Economic Cost Analysis of Acanthamoeba Keratitis Among Contact Lens Wearers.

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate direct and indirect economic costs associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis and explore variations in individual and healthcare characteristics.

Methods: Patients treated at Moorfields Eye Hospital, UK, between January 2011 and August 2014 were surveyed. Patients were included if they had a confirmed diagnosis and wore contact lenses.

Understanding the quality-of-life impacts of ocular surface disease.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the lived experience of adults with different types of ocular surface disease (OSD) to understand their quality of life (QoL) impacts.

Methods: Lived experiences of participants diagnosed with aqueous deficient dry eye disease (DED), meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), anterior blepharitis, neuropathic corneal pain (NCP), ocular surface involvement of autoimmune disease and contact lens discomfort (CLD) were explored using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Participants were recruited from specialized dry eye clinics in Australia, United Kingdom, as well as online support groups.

Predicting contact lens discomfort from meibomian gland morphology and function.

Purpose: To develop and validate a model to predict contact lens discomfort (CLD) using features of the meibomian glands (MG).

Methods: This study consisted of three parts: (i) 50 meibography images from contact lens wearers and non-wearers were assessed to distinguish features of interest between the groups to develop an automated algorithm which was tested on 154 images from CLD participants (ii) A multivariable model was constructed with a separate population of 84 lens wearers using imaging features and ocular surface signs to predict Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire-8 (CLDEQ-8) score (iii) The model was validated on two independent sets of images using Bland-Altman comparisons between actual and predicted CLDEQ-8 scores.

Results: Part I: Intergland distance and width of the gland at the lid margin, centre and distal end were identified as features distinguishing between lens wearers and non-wearers.

Ocular surface epithelial immune cells and corneal nerves in dry eye disease - A systematic review and meta-analysis of in vivo confocal microscopy data.

Purpose: To examine ocular surface epithelial immune cell (EIC) density and corneal nerve parameters between patients with dry eye disease (DED) compared to healthy controls with further comparisons between auto-immune - Sjӧgren Syndrome DED (SS-DED) and non-autoimmune - non-Sjӧgren Syndrome DED (NSS-DED) subtypes.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines (Prospero-CRD42023446763) were conducted including studies reporting corneal and conjunctival EIC density and/or corneal nerve parameters in DED and healthy controls using in vivo confocal microscopy. Electronic databases - PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science were searched from inception to March 2025.

Artificial intelligence for age-related macular degeneration diagnosis in Australia: A Novel Qualitative Interview Study.

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) systems for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) diagnosis abound but are not yet widely implemented. AI implementation is complex, requiring the involvement of multiple, diverse stakeholders including technology developers, clinicians, patients, health networks, public hospitals, private providers and payers. There is a pressing need to investigate how AI might be adopted to improve patient outcomes.

TFOS DEWS III Digest Report.

This digest summarises the interdisciplinary research in dry eye disease (DED) published since the 2017 TFOS DEWS II reports. It comprises seven topics including Sex, Gender, and Hormones, Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Tear Film, Pain and Sensation, Iatrogenic and Clinical Trial Design and explores how each of these inform diagnostic methodology, disease subtype and management of DED. Sex- and gender-related differences significantly influence the ocular surface due to hormones, sex chromosomes, sex-specific autosomal factors, epigenetics, care-seeking behaviors, and service utilization.

TFOS DEWS III Management and Therapy Report.

This report provides an evidence-based review of current strategies to manage dry eye disease (DED). First-line management focuses on methods to replenish, conserve and stimulate the tear film, with an emphasis on ocular supplements, which remain the cornerstone of DED treatment. Meibomian gland dysfunction, a primary contributor to DED, is typically treated with warm compresses and a wide variety of in-office treatments, including device-driven technologies to warm the eyelids, intense pulsed light therapy, low-level light therapy and other new and emerging technologies.

TFOS DEWS III Diagnostic Methodology.

A standard approach to the diagnosis of dry eye disease across eye care practitioners is critical to reassuring the patient, providing consistency between practitioners and informing governments as to the true prevalence and resulting healthcare needs. The Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS) III has reviewed the evidence-base since their previous reports published in 2017 and revised the definition to "Dry eye is a multifactorial, symptomatic disease characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film and/or ocular surface, in which tear film instability and hyperosmolarity, ocular surface inflammation and damage, and neurosensory abnormalities are etiological factors." Key features from the definition include that dry eye disease is multifactorial, is a disease and not a syndrome and is always symptomatic.

Association between disinfectant resistance genes in exoU and exoS Pseudomonas aeruginosa with sensitivity to multipurpose disinfecting solutions and antibiotics.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine differences in susceptibility of exoU and exoS Pseudomonas aeruginosa to multi-purpose disinfecting solutions (MPDS) and antibiotics and their association with disinfectant resistance genes.

Methods: A total of 16 exoU and 24 exoS P. aeruginosa keratitis isolates were tested for susceptibility against four multipurpose disinfecting solutions (OPTI-FREE PureMoist, Acuvue RevitaLens, Biotrue, and Renu Advanced Formula) using minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimum bactericidal (MBC) concentrations.

Differences in antimicrobial resistance between exoU and exoS isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Purposes: This study compared antimicrobial resistance between exoU and exoS Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from microbial keratitis (MK) and examined their resistance genotypes.

Methods: The presence of exoU and exoS was determined in 187 MK isolates using PCR. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin were measured.

The effect of an EEG neurofeedback intervention for corneal neuropathic pain: A single-case experimental design with multiple baselines.

