Anti-scarring Drugs And Drug Delivery systems (DDSs) that are more effective and safer than mitomycin C have been sought to improve the outcome of glaucoma filtration surgeries. Drugs that selectively inhibit wound healing, including anti-transforming growth factor-β and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibodies, have been investigated, although their advantages are yet to be verified in humans. In addition, novel sustained release DDSs with fewer toxic effects have been studied for application after glaucoma surgeries. Several potential biomaterials for such DDSs, including gelatin hydrogel, have been introduced.

A 34-year-old man presented with binocular proptosis for half a year and sight lost for seven days. The patient had a facial lymphoma resection and postoperative chemotherapy five years ago.

Ocular diseases are devastating as most of them would cause irreversible visual impairment and blindness. Conceptually, cell replacement therapy with new ocular cells generated by ocular stem cells can substitute the degenerated or damaged cells in the diseased tissue. This concept has first been applied in the limbal transplantation by limbal progenitor cells. Unfortunately, patients with limbal stem cell deficiency and the endogenous progenitor cells present in human corneal endothelium as well as retina have limited regenerative power. In recent decades, other stem cell sources for ocular cell regeneration have been explored and are now feasible with the use of pluripotent stem cells, such as the embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Nevertheless, autologous transplantation would not be applicable using ESCs, whereas the variability of reprogramming methods as well as genetic instability of iPSCs has hindered their direct applications. Alternatively, human adult stem cells, such as hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are found throughout the body and can be efficiently isolated from patients while maintaining the characteristics of self-renewal and multipotency. Superiorly, adult stem cells harness the potential to protect the ocular cells, where MSCs are able to modulate the microenvironments of the diseased eye for neuroprotection. This article compiled the current progress of MSCs in ocular research. Moreover, the updated clinical trials of adult stem cells in ocular diseases are summarized. In addition, potential challenges and future prospects of stem cell research in ophthalmology would also be discussed.

Purpose: Choroidal neovascularization is a common complication following several retinal conditions, most commonly age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We present a case of bilateral extramacular choroidal neovascularization in a patient with wet AMD.

Methods/Patients: Interventional Case Report. Clinical, radiologic, and angiographic correlation.

Results: An 89 year old Caucasian male with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) developed bilateral vitreous hemorrhages and subretinal hemorrhages after which were noted bilateral extramacular choroidal neovascular membranes. The vitreous hemorrhage in the left eye cleared on its own, while vitrectomy was performed in the right eye. Bevacizumab (Avastin) was injected into both eyes. Eighteen months after initial presentation and three months after Bevacizumab, the patient was asymptomatic, both neovascular membranes were inactive, and visual acuity had improved to 20/70 OD and 20/100 OS.

Conclusions: We report the first case of aggressive bilateral extramacular choroidal neovascular membranes in a patient with wet AMD. The pathophysiology that causes AMD to target the macula and fovea in most cases, but the extramacular region in this case, has yet to be elucidated.

Objective: To describe the method of Intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in eyes after Intracorneal Ring Segment (ICRS) surgery for the treatment of post-LASIK ectasia.

Design: Retrospective observational case-series.

Participants: Three eyes of 2 patients were included in this study.

Methods: Corneal curvature in the central effective optical zone was averaged using corneal topography and k-reading (Kr) was calculated using Jarade IR method for Kr after LASIK. The calculated Kr was used in SRK-T formula for IOL calculation. Accuracy of this IOL calculation method was judged using the manifest refraction outcome after cataract surgery. All eyes were targeted for emmetropia after cataract.

Results: In our series, one eye developed cataract after ICRS surgery for the treatment of ectasia after hyperopic LASIK (+4 D) and 2 eyes developed cataract after ICRS surgery for the treatment of ectasia after myoic LASIK (-10 D). The spherical equivalent of manifest refraction after cataract surgery was within 1.25 D in all eyes.

Conclusion: Using the average corneal curvature in the central effective optical zone to calculate Kr “by Jarade IR” method was found to be accurate in calculating IOL power in ectatic eyes treated by ICRS surgery