Background: Flow cytometric immunophenotyping of hematolymphoid neoplasms (FCIHLN) is essential for diagnosis, classification, and minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring. FCI-HLN is typically performed using in-house protocols, raising the need for standardization. Therefore, we surveyed the current status of FCI-HLN in Korea to obtain fundamental data for quality improvement and standardization. Methods: Eight university hospitals actively conducting FCI-HLN participated in our survey.We analyzed responses to a questionnaire that included inquiries regarding test items, reagent antibodies (RAs), fluorophores, sample amounts (SAs), reagent antibody amounts (RAAs), acquisition cell number (ACN), isotype control (IC) usage, positiveegative criteria, and reporting. Results: Most hospitals used acute HLN, chronic HLN, plasma cell neoplasm (PCN), and MRD panels. The numbers of RAs were heterogeneous, with a maximum of 32, 26, 12, 14, and 10 antibodies used for acute HLN, chronic HLN, PCN, ALL-MRD, and multiple myeloma-MRD, respectively. The number of fluorophores ranged from 4 to 10. RAs, SAs, RAAs, and ACN were diverse. Most hospitals used a positive criterion of 20%, whereas one used 10% for acute and chronic HLN panels. Five hospitals used ICs for the negative criterion. Positiveegative assignments, percentages, and general opinions were commonly reported. In MRD reporting, the limit of detection and lower limit of quantification were included. Conclusions This is the first comprehensive study on the current status of FCI-HLN in Korea, confirming the high heterogeneity and complexity of FCI-HLN practices. Standardization of FCI-HLN is urgently needed. The findings provide a reference for establishing standard FCI-HLN guidelines.

Background: Solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) receiving immunosuppressive therapy are expected to have worse clinical outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, published studies have shown mixed results, depending on adjustment for important confounders such as age, variants, and vaccination status. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected the data on 7,327 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from two tertiary hospitals with government-designated COVID-19 regional centers. We compared clinical outcomes between SOTRs and non-SOTRs by a propensity score-matched analysis (1:2) based on age, gender, and the date of COVID-19 diagnosis. We also performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to adjust other important confounders such as vaccination status and the Charlson comorbidity index. Results: After matching, SOTRs (n=83) had a significantly higher risk of high-flow nasal cannula use, mechanical ventilation, acute kidney injury, and a composite of COVID-19 severity outcomes than non-SOTRs (n=160) (all P <0.05). The National Early Warning Score was significantly higher in SOTRs than in non-SOTRs from day 1 to 7 of hospitalization ( P for interaction=0.008 by generalized estimating equation). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, SOTRs (odds ratio [OR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–4.11) and male gender (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.26– 5.45) were associated with worse outcomes, and receiving two to three doses of COVID-19 vaccine (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24–0.79) was associated with better outcomes. Conclusion Hospitalized SOTRs with COVID-19 had a worse prognosis than non-SOTRs. COVID-19 vaccination should be implemented appropriately to prevent severe COVID-19 progression in this population.

Purpose: To investigate the long-term effects of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection on choroidal thickness and its correlation with visual acuity (VA) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Methods: This retrospective study evaluated VA, central macular thickness (CMT), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography at baseline, followed by assessments for up to five years post-injection. Comparisons were made between nAMD and fellow eyes, as well as between baseline and post-injection values within each group. A multiple regression model was used to analyze factors influencing final VA, including baseline VA, age, sex, number of injections, nAMD subtype, baseline CMT and SFCT, and final CMT and SFCT. Results: A total of 57 patients was included in this study. VA improved significantly in nAMD eyes up to one year after injection and then declined. Compared to fellow eyes, nAMD eyes had significantly poorer VA over the entire follow-up. In nAMD eyes, SFCT decreased significantly at each annual follow-up visit (p < 0.001 at every visit). The SFCT of nAMD and fellow eyes showed no significant difference at baseline and after one year. However, a significant difference was observed from the second year onward. Final VA significantly correlated only with baseline VA (standardized coefficients Beta = 0.380, p = 0.011). Conclusions The SFCT of nAMD eyes significantly decreased each year, becoming thinner than fellow eyes from the second year on.Throughout follow-up, nAMD eyes had poorer VA than fellow eyes and final VA of nAMD eyes correlated only with baseline VA.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of intravitreal brolucizumab (IVB) injections on peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods: This retrospective case series included 11 eyes from 11 patients with PCV who were switched to IVB treatment due to persistent fluid accumulation despite prior anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. RNFL thickness was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography at baseline and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-IVB injection. The data were compared to baseline data of treated eyes and untreated fellow eyes. Results: A significant decrease in RNFL thickness was observed in the inferior temporal sector of the treated eyes at 1 month post-IVB injection compared to baseline (p = 0.029). However, this difference was not significant at subsequent follow-up points. No significant long-term changes were noted in global RNFL thickness or other RNFL sectors compared to baseline. Additionally, there were no significant differences in RNFL thickness between IVB-treated and -untreated fellow eyes at any follow-up visit. Central macular thickness decreased significantly from baseline over the 12-month study period, but BCVA did not significantly differ from baseline at any time point. Conclusions Long-term use of IVB in PCV patients does not lead to significant changes in RNFL thickness in treated eyes relative to untreated fellow eyes. The initial decrease in RNFL thickness in the inferior temporal sector may be due to a reduction in macular edema rather than neurotoxicity caused by anti-VEGF treatment. These findings suggest that IVB treatment for PCV does not have a detrimental impact on RNFL thickness over 12 months.

