Virtual Reality-Based Screening Tool for Distance Horizontal Fusional Vergence in Orthotropic Young Subjects: A Prospective Pilot Study.

This prospective pilot study aimed to develop and evaluate a VR-based screening tool for assessing distance fusional vergence amplitude in healthy orthotropic young adults aged 18 to 30 years. A VR-based balloon-hitting game was used to measure hitting deviation angles and total vergence amplitudes under five conditions: control (0 prism diopter [PD]), inward image rotation for 10 and 20 PD (negative fusional vergence [NFV] 10/20 groups), and outward image rotation for 10 and 20 PD (positive fusional vergence [PFV] 10/20 groups). Of the 20 subjects recruited, one was excluded due to esotropia, leaving 19 participants (mean age: 22.

The Function of Transforming Growth Factor 2 in Facilitating Inflammasome Activation to Enhance the Development of Myopia via Complement System.

Myopia is one of the major public health conditions with significant complications. This study investigates the role of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2, complement activation, and inflammasome pathways in myopia progression using a Brown Norway rat model. Myopia was induced, and complement regulation was manipulated using gene therapy via adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors delivering CD55 or CD55 siRNA.

Harnessing EP21 and its membrane vesicles to inhibit myopia development.

, a probiotic that is frequently found in fermented foods, is well known for its numerous health-enhancing properties. This study explored the potential of EP21 and its membrane vesicles (MVs) in mitigating myopia progression. In animal models of form-deprivation and TGF-β2-induced myopia, EP21 reduced axial elongation and refractive error shifts.

Comparing the Effect of 2 Artificial Tear Formulations on Daytime Ocular Surface Parameters After Orthokeratology Contact Lenses Wearing.

Purpose: To compare the ocular comfort and tear film stability of low viscous and medium viscous lubricant eye drops in orthokeratology lens users.

Method: This is a prospective, two-arm, randomized, crossover trial. After a 7±2 day run-in and washout period, subjects were assigned to apply one of two eye drops to the orthokeratology lens bow every night before inserting their lenses.

Association of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors with Glaucoma Risk in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Purpose: To investigate the association between dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4is) and the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Subjects: A total of 582 710 patients with T2DM treated with either DPP4i (exposure group) or non-DPP4i medications (control group) were analyzed between 2008 and 2021.

Impact of long-term statin therapy on age-related macular degeneration: A nationwide population-based study.

Aims: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss worldwide among older adults. Although some studies propose that statins could reduce AMD risk and progression, others report conflicting findings. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of statin use on the incidence of AMD.

Diversity and longitudinal records: Genetic architecture of disease associations and polygenic risk in the Taiwanese Han population.

We addressed the underrepresentation of non-European populations in genome-wide association studies (GWASs) by building HiGenome, a large-scale genetic resource for the Taiwanese Han population. Using a custom genotyping array, we integrated deidentified electronic medical records (2003 to 2021) with genomic data to enable GWASs, phenome-wide association studies, and polygenic risk score (PRS) analysis. Among 413,000 participants, 323,397 passed ancestry and quality control filtering.

The association between subfoveal choroidal thickness and refractive error in Taiwanese children: A cross-sectional study.

Purpose: The aim was to analyze the association of subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) with age, best-corrected visual acuity, refractive error, and axial length in Taiwan pediatric population.

Methods: A total of 374 eyes in 187 children were enrolled in this retrospective cross-sectional comparative study, who underwent examinations of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), cycloplegic refraction, and axial length (AL). Subfoveal choroidal thickness was assessed utilizing spectral domain enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT), with measurements taken at the subfovea, defined as the distance from the retinal pigment epithelium to the chorioscleral border.

Association between outdoor air pollutant exposure and refractive error changes: A retrospective clinical practice study.

In recent decades, the impact of air pollution on eye health has been emphasized, but the effect of air pollution on changes in refractive error is still unknown. A comprehensive retrospective cohort study was conducted to address this, utilizing the China Medical University Hospital Clinical Research Data Repository (CMUH-CRDR). It included 4,399 participants aged 6-12 years, with 2,166 females and 2,223 males, who visited the ophthalmology department between 2003 and 2019, ensuring a robust and representative sample.

A systematic review and network meta-analysis of surgical interventions for glaucoma following penetrating keratoplasty.

This study aims to compare the effectiveness and safety of surgical interventions for secondary glaucoma following penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) through a network meta-analysis. PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were searched for articles published from inception to July 16, 2024. We included studies that compared the effects of trabeculectomy, glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs), or cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) on graft failure, intraocular pressure (IOP), or the number of glaucoma medications required for patients with post-PKP glaucoma.

Use of SGLT2 Inhibitors Versus DPP-4 Inhibitors and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Patients WithType 2 Diabetes: A Multinational Cohort Study.

Purpose: To compare the impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) risk among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This multinational, retrospective cohort study used electronic medical records from healthcare institutions across 21 countries. Adults 50 years or older with T2DM who had a prior prescription of metformin and initiated SGLT2 or DPP-4 inhibitors from 2013 to 2023 were included.

