bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Negative and positive dysphotopsia
Authors: Grzybowski Andrzej 
Published: January 2024

Dysphotopsia are responsible for complaints of that small percentage of pseudophakic subjects who are not satisfied with their vision. They are divided into negative and positive. Positive dysphotopsia (PD) are described by patients as glare, light streaks, light arcs, flashes of light, and starbursts produced by an external light source, whereas negative dysphotopsia (ND) is a dark temporal peripheral arc‐shaped shadow or line.PD are related to the nature of the inserted intraocular lens (IOL). The incidence rate of PD at 1 year after cataract surgery is 0.2–2.2%, and there have been no reports of PD in intraocular surgeries other than cataract surgery to date. The cause of ND is unknown, and many concepts trying to explain its pathophysiology were proposed, including a small pupil, an axial space behind the iris, and a sharp optic edge, the increased angle kappa, the nasal location of the pupil relative to the optical axis, with in‐the‐bag IOLs (and not in ciliary sulcus‐, anterior chamber‐, or scleral suture‐fixated IOLs), and a correlation with coverage of the anterior capsule edge, interaction between the anterior capsulorhexis with the intraocular lens, shorter eyes and a higher implanted IOL power, position of the haptic, and neuroadaptive component.
Sterile donor tomography for improvement of refractive results after keratoplasty
Authors: Hamon Loïc , Quintin Adrien , Bofferding Max , Mäurer Stephanie , Langenbucher Achim , Daas Loay , Seitz Berthold 
Published: January 2024

Purpose: Any corneal microsurgeon may have inadvertently transplanted a donor corneal tissue with (subclinical) keratoconus or prior keratorefractive surgery, which typically leads to postoperative refractive surprises and cannot always be detected in the eye bank with only slit lamp. Given the increased number of keratorefractive procedures performed in the last decades, eye banks will soon have to face this problem more intensively. Thus, the efficiency and reliability of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS‐OCT) as a non‐invasive and sterile screening method in the eye bank to detect corneal grafts with curvature and/or thickness abnormalities was assessed.Methods: 1315 donor corneal tissues mounted in sterile tissue cultivation flasks were imaged using an AS‐OCT. The corneal tissues were preserved in organ culture medium I and transferred into organ culture medium II (containing dextran T‐500 6%) for deswelling at least 24 h prior to measurement and keratoplasty. Depth raster scans were performed through the posterior surface of the corneal tissues within a 7 mm central zone to create 3D volume data. The volume data set was preprocessed to eliminate flask reflections artefacts and to define the region of interest (ROI). Subsequently, the adaptation of a sphero‐cylindrical surface model was carried out with raytracing. Thus, the radii of curvature for the front and back surfaces can be determined and a corneal thickness map is generated.Results: The mean steep/flat front surface radius was 7.46 ± 0.29 (5.07–9.29)/7.69 ± 0.24 (6.70–9.50) mm, the corresponding values for the back surface being 6.47 ± 0.32 (5.00–8.00)/6.80 ± 0.31 (5.81–8.00) mm and the mean central thickness was 610 ± 84 (379–1457) μm. Abnormalities (beyond ±2 or ± 3 SD) were found in 140 or 34 corneas (10.6% or 2.6%) for anterior surface curvature, 120 or 38 corneas (9.1% or 2.9%) for the posterior surface, and 55 or 16 corneas (4.2% or 1.2%) for thickness.Conclusions: The AS‐OCT provides an objective, sterile and semi‐automated screening method to identify corneal morphological and refractive alterations (e.g. keratoconus, status post PRK/LASIK) and further optimize corneal donor selection in the eye bank. Corneal donors with curvature or thickness abnormalities ±3 SD do not have to be discarded but can be used for posterior lamellar keratoplasty or tectonic keratoplasty.
It is our joint task to translate into reality a more equal and connected world for women scientists in all their diversity
Authors: Ou Yvonne , Audo Isabelle , Votruba Marcela , Tassignon Marie‐José , Soubrane Gisèle 
Published: January 2024

It is our joint task to translate into reality a more equal and connected world for women scientists in all their diversity. Our round table will foster discussion among delegates on the following topics:
Share your clinical experience…
Share your research experience….
Discuss your ambitions….

