Explore the vast range of titles available.

Introduction The eye consists of both internal and external compartments. Several variables, including microbes, dust, and high temperatures can cause eye illnesses that can result in blindness. Bacterial eye infections continue to be a major cause of ocular morbidity and blindness, and their prevalence is periodically rising. The objective of the study was to detect bacterial pathogens and assess their susceptibility profiles to antibiotics in the ophthalmology unit of Boru-meda Hospital in Dessie, Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1 to April 30, 2021, among 319 study participants with symptomatic ocular or peri-ocular infections who were enrolled using a consecutive sampling technique. After proper specimen collection, the specimen was immediately inoculated with chocolate, blood, and MacConkey agar. After pure colonies were obtained, they were identified using standard microbiological methods. The Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method was used to test antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, based on the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Results The majority of participants developed conjunctivitis 126 (39.5%), followed by blepharitis 47 (14.73%), and dacryocystitis 45 (14.1%). Overall, 164 (51.4%) participants were culture positive, six (1.9%) participants had mixed bacterial isolates, giving a total of 170 bacterial isolates with an isolation rate of 53.3%. The predominant species was CoNS 47 (27.6%), followed by S. aureus 38 (22.4%) and Moraxella species 32 (18.8%). The overall Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR) rate was 62.9%, with 33 (44.6%) being gram-negative and 74 (77.1%) being gram-positive isolates. Conclusion Conjunctivitis was the dominant clinical case and CoNS, was the predominant isolate. A higher rate of MDR isolates, particularly gram-positive ones, was observed. Efficient peri-ocular or ocular bacterial infection surveillance, including microbiological laboratory data, is necessary for monitoring disease trends.

Although microbial culture remains the gold standard for diagnosis of many ocular infections, the technique is limited by low yield, inability to detect certain organisms, and potentially long delays for results. DNA-based molecular diagnostic techniques use detection of specific nucleic acid sequences as evidence for presence of suspected pathogens. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a powerful molecular biology technique that allows for detection of fewer than 10 copies of pathogen genome. Recent technical advances in PCR have permitted quantitation of pathogen load using quantitative PCR and have permitted multiplexing of primer sets. Use of pan-bacterial and pan-fungal primers for ribosomal DNA sequences has allowed diagnosis of bacterial and fungal infections using molecular techniques. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the application of PCR to the diagnosis of anterior segment and posterior segment ocular infectious diseases.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding, regulatory RNA molecules and constitute a newly recognized, important layer of gene-expression regulation at post-transcriptional levels. miRNAs quantitatively fine tune the expression of their downstream genes in a cell type- and developmental stage-specific fashion. miRNAs have been proven to play important roles in the normal development and function as well as in the pathogenesis of diseases in all tissues and organ systems. miRNAs have emerged as new therapeutic targets and biomarkers for treatment and diagnosis of various diseases. Although miRNA research in ocular infection remains in its early stages, a handful of pioneering studies have provided insight into the roles of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of parasitic, fungal, bacterial, and viral ocular infections. Here, we review the current status of research in miRNAs in several major ocular infectious diseases. We predict that the field of miRNAs in ocular infection will greatly expand with the discovery of novel miRNA-involved molecular mechanisms that will inform development of new therapies and identify novel diagnostic biomarkers.

Purpose Chemical injuries of the eye remain a serious cause of visual disability. The current literature is reviewed, with a focus on recent studies that inform evidence-based treatment decisions. Recent Findings Prevention continues to be a primary goal. In addition to conventional therapy (urgent irrigation, topical corticosteroids and antibiotics, oral vitamin C, possibly doxycycline and topical antioxidants), there is evidence that amniotic membrane, umbilical cord serum, or platelet-rich plasma may improve epithelial healing rates in moderate to severe burns. Reconstruction of the ocular surface continues to evolve; for unilateral disease, simple limbal epithelial transplant (SLET) is gaining momentum. For bilateral total limbal stem cell deficiency, treatment options include allogeneic keratolimbal allograft, ex vivo expansion of cultured epithelial sheets, and keratoprosthesis; each intervention represents a unique balance of risks and benefits. Summary SLET appears to be simple and effective for unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency secondary to chemical injuries. The treatment of bilateral injuries requires additional studies to define the preferred practice patterns, as there is no clear consensus regarding the preferred intervention.

Purpose of Review This paper aims to provide an overview of the currents aspects involving 27-gauge vitrectomy published on the PubMed directory. Recent Findings Almost 15 years have passed since the microincision vitrectomy system was introduced. The idea of removing vitreous through a smaller aperture has become a reality and is widely adopted among surgeons. Although not completely accepted, the use of 27-gauge systems has shown encouraging results. Newer vitrectomy platforms and cutter designs have tried to associate high-performance, smaller instruments with better outcomes. Consequently, the indications for 27-gauge vitrectomy have broadened during the last few years. Summary Twenty-seven-gauge vitrectomy seems to be safe and feasible in a variety of vitreoretinal scenarios.