Dopaminergic medications as a preventive for myopia: insights derived from pediatric patients diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Background/objectives: This study investigated the impact of dopaminergic medications on myopia progression by comparing myopia susceptibility in ADHD patients treated with dopaminergic agents to those untreated. A non-ADHD cohort was also established to assess myopia risk compared to individuals with ADHD.

Subjects/methods: This population-based cohort study used Taiwan National Health Insurance data (2009-2020), stratifying participants by ADHD status.

Beyond the blood-brain barrier: feasibility and technical validation of dual-compartment circulating tumor cells detection in high-grade glioma patients.

The elusive nature of brain tumor progression, hidden behind the blood-brain barrier, presents significant challenges for treatment monitoring in high-grade gliomas. In this feasibility study, we evaluate a novel approach to tracking glioblastoma through liquid biopsy, assessing whether tumor cells leave detectable molecular footprints in both blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Using the MiSelect R II System with specialized microfluidic technology, we analyzed paired blood and CSF samples from six glioblastoma patients, revealing a striking presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs)- with higher abundance in CSF, where detection rates reached 100% compared to 83.

Risk of Retinal Vein Occlusion between Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors in Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To evaluate whether glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are associated with reduced retinal vein occlusion (RVO) risk compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Design: A multinational, retrospective cohort study.

Participants: Adults with T2DM newly prescribed GLP-1RAs or DPP-4 inhibitors between 2006 and 2023 were included in our analysis.

Endometriosis as a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration: A nationwide population-based study.

Objective: Investigate the association between endometriosis and the incidence of age-related macular degeneration.

Material And Methods: This study used data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (2000-2018) to examine the link between endometriosis and age-related macular degeneration. The endometriosis cohort included women diagnosed with the condition, with the index date set as their first diagnosis.

Radish Seed Exerts Anti-Diabetic and Obesity-Reducing Effects in Mice by Promoting the Activation of Uncoupling Protein 1 and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Coactivator 1-α.

Obesity is primarily due to excessive energy intake and lipid accumulation, leading to type 2 diabetes. Studies showed radish seed extract (RSE) can impede weight gain in mice, but the mechanism was unclear. We hypothesized that RSE inhibits obesity by stimulating adipocyte browning.

Vulnerable parafoveal microcirculation quadrant in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss among adults. This study evaluates Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) vessel density (VD) as a marker for DR in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. An observational study was conducted with 47 type 2 DM patients and 21 healthy controls.

Association between Semaglutide and Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy: A Multinational Population-Based Study.

Purpose: To investigate whether semaglutide increases the risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in the general population.

Design: This retrospective cohort study used a deidentified global electronic medical records database. The enrollment period was extended from January 2017 to August 2023, with observations concluding in August 2024.

Acupuncture as Adjuvant Therapy for Glaucoma: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Glaucoma is a chronic progressive optic neuropathy that necessitates lifelong treatment to reduce the decline of the optic nerve. Due to the extended and continuous treatments required for patients, complementary therapies are often considered alongside conventional treatments to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. Acupuncture has demonstrated the potential to lower intraocular pressure in previous clinical trials, making it a promising glaucoma intervention.

The association between antiglaucomatous agents and Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives: To estimate the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) associated with long-term use of topical glaucoma medications among middle-aged and older glaucoma patients, and compare the AD risk among various glaucoma subtypes.

Methods: This nationwide population-based cohort study utilized insurance claims data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database between 2008 and 2019. Participants were adults aged 45 years or older either with a diagnosis of glaucoma or without.

Developing a Polygenic Risk Score with Age and Sex to Identify High-Risk Myopia in Taiwan.

Myopia is the leading cause of impaired vision, and its prevalence is increasing among Asian populations. This study aimed to develop a polygenic risk score (PRS) followed by replication to predict myopia in the Taiwanese population. In total, 23,688 participants with cycloplegic autorefraction-measured mean spherical equivalent (SE), genetic, and demographic data were included.

The impact of light properties on ocular growth and myopia development.

The objective of this article is to comprehensively review the effect of environmental lighting on ocular growth and refractive status in both animal and clinical studies, with an emphasis on the underlying mechanisms. This review was performed by searching research articles and reviews utilizing the terms "myopia," "light therapy," "axial length," "refractive error," and "emmetropization" in PubMed datasets. The review was finalized in December 2023.

Complement decay-accelerating factor inhibits inflammation-induced myopia development.

Myopia is regarded as a worldwide epidemic ocular disease, has been proved related to inflammation. CD55, also known as decay-accelerating factor (DAF) can modulate the activation of complement through inhibiting the formation of complement 3 convertase and its dysregulation is involved in various inflammatory diseases. To investigate the association between CD55 and myopia, and to test whether CD55 can inhibit myopia development by suppressing inflammation in the eye, we use three different animal models including monocular form-deprivation myopia, myopia induced by TNF-α administration and allergic conjunctivitis animal model to reveal the CD55 in myopia development.

Identification of Genetic Variants for Risk Prediction and Early Diagnosis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Taiwanese Population.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly worldwide. The prevalence and phenotypes of AMD differ among populations, including between people in Taiwan and other regions. We performed a genome-wide association study to identify genetic variants and to develop genetic models to predict the risk of AMD development and progression in the Taiwanese population.