Background: Solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) receiving immunosuppressive therapy are expected to have worse clinical outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, published studies have shown mixed results, depending on adjustment for important confounders such as age, variants, and vaccination status. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected the data on 7,327 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from two tertiary hospitals with government-designated COVID-19 regional centers. We compared clinical outcomes between SOTRs and non-SOTRs by a propensity score-matched analysis (1:2) based on age, gender, and the date of COVID-19 diagnosis. We also performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to adjust other important confounders such as vaccination status and the Charlson comorbidity index. Results: After matching, SOTRs (n=83) had a significantly higher risk of high-flow nasal cannula use, mechanical ventilation, acute kidney injury, and a composite of COVID-19 severity outcomes than non-SOTRs (n=160) (all P <0.05). The National Early Warning Score was significantly higher in SOTRs than in non-SOTRs from day 1 to 7 of hospitalization ( P for interaction=0.008 by generalized estimating equation). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, SOTRs (odds ratio [OR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–4.11) and male gender (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.26– 5.45) were associated with worse outcomes, and receiving two to three doses of COVID-19 vaccine (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24–0.79) was associated with better outcomes. Conclusion Hospitalized SOTRs with COVID-19 had a worse prognosis than non-SOTRs. COVID-19 vaccination should be implemented appropriately to prevent severe COVID-19 progression in this population.

Background: Solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) receiving immunosuppressive therapy are expected to have worse clinical outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, published studies have shown mixed results, depending on adjustment for important confounders such as age, variants, and vaccination status. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected the data on 7,327 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from two tertiary hospitals with government-designated COVID-19 regional centers. We compared clinical outcomes between SOTRs and non-SOTRs by a propensity score-matched analysis (1:2) based on age, gender, and the date of COVID-19 diagnosis. We also performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to adjust other important confounders such as vaccination status and the Charlson comorbidity index. Results: After matching, SOTRs (n=83) had a significantly higher risk of high-flow nasal cannula use, mechanical ventilation, acute kidney injury, and a composite of COVID-19 severity outcomes than non-SOTRs (n=160) (all P <0.05). The National Early Warning Score was significantly higher in SOTRs than in non-SOTRs from day 1 to 7 of hospitalization ( P for interaction=0.008 by generalized estimating equation). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, SOTRs (odds ratio [OR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–4.11) and male gender (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.26– 5.45) were associated with worse outcomes, and receiving two to three doses of COVID-19 vaccine (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24–0.79) was associated with better outcomes. Conclusion Hospitalized SOTRs with COVID-19 had a worse prognosis than non-SOTRs. COVID-19 vaccination should be implemented appropriately to prevent severe COVID-19 progression in this population.

Acupuncture is recognized as a component of alternative medicine and is increasingly used worldwide. Many studies have shown the various effects of acupuncture around the eyes for ophthalmologic or nonophthalmologic conditions. For ophthalmologic conditions, the effect of acupuncture on dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, myopia, amblyopia, ophthalmoplegia, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, blepharospasm, and blepharoptosis has been reported. Recently, several studies on dry eye syndrome have been reported and are in the spotlight. However, given the variety of study designs and reported outcomes of periocular acupuncture, research is still inconclusive, and further studies are required. In addition, although a systematic and reliable safety assessment is required, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports of a literature review of ocular complications resulting from periocular acupuncture. This review collected cases of ocular injury as severe adverse events from previously published case reports of periocular acupuncture. A total of 14 case reports (15 eyes of 14 patients) of adverse events published between 1982 and 2020 were identified. This review article provides a summary of the reported cases and suggestions for the prevention and management of better visual function prognosis.

