Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most prevalent inflammatory skin condition, with approximately 80% of cases originating in childhood and some emerging in adulthood. In South Korea, the estimated prevalence of AD ranges between 10% and 20% in children and 1% and 3% in adults. Severe/recalcitrant AD manifests as a chronic, relapsing skin disorder, persisting with uncontrolled symptoms even after topical steroid treatment. Corticosteroids and systemic immunosuppression, conventionally the standard care for difficult-to-treat diseases, cause numerous undesirable side effects. When AD persists despite topical steroid application, systemic therapies like cyclosporine or systemic steroids become the second treatment strategy. The desire for targeted treatments, along with an enhanced understanding of AD’s pathophysiology, has spurred novel therapeutic development. Recent advances introduce novel systemic options, such as biological agents and small-molecule therapy, tailored to treat severe or recalcitrant AD. Notably, dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody inhibiting interleukin 4 and 13, marked a transformative breakthrough upon gaining approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017, leading to a paradigm shift in the systemic treatment of AD. Furthermore, both dupilumab and Janus kinase inhibitors, including baricitinib, abrocitinib, and tofacitinib, now approved by the Korean FDA, have established their applicability in clinical practice. These innovative therapeutic agents have demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes, effectively addressing moderate to severe AD with fewer side reactions than those associated with previous systemic immunosuppressants. This review summarizes the latest advancements and evidence regarding systemic treatments for AD, including newly approved drugs in Korea.

PURPOSE: To investigate biomechanical properties of the cornea using a dynamic Scheimpflug analyzer according to age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, cross-sectional, observational study, participants underwent ophthalmic investigations including corneal biomechanical properties, keratometric values, intraocular pressure (IOP), and manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE). We determined the relationship of biomechanical parameters and ocular/systemic variables (participant's age, MRSE, IOP, and mean keratometric values) by piecewise regression analysis, association of biomechanical parameters with variables by Spearman's correlation and stepwise multiple regression analyses, and reference intervals (RI) by the bootstrap method. RESULTS: This study included 217 eyes of 118 participants (20–81 years of age). Piecewise regression analysis between Corvis-central corneal thickness (CCT) and participant's age revealed that the optimal cut-off value of age was 45 years. No clear breakpoints were detected between the corneal biomechanical parameters and MRSE, IOP, and mean keratometric values. Corneal velocity, deformation amplitude, radius, maximal concave power, Corvis-CCT, and Corvis-IOP exhibited correlations with IOP, regardless of age (all ages, 20–44 years, and over 44 years). With smaller deformation amplitude and corneal velocity as well as increased Corvis-IOP and Corvis-CCT, IOP became significantly increased. We provided the results of determination of confidence interval from RI data using bootstrap method in three separate age groups (all ages, 20–44 years, and over 44 years). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated multiple corneal biomechanical parameters according to age, and reported that the corneal biomechanical parameters are influenced by IOP.
Cornea* ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Methods ; Observational Study ; Prospective Studies ; Radius

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of an optimized prolate ablation procedure for correcting residual refractive errors following laser surgery. METHODS: We analyzed 24 eyes of 15 patients who underwent an optimized prolate ablation procedure for the correction of residual refractive errors following laser in situ keratomileusis, laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy, or photorefractive keratectomy surgeries. Preoperative ophthalmic examinations were performed, and uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, manifest refraction values (sphere, cylinder, and spherical equivalent), point spread function, modulation transfer function, corneal asphericity (Q value), ocular aberrations, and corneal haze measurements were obtained postoperatively at 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: Uncorrected distance visual acuity improved and refractive errors decreased significantly at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Total coma aberration increased at 3 and 6 months postoperatively, while changes in all other aberrations were not statistically significant. Similarly, no significant changes in point spread function were detected, but modulation transfer function increased significantly at the postoperative time points measured. CONCLUSIONS: The optimized prolate ablation procedure was effective in terms of improving visual acuity and objective visual performance for the correction of persistent refractive errors following laser surgery.
Coma ; Humans ; Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Laser Therapy* ; Phosmet* ; Photorefractive Keratectomy ; Refractive Errors* ; Refractive Surgical Procedures ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: The objective was to evaluate the effect of co-implantation of a preloaded capsular tension ring (CTR) and aberration-free monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) on clinical outcomes and visual quality after cataract surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent cataract surgery were randomized into two groups that were implanted with a CTR and IOL (group 1, 26 eyes) or an IOL only (group 2, 26 eyes). At 1 and 3 months after surgery, visual acuity, refractive errors, refractive prediction errors, ocular aberrations, and modulation transfer function (MTF) were analyzed. At 3 months postoperatively, anterior chamber depth (ACD) and contrast sensitivity were evaluated. RESULTS: Group 1 showed greater hyperopic shift, which caused the refractive prediction error at 3 months after surgery to be significantly different between the two groups (p=0.049). Differences in ACD between the preoperative and postoperative periods tended to be greater in group 1 than in group 2. At 3 months postoperatively, internal MTF values at 20, 25, and 30 cycles per degree were significantly better in group 1 than in group 2 (p=0.034, 0.017, and 0.017, respectively). Contrast sensitivity showed comparable results at almost all spatial frequencies between the groups. CONCLUSION: Regarding visual acuity and quality, both groups showed comparable results. Co-implantation of a CTR and aberration-free monofocal IOL was associated with hyperopic refractive outcomes. Surgeons should consider the position of the IOL when planning co-implantation of a CTR and IOL.