Background Although uncommon, uveitis and other ocular inflammatory disorders may pose a serious threat to a patient’s vision and quality of life. Purpose The purpose of this review is to evaluate the indications for immunosuppressive therapy in the treatment of uveitis and to appraise the data regarding their usage, including efficacy and potential side effects. Recent Findings While some agents such as antimetabolites have been used to treat uveitis for decades, there are now newer medications such as biologics that have recently met with great success. Adalimumab is the first biologic therapy FDA approved for the treatment of uveitis. Summary There are multiple immunosuppressive therapies available for the treatment of uveitis that allow for sustained control of ocular inflammation and limitation of systemic corticosteroid exposure. Additional research will be necessary to characterize the efficacy of newer agents to determine if they may be superior and tolerated as older therapies.

Antibiotics delivered through conventional dosage against ophthalmic infections show lower therapeutic efficacy due to their low residence time. Therefore, there is a great need to design and develop novel dosage forms that would increase the ocular residence time of antibiotics at the site of infection. This study describes the development of nanoparticles laden in situ gelling solution, intended to sustain antibiotic release for improved therapeutic efficiency. Oxytetracycline-loaded gelatin-polyacrylic acid nanoparticles were prepared and incorporated in poloxamer-N407 solution. The rheological properties of the system were studied concerning time and temperature. Moreover, in vivo biocompatibility of the system was ascertained using the Draize test and histological studies. Finally, the optimized formulation was evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity against one of the most common keratitis causing bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Additionally, the in vivo efficacy was evaluated on the rabbit’s eye conjunctivitis model. The formulation showed a sustained effect against keratitis; furthermore, the antibacterial activity was comparable with the commercial product.

Background Bacteria are the major contributor of ocular infections worldwide. Ocular infections, if left untreated, can damage the structures of the eye with possible blindness and visual impairments. This work was aimed to review the bacterial profile of ocular infections. Methods Literature search was made in different electronic databases; the review was systematically made to get concrete findings. Results As far as this review, Staphylococcus aureus , Coagulase negative Staphylococci , Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the leading isolates in ocular infections. Frequent pathogens of the respective clinical diagnose include Staphylococci , Streptococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in blepharitis; Staphylococci , Streptococus pneumoniae , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in Conjunctivitis; Staphylococci , P. aeruginosa and E . coli in dacryocystitis; Coagulase negative Staphylococci , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in keratitis; Streptococcus viridians , Streptococcus pneumoniae and Coagulase negative Staphylococci in endophthalmitis diagnoses. Endogenous endophthalmitis is associated with Klebsiella pneumoniae whereas Coagulase negative Staphylococci and Bacillus spp. are common causes of post-operative and post-traumatic endophthalmitis. However, the predominant pathogens may not be exactly same in all areas of the world, in the United States for instance, Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are the major causes of conjunctivitis. Conclusion Gram positive bacteria are the major contributor of bacterial ocular infections. The distribution and proportion of bacterial isolates among clinical diagnoses varied but without exclusive anatomical restriction. To mitigate the burden of bacterial ocular infections, physicians should regard on risk reduction and comply with etiologic approach of diagnosis.

Purpose of Review The aim of this review is to summarize history, treatment outcomes, indications, complications, and current controversies of both intra-arterial (IAC) and intravitreal (IViTC) chemotherapy in the management of retinoblastoma (RB). Recent Findings Over the years, the ability of IAC to provide excellent tumor control while limiting systemic toxicity has extended its indications from globe-sparing salvage therapy to the first-line therapy for unilateral disease. The establishment of safe IVitC techniques, on the other hand, has changed treatment philosophies from avoiding intraocular drug delivery at all costs to improve the control of vitreous seeds, which has been an important cause of failure of IAC. The use of both techniques has actually not only managed to reduce the enucleation rate but also to eliminate the need for external beam radiotherapy, at least as the first-line or second-line treatment. Summary During the past decade, IAC and IVitC have completely transformed the management of RB with a considerable improvement in ocular survival without affecting patient survival despite the lack of randomized controlled trials. Long-term prognosis, recurrence rates, and incidence of metastases after IAC and IVitC remain to be determined. Future challenges include studies of drug-induced retinal toxicity and optimization of treatment protocols in order to preserve vision.

Purpose of Review Age-related macular degeneration is among the leading causes of blindness in the USA, and the prevalence is increasing. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy has dramatically improved the treatment outcome for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), repeated intravitreal injections can be a challenge for patients and physicians. The following provides a review of several innovative approaches to wet AMD therapy currently under investigation. Recent Findings Novel anti-VEGF delivery routes, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor antagonism, immunomodulatory therapy, and new imaging technology are all poised to possibly expand the current clinical options available for wet AMD patients. Summary There are a number of exciting new treatment modalities for wet AMD currently being researched. As clinical trials of these new therapies continue, we can hope that improved visual outcomes and patient satisfaction are on the horizon.