Purpose: To compare the long-term changes in surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) in patients who underwent 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy and cataract surgery together with patients who underwent cataract surgery only. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed SIA changes for 1 year after surgery in patients who received only cataract surgery using phacoemulsification (group 1) and patients who underwent 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy and cataract surgery together (group 2). Flat keratometry (K1), steep keratometry (K2), and astigmatism axis were measured with automatic keratometry before and after the surgery. Vector analysis was used to calculate SIA at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. We then examined whether the SIA values at each time point were different between the two groups. Results: A total of 86 eyes were included in this study (group 1, n = 45; group 2, n = 41). The mean SIA values calculated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery in group 1 were 0.83 ± 0.37, 0.69 ± 0.39, 0.60 ± 0.33, and 0.59 ± 0.33, respectively. In group 2, the values were 0.82 ± 0.47, 0.69 ± 0.38, 0.62 ± 0.28, and 0.61 ± 0.30, respectively. Over time, SIA decreased in both groups (all p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the mean SIA between the two groups at each follow-up time point after surgery (p = 0.296, p = 0.728, p = 0.361, and p = 0.356, respectively). Conclusions When 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy and cataract surgery were performed together, the astigmatism change caused by surgery did not show a significant difference compared with that of the group who received cataract surgery only. Thus, 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy may not significantly affect corneal astigmatism.

Purpose: To compare the long-term changes in surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) in patients who underwent 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy and cataract surgery together with patients who underwent cataract surgery only. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed SIA changes for 1 year after surgery in patients who received only cataract surgery using phacoemulsification (group 1) and patients who underwent 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy and cataract surgery together (group 2). Flat keratometry (K1), steep keratometry (K2), and astigmatism axis were measured with automatic keratometry before and after the surgery. Vector analysis was used to calculate SIA at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. We then examined whether the SIA values at each time point were different between the two groups. Results: A total of 86 eyes were included in this study (group 1, n = 45; group 2, n = 41). The mean SIA values calculated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery in group 1 were 0.83 ± 0.37, 0.69 ± 0.39, 0.60 ± 0.33, and 0.59 ± 0.33, respectively. In group 2, the values were 0.82 ± 0.47, 0.69 ± 0.38, 0.62 ± 0.28, and 0.61 ± 0.30, respectively. Over time, SIA decreased in both groups (all p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the mean SIA between the two groups at each follow-up time point after surgery (p = 0.296, p = 0.728, p = 0.361, and p = 0.356, respectively). Conclusions When 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy and cataract surgery were performed together, the astigmatism change caused by surgery did not show a significant difference compared with that of the group who received cataract surgery only. Thus, 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy may not significantly affect corneal astigmatism.

Purpose: To evaluate the short-term ophthalmic side effects of bilateral same-day intravitreal bevacizumab injections. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent intravitreal bevacizumab injection in both eyes on the same day from January 2015 to June 2019. The patients were followed up at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after the injection. Results: A total of 281 patients (153 males and 128 females) and 562 eyes were included in the study, and 950 bilateral same-day intravitreal bevacizumab injections were performed. The mean age of patients was 58.87 ± 13.44 years. The most common cause of bilateral injection was that of complications due to diabetic retinopathy, which accounted for 66.3%, followed by age-related macular degeneration at 22.2%, retinal vein occlusion at 5.1%, and central serious chorioretinopathy at 2.1%. There were 0 cases of endophthalmitis after 950 injections, 13 cases of subconjunctival hemorrhage, and 17 patients with a temporary elevation of intraocular pressure. There were 11 patients with acute intraocular inflammation after bilateral injection, but none in both eyes. Patients with acute intraocular inflammation were followed up at short-term intervals until they improved. All patients showed complete improvement within 2 weeks after injection. Comparing the patients’ condition before and after injection, visual acuity improved (p < 0.001). Conclusions In terms of the frequency of short-term ophthalmic adverse events, bilateral same-day intravitreal bevacizumab injection is a safe procedure with fewer side effects and is more convenient for both the patient and the doctor.