Corneal neuropathic pain is a complex condition, rarely responsive to current treatments. This trial investigated the potential effect of a novel home-based self-directed EEG neurofeedback intervention on corneal neuropathic pain using a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design. Four Participants completed a predetermined baseline of 7, 10, 14, and 17 days, randomly assigned to each participant, followed by 20 intervention sessions over four weeks.

Impact of definition of meibomian gland dysfunction on the frequency of MGD in dry eye disease from the DREAM© study.

Purpose: Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common disease, yet there is no standard clinical definition. This study explored the frequency and characteristics of MGD in dry eye disease (DED) using different clinical definitions.

Methods: A secondary analysis of data collected from the DREAM© study participants (n = 535) with moderate-to-severe DED was undertaken.

Hydrophobic Silicon Quantum Dots for Potential Imaging of Tear Film Lipid Layer.

The tear film, consisting of the aqueous and lipid layers, maintains the homeostasis of the ocular surface; therefore, when disturbed, it can cause dry eye, which affects millions of people worldwide. Understanding the dynamics of the tear film layers is essential for developing efficient drug delivery systems for dry eye disease. Quantum dots (QDs) offer the potential for real-time monitoring of tear film and evaluating its dynamics.

Evidence on the Use of Topical Ciclosporin for Ocular Surface Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: To identify evidence on the use of topical CsA for ocular surface diseases (OSD).

Methods: A literature search was conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) through June 2023 via Cochrane Central Registries, Clinical Trials Registry, Grey literature and citation searching. Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) in which different concentrations of topical CsA were compared with one another or other topical therapies were included.

The impact of dry eye disease on patient-reported quality of life: A Save Sight Dry Eye Registry study.

Purpose: The aim of this real-world registry study was to evaluate the quality-of-life (QoL) impact of dry eye disease (DED). The specific objectives were to determine factors affecting QoL in DED, and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Ocular Comfort Index (OCI), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) in a real-world DED population using modern psychometric methods.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 368 DED patients (mean 54.

Designing a contact lens with atropine base using a microemulsion technique.

Purpose: Myopia or near-sightedness is a global vision problem. Atropine eye drops and myopia-controlling contact lenses can help to slow down its progression, but neither is sufficient alone. The present research work was conducted to design a contact lens embedded with an atropine base within a microemulsion system.

The effect of a biweekly novel selenium sulfide-containing topical treatment in symptomatic contact lens wearers: An exploratory study.

Purpose: To explore effects of topical 1 % selenium sulfide on signs and symptoms in symptomatic contact lens-wearers, in an exploratory 4-month prospective placebo-controlled double-masked randomised trial.

Methods: Symptomatic wearers (Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire-8 [CLDEQ-8] score>12) with meibomian gland dysfunction (meibomian gland score (MGS)≤12), were enrolled and received either active (AZR-MD-001-containing 1 % selenium sulfide), or vehicle ointment, to the lower eyelid margin twice-weekly. MGS, meibomian glands-yielding liquid secretion (MGYLS), lipid layer thickness, tear meniscus height, tear break-up time, tear evaporation rate, lid wiper epitheliopathy, CLDEQ-8 and comfortable wear time (CWT) were measured at baseline and to 4-months.

Does orthokeratology contact lens wear suppress the immune cell response in the human corneal epithelium, while soft contact lens wear enhances it?

Background: Orthokeratology (OK) contact lenses are increasingly prescribed for myopia control but their impact on corneal epithelial immune cells (CEIC) is unclear. This study compares CEIC in OK wearers to soft contact lens (SCL) wearers and non-wearers.

Methods: In vivo confocal microscope images at the corneal central and mid-peripheral subbasal level were evaluated in 18 OK wearers, 18 SCL wearers and 18 non-wearers (mean age 27.

Relative importance of tear homeostatic signs for the diagnosis of dry eye disease.

Aim: Disease misdiagnosis is more likely if standardised diagnostic criteria are not used. This study systematically examined the effect on diagnosing dry eye disease (DED), when tests for evaluating tear film homeostasis were included or excluded from a multi-test protocol.

Method: For 1,427 participants across five sites, data for the full suite of diagnostic tests defined in the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop II (TFOS DEWS II) Diagnostic Methodology report algorithm were evaluated; diagnostic sensitivity was calculated when individual signs were removed, and when different combinations of signs were required.

A New Method to Measure Ocular Surface Sensitivity: Repeatability and Reproducibility of the Liquid Jet Esthesiometer.

Objectives: To assess the reliability of the liquid jet esthesiometer (LJA) for measurement of corneal sensitivity.

Methods: Two separate studies were conducted to assess intrasession repeatability (study 1) and intersession reproducibility (study 2) of corneal sensitivity measured using the LJA. Thirty participants (13 female and 17 male participants, age 23±6 years) participated in study 1 and another 30 (18 female and 12 male participants, 35±10 years) participated in study 2.

AZR-MD-001 0.5% selenium sulfide ophthalmic ointment for the treatment of contact lens discomfort: A vehicle-controlled, randomized, clinical trial.

Background: Contact lens discomfort (CLD) is a common problem for CL wearers, and patients with CLD often have changes in meibomian gland function and structure. In a Phase 2 trial AZR-MD-001 0.5% (AZR) ophthalmic ointment improved meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in non-lens wearers.

A Review of Contact Lens Regulations in the Asia Pacific Region.

The increased usage of nonrefractive cosmetic contact lenses in Asia and a trend toward increased online purchasing of both refractive and cosmetic contact lenses poses unique challenges in the management of contact lens-related complications. However, regulations have lagged behind this increased uptake in the community. This paper reviews regulations surrounding the manufacturing, import, and distribution of contact lenses in the Asia Pacific region and compares them with international regulations from the European Union and United States.