced during the pandemic; however, volume is rebounding quickly likely due to a number of lifestyle, health, and financial factors...

PURPOSE: a)Confocal microscopy and aethesiometry have allowed clinicians to assess the structural and functional integrity of corneal nerves in health and disease. This review summarizes literature on nerves in dry eye disease (DED) and discusses how this data can be applied to DED diagnosis and treatment. RECENT FINDINGS: b)Subjects with DED have a heterogenous symptom and sign profile along with variability in nerve structure and function. Most studies have reported lower nerve density and sensitivity in aqueous tear deficiency, while findings are more inconsistent for other DED subtypes...

Purpose of Review: The ocular surface is a potential site of ocular involvement by SARS-CoV-2 infection. We performed a review of the literature to understand the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 disease manifestations on the ocular surface as well as to elucidate emerging treatment patterns and practice changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent Findings: The ocular manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 are likely limited to a mild and transient conjunctivitis. Other manifestations have not been validated in larger cohorts...

Purpose of Review: The field of teleglaucoma has expanded rapidly in recent years with several large-scale teleglaucoma screening programs in existence throughout the world. Additionally, teleglaucoma programs for use in disease management are under study. The limited access to care that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for expansion of such programs. This article reviews the literature on teleglaucoma for screening and management of glaucoma, discussing considerations for incorporating teleglaucoma into clinical practice...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss recent studies of imaging modalities for ocular surface pathologies. RECENT FINDINGS: Novel micro-ocular coherence tomography technology can produce high-resolution images of corneal cellular and nervous structures. Ocular coherence tomography angiography can aid in detecting early stage limbal stem cell deficiency. Several studies used in vivo confocal microscopy to evaluate corneal nerve metrics and morphology. SUMMARY: The applications of anterior segment optical coherence tomography, anterior segment optical coherence tomography angiography, ultrasound biomicroscopy, and in vivo confocal microscopy are useful technologies for imaging the ocular surface...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review and update the latest findings in diagnosis and management of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). RECENT FINDINGS: OSSN is the most common anterior segment neoplastic disease process. Several ocular surface imaging techniques have been developed for the early diagnosis and management of clinical and subclinical ocular surface squamous neoplasia, including high-resolution optical coherence tomography (HR-OCT), in vivo confocal microscopy, and ultrasound biomicroscopy...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to provide an update on the clinical presentations and diagnostic findings of drug-induced retinal toxicities. RECENT FINDINGS: Several newly FDA-approved medications have been associated with acute retinal toxicities, including brolucizumab, MEK inhibitors, ulixertinib, and FGFR inhibitors. Additionally, as previously believed-to-be well-tolerated medications, such as pentosan sulfate sodium, anti-retroviral therapies, and certain intraoperative ocular medications, are used more frequently or for longer periods of time, associated toxic retinopathies and inflammatory reactions have been reported...

Infectious keratitis is a sight-threatening microbial infection. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in cases of infectious keratitis has increased the demand for fortified compounded antimicrobial drops. Even with proper medical management, severe cases of infectious keratitis can further evolve into corneal perforation, requiring surgical intervention in the form of keratoplasty to control the infectious process. Due to the invasive nature of the procedure and the shortage of available donor tissue around the world, alternative treatments are needed for the management of progressive infectious keratitis...

Purpose of Review: To summarize the recent advances in transcriptomics and proteomics studies of keratoconus using advanced genome-wide gene and protein expression profiling techniques. Recent Findings: Second-generation sequencing including RNA sequencing has been widely used to characterize the genome-wide gene expression in corneal tissues or cells affected by keratoconus. Due to different sample types, sequencing platforms, and analysis pipeline, different lists of genes have been identified to be differentially expressed in KC-affected samples...

Purpose of Review: Studies have reported ocular involvement in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with SARS-CoV-2 having been detected in ocular swab samples. This has implicated the eye as a portal of transmission. The aim of this systemic review is to summarise and discuss the current literature regarding ocular involvement of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19. Recent Findings: In this systematic review, the prevalence of ocular symptoms and signs was low (from 0 to 31...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In this article, the current use and limitations of existing retinal tamponades are discussed. Potential novel developments that address those limitations are subsequently highlighted, along with areas of future improvements. RECENT FINDINGS: While retinal tamponades have existed for decades and improved the treatment of retinal detachments, many problems still exist with their use, including inadequate tamponade of the inferior retina, toxicity from retained heavy liquids, glaucoma, and keratopathy, among others...

Purpose of Review: To summarize the available literature on retinal imaging metrics in the context of intravitreal injections in glaucomatous and non-glaucomatous eyes. Recent Findings: The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in injected non-glaucomatous eyes appears to thin at a similar rate to uninjected fellow eyes. A total of four studies evaluating RNFL thinning in injected glaucomatous eyes yielded mixed results, with more recent longitudinal investigations suggesting a potential association...