Facilitate an informal exchange with the wider EVER community….
WOMEN in EVER is supporting women researchers, clinicians, and academic staff in their career development with a goal to prepare them for leadership roles in the scientific community
Authors: Votruba Marcela , Tassignon Marie‐José , Soubrane Gisèle , Ou Yvonne , Audo Isabelle 
Published: January 2024

WOMEN in EVER is supporting women researchers, clinicians and academic staff in their career development with a goal to prepare them for leadership roles in the scientific community.Globally, only 33 per cent of researchers are women. Women and girls represent half of the world's population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development. It is our job to translate into reality a more equal and connected world for women scientists in all their diversity.
This WOMEN in EVER session is connecting early‐career and leading women scientists from all over Europe to tackle the underrepresentation of women in science by increasing visibility
Authors: Tassignon Marie‐José , Soubrane Gisèle , Ou Yvonne , Audo Isabelle , Votruba Marcela 
Published: January 2024

This WOMEN in EVER session is connecting early‐career and leading women scientists from all over Europe, to tackle the under‐representation of women in science by increasing visibility.Distinguished women scientists and clinicians will meet here to connect and to inspire young women scientist about how successful careers in Ophthalmology and Vision Science look like – this is a great opportunity to acknowledge the contribution women scientists make in Ophthalmology.Strategies of empowerment for women:
Developing ability for critical thinking
Fostering decision‐making and action through collective processes
Ensuring equal participation in developmental processes
Enhancing self‐esteem and self confidence in women.

Women are still underrepresented in science. Even though half of the first semester students in Europe are female, the ratio is getting less equal with each upper qualification level. For example, the female share among the highest‐paid professorships is about 20%. However, it has already been shown that mixed teams achieve better results due to the different perspectives, meaning that gender equality in science is mandatory and has a positive effect on research quality.
Protocolization of data collection by OCT
Authors: Jimeno Jose Carlos Pastor 
Published: January 2024

New technologies have made it possible to demonstrate the existence of ocular biomarkers of many of the neurodegenerative diseases, contributing to their diagnosis, classification and even to the control of responses to treatments. This SIS aims to update some of the ocular findings of diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.Essential aspects of techniques such as OCT and eye‐tracker will be addressed. Emphasis will be placed on the standardization of OCT for a correct application in neuro‐ophthalmology and on the possible uses of eye‐tracker systems to give information on alterations in eye movement control systems.
Saffron and glaucoma. Effects of active components of an old natural neuroprotector
Authors: Fernández‐Albarral José A. 
Published: January 2024

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). An increase in the intraocular pressure is the principal risk factor but controlling this pressure does not always prevent glaucomatous damage, so other harmful factors would be implicated in this pathologic process. Several mechanisms have been proposed that leads to the RGC death in glaucoma, including glutamate excitotoxicity, aggregation of misfolded proteins, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, neurotrophic deprivation, and neuroinflammation, among others. Therefore, early diagnosis of neurodegeneration, understanding of its pathogenic mechanisms, and the development of new neuroprotective therapies represent major challenges for treating this disease.During the inflammatory process that occurs in glaucoma, retinal glial cells, both microglia and macroglia (Müller cells and astrocytes), become activated and release factors that can be neuroprotective in some cases and neurodegenerative in others. Cytokine‐ and chemokine‐mediated signalling engages in the neuroinflammatory process that leads to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage in glaucoma. Thus, a substance with anti‐inflammatory activity may protect against RGC degeneration.Increasing evidence from both experimental models and clinical studies in patients supports the neuroprotective effect of saffron components in neurodegenerative conditions and in retinal neurodegenerative pathologies, due to its important anti‐inflammatory, anti‐apoptotic, and antioxidant properties.This talk overviews the published studies that analysed the neuroprotective and anti‐inflammatory effects of saffron and its main components in both clinical trials and experimental models of glaucoma. All findings indicate that oral administration of saffron extract could be beneficial in glaucoma by decreasing the neuroinflammation associated with increased intraocular pressure, reducing microglial activation, regulating the production of proinflammatory cytokines, and preventing retinal ganglion cell death.
Brolucizumab and other anti‐VEGF induced intraocular inflammation
Authors: Gonzalez‐Lopez Julio J. 
Published: January 2024

Anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, such as bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept, are widely used in the treatment of various retinal diseases. Recently, brolucizumab, a novel anti‐VEGF agent, has been introduced in the market for the treatment of neovascular age‐related macular degeneration. However, the use of some anti‐VEGF agents has been associated with an increased risk of intraocular inflammation.In particular, brolucizumab has been reported to be associated with a higher incidence of intraocular inflammation compared to other anti‐VEGF agents. The inflammation can manifest as anterior uveitis, vitritis, or even occlusive retinal vasculitis, and lead to severe and permanent visual loss in some cases. Although the exact mechanism of this phenomenon is not fully understood, it is believed to be related to the immune response triggered by the injection of foreign proteins into the eye.The clinical presentation of intraocular inflammation can range from mild symptoms, such as ocular discomfort and blurry vision, to severe visual loss. Prompt and appropriate management of intraocular inflammation is crucial to preserve vision in patients receiving anti‐VEGF agents. Early detection of inflammation and prompt initiation of anti‐inflammatory treatment can prevent further damage to the eye.In cases of mild to moderate inflammation, close monitoring and topical or systemic anti‐inflammatory medication may be sufficient to control the inflammation and prevent visual deterioration. Cessation of the causative anti‐VEGF treatment may be necessary to prevent further exacerbation of the inflammation. In such cases, the patient may need to be switched to an alternative treatment option for their underlying condition.Overall, clinicians should maintain a high level of vigilance for the development of intraocular inflammation in patients receiving anti‐VEGF therapy. Close monitoring, early detection, and appropriate management of inflammation can help preserve vision and minimize the potential complications associated with these agents.
Late detection of glaucoma and the relationship with deprivation: Lessons from big data from hospital eye services in England
Authors: Rathore Mehal , Kelly Stephen R. , Crabb David P. 
Published: January 2024

Purpose: We aim to confirm the association between multiple deprivation and late diagnosis of glaucoma in England and to determine whether multiple deprivation is associated with rapid VF progression.Methods: A total of 602 439 records were obtained by retrospectively extracting Humphrey VFs from electronic medical records (EMRs) from five hospital eye service (HES) clinics in England in 2015. Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD; a UK government measure for deprivation) was calculated from residential postcodes and patients were stratified into IMD “deciles”. A patient was defined as having advanced VF loss if their Humphrey mean deviation (MD) was worse than −12 dB in the worse eye at their initial visit. At least ≥6 VFs and MD of worse than −1 dB per year were necessary to define a patient as having rapid VF progression.Results: In the most and least deprived IMD deciles, respectively, 18 (291/1616) and 11% (765/6951) of patients, had advanced VF loss at diagnosis, indicating a clear association. In the most and least deprived deciles, respectively (reference = fifth decile), the age‐corrected odds ratios (OR) for having advanced VF loss at entry into HES were 1.42 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]:1.21 to 1.67, p = 0.001) and 0.75 (95% [CI]: 0.66 to 0.85, p = 0.001). In the 15 094 patients with follow‐up data (median [interquartile range] of 6.9 [4.5,10.0] years) the proportion having the attribute of rapid VF progression did not differ across the IMD spectrum (age‐corrected ORs not differing from the reference value for the most and least deprived IMD decile. [p = 0.19 & p = 0.22]).Conclusion: Large‐scale VF data from English glaucoma clinics suggests deprivation is linked to the glaucoma severity at the time of diagnosis. Deprivation does not appear to be linked to a higher chance of having rapid VF progression, suggesting that hospitals provide equitable care for glaucoma patients.Keywords: visual field, index of multiple deprivation, late presentation of glaucoma.
Live imaging of photoreceptor outer segment phagocytosis in zebrafish
Authors: Nevala Noora Emilia , Partinen Jenni Susanna , Yoshimatsu Takeshi , Ihalainen Teemu Olavi , Nymark Soile 
Published: January 2024

