Current and emerging strategies for myopia control: a narrative review of optical, pharmacological, behavioural, and adjunctive therapies.

Myopia has become a leading cause of visual impairment globally, with a rapidly increasing prevalence among children, particularly in urbanised areas of East and Southeast Asia. High and pathologic myopia can lead to irreversible complications, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic maculopathy. This narrative review synthesises current and emerging strategies for myopia control as of 2025, integrating evidence from optical, pharmacological, behavioural, and surgical domains.

Mel4-coated hyaluronic acid-laden etafilcon A contact lenses: Improved wettability with retained antimicrobial properties.

Soft contact lenses are a common mode of vision correction used worldwide. However, contact lens wearers often experience discomfort and are at risk of developing microbial infections. To address these issues, we designed Mel4-coated hyaluronic acid-laden etafilcon contact lenses to improve wettability while providing antimicrobial properties.

Intrastromal Corneal Ring Implants Associated Bacterial Infections.

Purpose: This study examines the incidence of infection and resistance associated with Intracorneal Ring Segment (ICRS) implantation, a common outpatient surgical treatment for correcting refractive errors and corneal ectatic diseases. Although ICRS procedures are typically safe and reversible, there is a low but notable risk of microbial infections, which require prompt and sometimes invasive treatment.

Methods: Three electronic databases, PubMed, Web of Science (WoS), and Scopus, were utilised to search for literature according to PRISMA guidelines to identify infections related to the implantation of ICRS in the cornea between January 2000 and December 2022.

Lipid-based eye drop formulations for the management of evaporative dry eyes.

Dry eye disease is a progressive prevalent ocular surface disorder that arises from various factors and is characterized by insufficient quality and/or quantity of tears. The underlying pathophysiology is intricate and can progress to chronic, difficult-to-treat conditions. Multiple strategies and therapeutic approaches are utilized in its management that target one or more etiopathological components of dry eyes, which may include aqueous tear deficiency or evaporative dry eyes.

The activity of antimicrobial peptoids against multidrug-resistant ocular pathogens.

Background: Ocular infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens can result in partial or complete vision loss. The development of pan-resistant microbial strains poses a significant challenge for clinicians as there are limited antimicrobial options available. Synthetic peptoids, which are sequence-specific oligo-N-substituted glycines, offer potential as alternative antimicrobial agents to target multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Effect of Deposition and Protease Digestion on the Ex Vivo Activity of Antimicrobial Peptide-Coated Contact Lenses.

A clinical study of antimicrobial contact lenses containing the cationic peptide Mel4 was conducted. The few adverse events that occurred with this lens occurred on or after 13 nights of wear. The current study examined whether the Mel4 contact lenses lost activity during wear and the mechanism of this loss.

Ability of Essential Oil Vapours to Reduce Numbers of Culturable Aerosolised Coronavirus, Bacteria and Fungi.

Transmission of pathogens present in the indoor air can occur through aerosols. This study evaluated the efficacy of an evaporated mix of essential oils to reduce the numbers of culturable aerosolized coronavirus, bacterium and fungus. The essential oil-containing gel was allowed to vaporize inside a glass chamber for 10 or 20 min.

Longevity of hand sanitisers on fingers.

Clinical Relevance: Hand hygiene is important to reduce the spread of microbes in clinical settings. Hand sanitisers that last longer may be beneficial.

Background: Longevity of hand sanitisation products on fingers and hands may be important to help reduce microbial transmission.

Biocompatibility and Comfort during Extended Wear of Mel4 Peptide-Coated Antimicrobial Contact Lenses.

(1) Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Mel4 antimicrobial contact lenses (MACL) on the ocular surface and comfort during extended wear. (2) Methods: A prospective, randomised, double-masked, contralateral clinical trial was conducted with 176 subjects to evaluate the biocompatibility of contralateral wear of MACL. The wearing modality was 14-day extended lens wear for three months.

The ability of face masks to reduce transmission of microbes.

Clinical Relevance: Optometrists have been advised to wear face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined whether face masks were equally protective against transmission of microbes.

Background: The aim of the current study was to examine the ability of face masks to reduce transmission of microbes in aerosols and during speech.

Effect of Antimicrobial Contact Lenses on Corneal Infiltrative Events: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To determine whether Mel4-coated antimicrobial contact lenses (MACLs) can reduce the incidence of corneal infiltrative events (CIEs) during extended wear.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-masked, single-center, contralateral, extended contact lens wear clinical trial was conducted with 176 subjects. Each participant was randomly assigned to wear a MACL in one eye and an uncoated control contact lens in the contralateral eye or an extended-wear biweekly disposable modality for 3 months.

Ocular microbiota and lens contamination following Mel4 peptide-coated antimicrobial contact lens (MACL) extended wear.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Mel4 antimicrobial peptide-coated contact lenses (MACL) on the microbiota of the conjunctiva and lenses during three months of extended wear.

Methods: One hundred and seventy-six participants were recruited into a randomised, contralateral, double masked, biweekly extended wear MACL and uncoated control lens trial. At the one month and 3-month visit, the conjunctival microbiota was sampled using sterile cotton swabs and contact lenses were collected aseptically.

Contact lens fitting after corneal collagen cross-linking.

Background: Contact lenses (CLs) remain the mainstay in improving vision in patients having keratoconus. With corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) performed worldwide, whether the same CLs can be used or needs replacement needed to be assessed and considered.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in CL fitting following CXL.

LogMAR and Stereoacuity in Keratoconus Corrected with Spectacles and Rigid Gas-permeable Contact Lenses.

Significance: This study showed an improvement in three-dimensional depth perception of subjects with bilateral and unilateral keratoconus with rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lens wear, relative to spectacles. This novel information will aid clinicians to consider RGP contact lenses as a management modality in keratoconic patients complaining of depth-related difficulties with their spectacles.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to systematically compare changes in logMAR acuity and stereoacuity from best-corrected spherocylindrical spectacles to RGP contact lenses in bilateral and unilateral keratoconus vis-à-vis age-matched control subjects.

Boston keratoprosthesis for visual rehabilitation in porphyria cutanea tarda.

A 56-year-old man, presented with bilateral chronic visual loss associated with generalised skin lesions. He had undergone multiple penetrating keratoplasties in his right eye for recurrent corneal infections and perforations. On ocular examination, his left eye was phthisical and his right eye had light perception vision owing to a failed and vascularised corneal graft.