Aged ; Cataract/physiopathology ; *Cataract Extraction ; Contrast Sensitivity ; Female ; Humans ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular/*instrumentation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of toric foldable iris-fixated phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) implantation and non-toric foldable iris-fixated pIOL implantation with limbal relaxing incisions (LRIs) for correcting moderate-to-high astigmatism in myopic eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 146 patients (195 eyes) with myopic astigmatism who underwent toric foldable iris-fixated pIOL implantation (toric group; 94 eyes) or non-toric foldable iris-fixated pIOL implantation with concurrent LRIs (LRI group; 101 eyes) were retrospectively reviewed. For subgroup analysis, the two groups were subdivided according to preoperative astigmatic severity [moderate, 2.00 to <3.00 diopters (D); high, 3.00–4.00 D]. Visual and astigmatic outcomes were compared 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The uncorrected distance visual acuity was at least 20/25 in 100% and 98% of the toric and LRI group eyes, respectively. The toric group had lower mean residual cylindrical error (-0.67±0.39 D vs. -1.14±0.56 D; p<0.001) and greater mean cylindrical error change (2.17±0.56 D vs. 1.63±0.72 D; p<0.001) than the LRI group, regardless of the preoperative astigmatic severity. The mean correction index (1.10±0.16 vs. 0.72±0.24; p<0.001) and success index (0.24±0.14 vs. 0.42±0.21; p<0.001) also differed significantly between the groups. CONCLUSION: Both surgical techniques considerably reduced astigmatism and had comparable visual outcomes. However, toric foldable iris-fixated pIOL implantation was more reliable for correcting moderate-to-high astigmatism in myopic eyes.
Astigmatism* ; Humans ; Limbus Corneae ; Medical Records ; Phakic Intraocular Lenses* ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of toric foldable iris-fixated phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) implantation and non-toric foldable iris-fixated pIOL implantation with limbal relaxing incisions (LRIs) for correcting moderate-to-high astigmatism in myopic eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 146 patients (195 eyes) with myopic astigmatism who underwent toric foldable iris-fixated pIOL implantation (toric group; 94 eyes) or non-toric foldable iris-fixated pIOL implantation with concurrent LRIs (LRI group; 101 eyes) were retrospectively reviewed. For subgroup analysis, the two groups were subdivided according to preoperative astigmatic severity [moderate, 2.00 to <3.00 diopters (D); high, 3.00–4.00 D]. Visual and astigmatic outcomes were compared 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The uncorrected distance visual acuity was at least 20/25 in 100% and 98% of the toric and LRI group eyes, respectively. The toric group had lower mean residual cylindrical error (-0.67±0.39 D vs. -1.14±0.56 D; p<0.001) and greater mean cylindrical error change (2.17±0.56 D vs. 1.63±0.72 D; p<0.001) than the LRI group, regardless of the preoperative astigmatic severity. The mean correction index (1.10±0.16 vs. 0.72±0.24; p<0.001) and success index (0.24±0.14 vs. 0.42±0.21; p<0.001) also differed significantly between the groups. CONCLUSION: Both surgical techniques considerably reduced astigmatism and had comparable visual outcomes. However, toric foldable iris-fixated pIOL implantation was more reliable for correcting moderate-to-high astigmatism in myopic eyes.
Astigmatism* ; Humans ; Limbus Corneae ; Medical Records ; Phakic Intraocular Lenses* ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To compare the astigmatic power of toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) obtained from the AcrySof, TECNIS, and iTrace toric calculator in patients with preoperative with-the-rule (WTR) or against-the-rule (ATR) corneal astigmatism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty eyes with cataract and corneal astigmatism greater than 0.75 diopters were enrolled in each group (WTR and ATR). Keratometric values were measured using autokeratometry, an IOLMaster, and an iTrace, which incorporated corneal topography and ray-tracing aberrometry. Based on measured keratometric values, the astigmatic power of each toric IOL was calculated using three toric calculators. RESULTS: Bland-Altman plots showed good agreement between six pairwise corneal astigmatism values in both groups. The TECNIS calculator tended to suggest a higher astigmatic power of the toric IOL than the AcrySof calculator. With the higher astigmatism and keratometric values from the IOLMaster, in both groups, calculations from the AcrySof and TECNIS calculators resulted in higher calculated astigmatic powers than those from same calculators with autokeratometry-measured values, demonstrating good agreement. With the higher calculated astigmatic power values, the values from the iTrace toric calculator using keratometric values obtained from iTrace ray tracing wavefront aberrometry or iTrace simulated keratometry showed fair to moderate agreement with those from the other calculator-keratometry pairs in both groups. CONCLUSION: To achieve the best refractive outcome after toric IOL implantation, understanding the differences in keratometric values between instruments and in calculated astigmatic power among toric calculator programs is necessary. Moreover, systemic analysis of each toric calculator in conjunction with postoperative data is required.