Retina depends on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) for its survival. To maintain normal functionality, photoreceptors renew 10% of their outer segments every day and this process requires efficient phagocytosis of the aged photoreceptor fragments by the RPE. Phagocytosis is a dynamic process with strong circadian regulation, but detailed understanding on the regulation of the process and differences between photoreceptor types is presently inadequate. Previous studies have been carried out mainly with in vitro models and cell cultures, and therefore, the dynamics of the phagocytosis process in the context of a living animal has remained elusive. Here, we present an approach that utilizes transgenic zebrafish lines with fluorescently tagged photoreceptor and RPE cells for in vivo imaging of their interactive functions in a living animal.Zebrafish is one of the most accessible animal models to study retinal physiology in vivo and currently the only vertebrate model that can be used to image retinal tissue dynamics in real time. By utilizing already existing low‐pigmented zebrafish lines and microinjecting plasmids coding for photoreceptor and RPE cell membrane targeted tags, we have created low‐pigmented fish with fluorescent RPE cells and the outer segments of the different photoreceptor types. Here, we first show with histological sections how the plasmids are expressed in the correct photoreceptor types and RPE cells in larval zebrafish eyes. Then, we present our in vivo imaging approach where we anesthetise and mount the zebrafish to a confocal microscope. Our results using time‐lapse imaging demonstrate how we can follow the interaction between photoreceptors and RPE in live animals in resolution that enables detecting the movement of photoreceptor outer segment fragments in the subretinal space. Taken together, our study introduces a new approach to investigate the dynamics of phagocytosis of different photoreceptor types by the RPE in real time in a living animal.
Visually evoked potentials in Neuro‐Ophthalmology
Authors: Plant Gordon 
Published: January 2024

The first major development in the visually evoked potentials (VEP) was the move from flash to pattern stimulation in the 1970's. The neurophysiological basis of the responses to flash and to pattern stimuli will be reviewed to explain the superiority of the pattern VEP. The following questions will be considered:
Why were the early findings in multiple sclerosis so influential?
In what situations does the pVEP continue to be useful clinically, with particular emphasis on the classification of optic neuritis?
Should VEP and ERG always be carried out in combination?
When is flash VEP useful?
Is there a role for a chromatic VEP?
Basic mechanisms and clinical implications of ocular surface inflammation
Authors: Ferrari Giulio 
Published: January 2024

Basic mechanisms and clinical implications of ocular surface inflammation.The pathopyhsiology of ocular surface inflammation is complex and involves a number of actors. Beside the immune system, a key role is emerging for the vasculature (both blood and lymph vessels), central and peripheral nervous system. From the old dogma of a cornea completely devoided of immune cells, a lot has been learned about how leukocytes, neurons and vessels interact and how imbalances in their function(s) may affect the onset and outcome of blinding diseases such as corneal burns or ocular graft versus host disease.
Viral ocular surface inflammation
Authors: Rousseau Antoine 
Published: January 2024

Viral infections of the ocular surface (OS) may cause chronic, and/or recurrent inflammation that disrupt OS homeostasis, impact quality of life, and potentially impair vision through loss of corneal transparency and/or regularity. In this presentation, we'll review basic and clinical findings underlying OS inflammation in the context of the 3 most common viral pathogens affecting the OS, i.e. Adenovirus, Herpes Simplex virus type 1 and Varicella Zoster Virus.During its acute replicative phase, adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis may trigger severe acute conjunctival inflammation, leading to transmucosal exudation and fibrinous pseudo‐membrane formation. If left untreated, the latter induce conjunctival fibrosis with extensive loss of goblet cells. In a second phase of the disease, antigen‐driven immune‐mediated mechanisms may cause chronic corneal subepithelial infiltration.In the context of HSV and VZV keratitis, OS inflammation is caused by a combination of specific immune response to viral replication, causing stromal infiltration, and neovascularisation and ii) non‐specific inflammatory processes caused by corneal innervation alterations that impact tear secretion and osmolarity. While clinical disease is most often unilateral, unaffected side may display subclinical alterations, including decrease in corneal sensitivity and corneal nerve density, and decrease in endothelial cell density.Management of viral ocular surface inflammation involves a combination of strategies aiming at controlling viral replication, decrease associated inflammatory/immune response and restore OS homeostasia.
Pharmacokinetics and contact lenses: Drug release, delivery and fate
Authors: del Amo Eva Maria 
Published: January 2024

