Purpose: To evaluate the effects of the non-invasive keratograph break-up time on the repeatability of keratometric measurements derived using the Keratograph 5M in patients with dry eye syndrome. Methods: Thirty-six patients with dry eye and 30 controls were enrolled. We measured keratometric values twice in all subjects and explored whether the two measurements differed by more than 0.5 diopter (D) (the absolute value). We also evaluated the relationship between the absolute difference and the non-invasive keratograph break-up time (NIKBUT). Results: The intraclass correlation coefficients for astigmatism, flat keratometry (K), steep K, and mean K were all higher than 0.95 in patients, thus lower than in controls. The proportion of eyes with absolute differences over 0.5 D between the two keratometric values differed significantly between the dry eye and control groups in terms of the flat K and Kmax values (p = 0.033, 0.037). The average NIKBUT was negatively correlated with the absolute differences in Kmax and astigmatism (p = 0.030, R2 = 0.134 and p = 0.017, R2 = 0.160). Conclusions In patients with dry eye syndrome, keratometric measurements are reliably repeatable, but slightly less so than in normal controls. The proportions of eyes exhibiting absolute keratometric differences over 0.5 D (two measurements) differed in the dry eye and control groups. The lower the non-invasive keratograph break-up time, the poorer the repeatability of keratometric measurements in the dry eye group. Therefore, care is required when obtaining keratometric values for such patients.

Purpose: To analyze the clinical features and visual prognosis of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in patients under 50 years of age. Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of 36 patients under 50 years of age diagnosed with RVO from January 2016 to October 2021. Results: The mean age was 39.53 ± 9.98 years and 50%, 44.4%, and 5.6% had branch, central, and hemi-central RVO, respectively. Before the RVO diagnosis, systemic disease had been diagnosed in 38.9%. Further, 13.89% of the cases had a new systemic disease diagnosed after the diagnosis of RVO. Hypercholesterolemia was observed in 47.6%. The initial visual acuity (VA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and central subfield thickness (CST) showed significant correlations with the final VA, BCVA, and CST. Conclusions In patients with RVO under the age of 50 years, the initial VA and CST can be used as indicators to determine whether treatment is necessary by reflecting the final VA and CST. The initial VA and CST can also be used to predict the visual prognosis. Even at a young age, if complications occur, the visual prognosis of RVO may be poor, so an evaluation of the patient’s general condition is essential, especially the blood cholesterol level.

Purpose: We report a young patient with unilateral eyelid swelling secondary to local, palpebral conjunctival amyloidosis.Case summary: A 31-year-old male was referred with a 6-month history of mild, right upper eyelid swelling but without redness or tenderness. Slit-lamp examination revealed a diffuse hemorrhagic papilliform lesion on the right upper palpebral conjunctiva, this raised a suspicion of giant papillary conjunctivitis. As the lesion was unilateral, there was no history of allergic disease or contact lens use, and the lesion was refractory to topical anti-inflammatory treatment so, excisional biopsy of the right upper palpebral conjunctiva was performed. During the operation, the papilliform lesion was removed, it peeled off on the blade. After surgery, the eyelid swelling improved. Histopathological examination revealed an eosinophilic amorphous deposit consistent with amyloidosis. Further evaluation ruled out systemic amyloidosis; there were no abnormal findings. Thus, we diagnosed primary localized amyloidosis of the palpebral conjunctiva. At the 1-year follow-up, no recurrence was detected. Conclusions Although primary localized amyloidosis of the palpebral conjunctiva is rare, this should be considered if chronic eyelid swelling accompanied by another conjunctival lesion such as giant papillary conjunctivitis is encountered.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of order of examination on the results of noninvasive keratograph tear film evaluation using Keratograph5M in dry eye patients. Methods: One hundred and four patients with dry eye symptoms were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent bilateral noninvasive tear film evaluation using measurements of tear meniscus height (TMH) and noninvasive keratograph break-up time (NIKBUT) obtained using Keratograph5M. Measurements were performed sequentially in the order of right TMH, left TMH, right NIKBUT, and left NIKBUT. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in TMH values between the right and left eyes (0.24 ± 0.08 and 0.23 ± 0.08 mm, respectively). Mean NIKBUT-first (time at first tear film break-up) and mean NIKBUT-average (the mean of all tear film break-up time over the entire cornea) were 6.17 ± 3.28 and 10.00 ± 3.97 seconds, respectively, for right, and 7.43 ± 3.86 and 11.57 ± 4.34 seconds, respectively, for left eyes. In addition, mean NIKBUT-first between right and left eyes, and mean NIKBUT-average between them were statistically significant (p = 0.013 and p = 0.007, respectively). Mean NIKBUT and mean TMH differences were not significantly influenced by right or left eyes, age, or sex (all p > 0.050). Spearman correlation analyses of TMH, NIKBUT-first, and NIKBUT-average results showed moderate positive correlations between right and left eyes (r = 0.470, r = 0.322, and r = 0.576, respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusions TMH evaluation was not affected by test order; however, NIKBUT measurement was affected by test order, because of reflex tearing due to forced eye opening during the examination. Therefore, TMH should be evaluated before NIKBUT, and sufficient time interval and caution should be needed between NIKBUT measurements on both eyes.

Purpose: Human corneal endothelial progenitor cells (HCEPs), which has been selectively isolated and differentiated into human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs), are crucial for repairing corneal endothelial damage. In this study, we evaluated the roles of a Rho-assisted kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, Y-27632, on the isolation and expansion of HCEPs, and assessed the in vitro effects of different concentrations of Y-27632 on the differentiated HCEPs. Methods: HCEPs were isolated and expanded in a medium with and without 10μM Y-27632, and then differentiated into HCECs in a medium with fetal bovine serum. The characteristics of HCEPs and differentiated HCEPs were confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. The proliferation, viability, morphology, and wound-healing ability of differentiated HCEPs were assessed in the presence of different concentrations of Y-27632. Results: Y-27632 enabled the isolation and expansion of HCEPs from the corneal endothelium. The differentiated HCEPs showed an optimal increase in proliferation and survival in the presence of 10μM Y-27632. As the concentration of Y-27632 increased, differentiated HCEPs became elongated, and actin filaments were redistributed to the periphery of cells. Y-27632 also caused a concentration-dependent enhancement in the wound-healing ability of differentiated HCEPs. Conclusions Y-27632 enabled the isolation and expansion of HCEPs. It also enhanced the proliferation, viability, and migration of differentiated HCEPs.