Background: Autoimmune diseases represent a significant health burden for 3% to 9% of the general population, and rheumatology, perhaps more than any other medical subspecialty, encompasses a broad array of such diseases that affect a wide range of organ systems including the eye. It serves as a sensitive barometer of autoimmune phenomena in many of the rheumatic diseases.

Objective: The study determined the various ocular manifestations of all autoimmune inflammatory disorders at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Section of Rheumatology and the Department of Ophthalmology from 2003 to 2018.

Methodology: A retrospective cohort study was done involving chart review of patients from both private division and clinical division. Sex, age, duration of disease, medications given, and ocular manifestations were determined. Statistical analysis included frequencies, percentages, and logistic regression analysis.

Results: Sixty-seven patients were included in the study. Of these, 58.2% (39/67) had ocular manifestations secondary to an established autoimmune disease. It was found out that 58.97% (23/39) had Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. Other autoimmune diseases with ophthalmologic manifestations were systemic lupus erythematosus at 12.8% (5/39), ankylosing spondylitis at 10.25% (4/39), rheumatoid arthritis and Behcet's syndrome at 5.12% (2/39), and granulomatosis with polyangiitis, scleroderma and psoriatic arthritis at 2.56% (1/39).

Conclusion: In this population, the frequency of ocular manifestations of autoimmune diseases remained low with anterior uveitis as the most common. Close coordination between specialties is very important in the course of treatment and management to lessen its complications and related morbidity.

Objective: To compare the tensile strength of fibrin glue, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, and liquid ocular bandage to conventional nylon 10-0 sutures in sealing central linear corneal lacerations. Methods: An experimental in-vitro study was performed on 74 porcine eyes. A 27-gauge needle connected to an infusion system with balanced salt solution was inserted into the anterior chamber and the bottle height was adjusted accordingly. Full-thickness central corneal lacerations were created using a 3.2 mm keratome knife for the initial incision and enlarged by a 5.2 mm knife. The wounds were sealed with fibrin glue (Tisseel®), 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond®), liquid ocular bandage (OcuSeal™), and nylon 10-0 with 3 sutures. Tensile strength of the wounds was measured by recording the bottle height above the level of the porcine eyes before leakage was detected and this was converted to IOP values. One-way ANOVA and post hoc t-test were used to analyze the data. Results: Mean maximum IOP where leakage was resisted for the nylon 10-0 suture group was 52.37 ± 7.16 mm Hg. The mean maximum resisted IOP for the fibrin glue, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, and liquid ocular bandage was 46.34 ± 12.64 mm Hg, 55.13 ± 10.46 mm Hg, and 56.99 ± 8.27 mm Hg respectively. There was no significant difference between the sutures and all of the adhesives groups (p=0.08, p=0.34, and p=0.08) and between 2-octyl cyanoacrylate and liquid ocular bandage (p=0.57). 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate and liquid ocular bandage demonstrated higher mean IOP as compared to the fibrin group (p = 0.024 and p = 0.007). Conclusion Fibrin glue, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, and liquid ocular bandage were shown to be effective in sealing 5.2 mm linear corneal lacerations, with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate and liquid ocular bandage being superior to the fibrin glue.
Tissue Adhesives ; Tensile Strength ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, predictability, and safety of LASIK surgery using the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q excimer laser. Methods : Data of patients who underwent myopic LASIK were collected. The data consisted of pre- and postoperative refractions, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and intraoperative treatment parameters. The main outcome measures were efficacy, predictability, and safety. Results: One hundred eight eyes of 56 patients, 21 males and 35 females, mean age of 30.66 years, who underwent myopic LASIK in a tertiary hospital, were included in the study. The mean spherical error corrected was –5.22 ±2.56 D (median, –5.0 D). Postoperatively, all eyes achieved UCVA of 20/30 or better, with 92.6% achieving 20/20. Nearly 94% of patients maintained or gained 1 to 2 Snellen lines of BCVA postoperatively. One patient lost 2 Snellen line of BCVA. The mean postoperative manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) was –0.04 ± 0.26 D. The general refractive predictability was 93.52% within ± 0.5 D from the target refraction, while 76% of all patients had a postoperative MRSE of within ± 0.25 of the target. Conclusion Myopic LASIK performed using the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q excimer laser is safe and effective with high refractive predictability.
Myopia ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Lasers, Excimer ; Visual Acuity