Topical ocular instillation is the most common route of administration for ophthalmic drugs. Despite being an easy way of drug administration, the ocular drug bioavailability is low (<4% in the anterior chamber), and the duration of therapeutic effect is short, requiring frequent instillations.Controlled drug delivery systems such as contact lenses allow drug release onto the ocular surface for a longer time, which may improve ocular drug bioavailability and duration of action. Furthermore, such topical formulations may have the potential to deliver the drug to the posterior segment of the eye. Nevertheless, the ocular drug pharmacokinetics is not very well known, with a few studies published on contact lens delivery systems. In this presentation, we will take a closer look at this, describing the drug absorption and disposition processes in the eye, and clarifying some wrong assumptions. Research on drug release in tear fluid, corneal and non‐corneal absorption routes, and ocular drug disposition in the anterior and posterior segments are considered along with the quantitative pharmacokinetic data available up to now.Overall, this talk aims to provide better understanding on ocular pharmacokinetics and on the key aspects to consider when designing in vivo pharmacokinetics studies using contact lens delivery systems.Keywords: ocular pharmacokinetics, topical ophthalmic administration, non‐corneal absorption, contact lenses.
Blood‐derived trophic factors for the treatment of ocular surface diseases
Authors: Versura Piera 
Published: January 2024

The use of blood‐derived products (Eye Drop of Human Origin—EDHO; in Italian: Emocomponents for Not Transfusional Use, EUNT) for the treatment of various ocular surface diseases has become increasingly utilized in ophthalmic practice over the years. In particular, they are recommended as a third line option, when conventional tear substitutes, or active drugs, such as corticosteroids or Cyclosporine A, result unsuccessful in controlling either signs and, perhaps most importantly, subjective symptoms of discomfort and pain. The rationale for their use is based on the stimulation of cell proliferation and migration through the supply of metabolically active substances, in particular growth factors, and definitely mimicking the function of natural tears.EDHO have been used for the treatment of various ocular surface diseases, including dry eye, persistent corneal epithelial defect, corneal ulcer, neurotrophic keratitis, ocular surface burn, recurrent corneal erosion and limbal stem cell deficiency. However, the therapeutic potential of these products is still to be fully explored, as randomized clinical trials and internationally recognized harmonized guidelines are still needed to provide better evidence, improve quality of the final products and lead to a more widespread use of these therapies in daily clinical practice. The autologous source is still quite popular, although allogeneic sources appear to be a promising innovation. These might offer the solution of obtaining in advance products tailored for each patient and ocular surface disease, at scalable concentrations based on the severity of the disease and clinical parameters. There remain many unanswered questions regarding what might be considered optimal treatment, sketched as “The 5 Ws (and 2 H) for blood based eye drops”, to quote a review from our group (doi: 10.3390/jcm8091478). This presentation will discuss: 1. who is the patient to be treated, in terms of disease type, severity, and stage?; 2. Why is an EDHO needed, in terms of a target indication?; 3. When is it appropriate to prescribe an EDHO therapy?; 4. Where are EDHO be dispensed, and is a national/regional program a feasible solution to optimize resources?; 5. What is the EDHO of choice, which source and preparation are targeted for a given patient? And further: 1. how is EDHO standardized in terms of processing to ensure an optimal dilution, solvent, dispenser, storage time?; 2. How is EDHO delivered to the ocular surface, in terms of form, dose‐size modulation, length of treatment?An interdisciplinary work with transfusional medicine specialists is imperative to share information and competences, to achieve a better clinical management.