To investigate the long-term outcomes in acute primary angle closure (APAC) patients treated with lens extraction (LE) surgery and to identify risk factors for glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON).

In this longitudinal observational study, detailed medical histories of APAC patients and comprehensive ophthalmic examinations at final follow-up were collected. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of blindness. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to determine risk factors associated with visual outcomes.

This study included 39 affected eyes of 31 subjects (26 females) with an average age of 74.1±8.0y. At 6.7±4.2y after APAC attack, 2 (5.7%) eyes had best-corrected visual acuity (VA) worse than 3/60. Advanced glaucomatous visual field loss was observed in 15 (39.5%) affected eyes and 5 (25.0%) fellow eyes. Nine affected eyes (23.7%) had GON, and 11 (28.9%) were blind. Six (15.4%) affected eyes and 2 (9.1%) fellow eyes had suspicious progression. A significantly higher blindness rate in factory workers compared to office workers. Logistic regression identified that worse VA at attack (OR 10.568, 95%CI 1.288-86.695; P=0.028) and worse early postoperative VA (OR 13.214, 95%CI 1.157-150.881; P=0.038) were risk factors for blindness. Multivariate regression showed that longer duration of elevated intraocular pressure (P=0.004) and worse early postoperative VA (P=0.009) were associated with worse visual outcomes.

Despite LE surgery, some APAC patients experience continued visual function deterioration. Lifelong monitoring is necessary. Target pressure and progression rates should be re-evaluated during follow-up.

To investigate the relationship between preoperative corneal biomechanical properties and corneal tomographic properties in cataract patients.

The study consisted of 59 eyes of 30 participants who were diagnosed as cataract in Peking University Third Hospital between September 2019 and November 2019. Stepwise multivariable linear regression analysis was calculated to determine the relationship between corneal biomechanical parameters and tomographic parameters. The patients were classified into three groups of with the rule (WTR) astigmatism, against the rule astigmatism and oblique astigmatism. And the differences in corneal parameters among different groups were compared.

There were significant differences in the first applanation time (A1T), the first applanation length (A1L), corneal velocity during the first applanation (Vin), the second applanation time (A2T), highest concavity (HC) radius, displacement amount (DA), DA ratio, stiffness parameter A1 (SPA1) and integrated radius (IR) between oblique astigmatism patients and the other two groups. Total corneal steep meridian (K2) was negatively associated with A1L, A1T and corneal velocity during the second applanation (Vout). Patients with higher anterior corneal curvature had lower HC radius and central corneal thickness (CCT; P=0.001 and 0.006, respectively), while the Ambrosio relational thickness to the horizontal profile (ARTh) was higher than those with lower anterior corneal curvature (P=0.009).

The study reveals that the elasticity of corneal collagen fibers is greater, but the viscoelasticity of cornea is smaller in patients with oblique astigmatism. There is no significant difference in ARTh between patients with different types of astigmatism, that is, the corneal biomechanical specificity of oblique astigmatism group is probably not caused by corneal thickness. Moreover, we find patients with higher anterior corneal curvature has lower HC radius and CCT but higher ARTh than those with lower anterior corneal curvature.

To investigate the therapeutic effects of hydrogel dressings on neurotrophic keratitis in rats.

Male Wistar rats, aged 42–56d, were randomly divided into control, experimental, and treatment groups, each consisting of five rats. The experimental and treatment groups underwent neurotrophic keratitis modeling in both eyes. After successful modeling, biomedical hydrogels formed with polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone were used in treatment group for 7d. Ocular irritation response and keratitis index scores, Schirmer’s test, tear film break-up time (BUT), sodium fluorescein staining, and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.

The neurotrophic keratitis model was successfully established in rats with severe ophthalmic nerve injury, characterized by keratitis, ocular irritation, reduced tear secretion measured by decreased BUT and Schirmer test values, corneal epithelial loss, and disorganized collagen fibers in the stromal layer. Following treatment with hydrogel dressings, significant improvements were observed in keratitis scores and ocular irritation symptoms in model eyes. Although the recovery of tear secretion, as measured by the Schirmer’s test, did not show statistical differences, BUT was significantly prolonged. Fluorescein staining confirmed a reduction in the extent of corneal epithelial loss after treatment. HE staining revealed the restoration of the structural disorder in both the epithelial and stromal layers to a certain extent.

Hydrogel dressing reduces ocular surface irritation, improves tear film stability, and promotes the repair and restoration of damaged epithelial cells by maintaining a moist and clean environment on the ocular surface in the rat model.

To isolate and identify the conjunctival microbiota of cataract patients and analyze the associated influencing factors.

This study recruited 216 participants (216 eyes) from April 2022 to July 2022. Under the condition of no antibiotic use prior to cataract surgery, sterile swabs were used to collect samples from the lower conjunctival sac. Bacterial cultures were then conducted, followed by species identification through 16S rDNA gene sequencing. Clinical factors associated with positive or negative bacterial isolation rates were analyzed, including age, gender, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), history of hypertension, history of diabetes, history of cancer, history of infectious diseases and the habit of wearing masks.

Among the 216 eyes, 78 eyes yielded isolates, with an isolation rate of 36.11%, detecting a total of 122 strains. Gram-positive rods accounted for 49.18% (60 strains), gram-positive cocci accounted for 45.08% (55 strains), gram-negative bacteria accounted for 4.92% (6 strains), and fungi accounted for 0.82% (1 strain). This study found that the most abundant genera in the conjunctival sac were Corynebacterium (42.62%), Staphylococcus (31.15%), Micrococcus (9.84%), Acinetobacter (4.10%), and Bacillus (3.28%). Furthermore, age (P=0.006), gender (P=0.039), diabetes (P=0.003), history of infectious diseases (P=0.02), and duration of mask replacement (P<0.001) were important factors influencing the positive bacterial culture of the conjunctival microbiota. Although hypertensive patients exhibited a higher isolation rate of conjunctival bacteria, it did not reach statistical significance, and the history of cancer did not affect the isolation rate of the conjunctival microbial community in cataract patients before surgery.

Potential changes are observed in the conjunctival microbiota among a sample of middle-aged and elderly individuals from Beijing, China. Notably, an increased isolation rate of Corynebacterium and Micrococcus is detected, suggesting a possible change in the microbial balance that requires further investigation and attention from the ophthalmological community. Advanced age, female gender, MGD, diabetes, a recent history of infectious diseases, and inadequate mask-wearing habits are potentially significant factors associated with the conjunctival microbiota. These factors should be considered in the development of strategies to prevent perioperative infections in cataract surgery patients.