Aberrometry ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Astigmatism/physiopathology/surgery ; *Cataract ; Cornea/surgery ; Corneal Topography ; Eye ; Female ; Humans ; *Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; *Lenses, Intraocular ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phacoemulsification/*methods ; Postoperative Period ; Refraction, Ocular/*physiology ; Visual Acuity/physiology

PURPOSE: We investigated the correlations between optical quality parameters obtained from the double-pass system and ocular aberrations obtained from the ray-tracing aberrometer in multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implanted eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty eyes from 20 patients were enrolled in this study. Modulation transfer function cutoff frequency, The Strehl ratio, objective scatter index, and objective pseudo-accommodation obtained from the double-pass system were compared with root mean square (RMS) total aberration, RMS higher-order aberration, and spherical aberration obtained from the ray-tracing aberrometer. Additionally, parameters of the double-pass system and ray-tracing aberrometer were compared with manifested refraction values and subjective visual acuity, respectively. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant correlation between optical quality parameters obtained from the double-pass system and ocular aberrations, except between the Strehl ratio and RMS total aberration (r=-0.566, p=0.018). No significant correlations were found between the parameters of both devices, and manifested refraction values or subjective visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Optical quality parameters, especially the Strehl ratio, in multifocal IOL implanted eyes were affected by RMS total aberration. Further studies based on accurate measurements of ocular aberrations and additional optical quality parameters are needed to delineate relationships between optical quality parameters and ocular aberrations in multifocal IOL implanted eyes.
Adult ; Aged ; Cataract Extraction ; Female ; Humans ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; *Lenses, Intraocular ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Refraction, Ocular ; *Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of 0.05% cyclosporine A on tear film parameters and corneal aberration after cataract surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent cataract surgery were divided into 2 groups. Patients in Group I (23 eyes) were treated with cyclosporine A from 1 week before surgery to 3 months after surgery. Patients in Group II (24 eyes) underwent surgery without cyclosporine treatment. Tear film break-up time (BUT), Schirmer's test I, Oxford scheme, Ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and corneal aberrations were evaluated before surgery and at 1 and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: In Group I, BUT was significantly improved at 3 months (p = 0.026) after surgery compared with the preoperative value. OSDI decreased significantly at 1 (p = 0.033) and 3 months (p = 0.003) after surgery compared with the preoperative value. However, there were no significant differences between preoperative and postoperative values of BUT and OSDI in Group II. Schirmer's test results and the Oxford scheme were not significantly changed in either group. Preoperative root mean square (RMS) total values were not different between the 2 groups, but was different at postoperative 3 months (p = 0.015). Group I had a significantly lower value for total RMS than Group II. In Group I, Coma 7 (Z3(-1)) (p = 0.018) and spherical aberration (Z4(0)) (p = 0.031) were significantly decreased after surgery. In Group II, Trefoil 6 (Z3(-3)) (p = 0.033) was significantly increased after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: 0.05% cyclosporine A may be effective for improving dry eye syndrome and corneal aberration after cataract surgery.
Cataract* ; Coma ; Cyclosporine* ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; Humans ; Lotus ; Tears*

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical 3 months postoperative results of three different 1-piece aspheric intraocular lenses (IOLs): AcrySof IQ SN60WF (Alcon Laboratories, INC, Fort Worth, TX), TECNIS 1-piece ZCB00 (AMO Inc., Santa Ana, CA) and the newly developed enVista MX60 (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY). METHODS: In a total of 62 eyes, 1 of the 3 1-piece aspheric IOLs, AcrySof IQ SN60WF, TECNIS 1-piece ZCB00 or enVista MX60 was implanted after cataract extraction. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), and spherical equivalent were assessed 3 months postoperatively. Total spherical aberration, high order aberration, and modulation transfer function were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of UCVA, BCVA, the accuracy of postoperative refractive power, and modulation transfer function among the 3 IOLs. Higher order aberrations of the entire eye and internal optics showed almost no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed IOL, enVista MX60, showed equivalent clinical outcomes as both AcrySof IQ SN60WF and TECNIS 1-piece ZCB00.
Cataract Extraction ; Eye ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Visual Acuity