Ocular surface microbiota in patients with varying degrees of dry eye severity

AIM:To elucidate the profiles of commensal bacteria on the ocular surfaces of patients with varying severity of dry eye(DE).METHODS:The single-center,prospective,case-control,observational study categorized all participants into three distinct groups:1)control group(n=61),2)mild DE group(n=56),and 3)moderate-to-severe DE group(n=82).Schirmer’s tear secretion strips were used,and the bacterial microbiota was analyzed using 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequencing.RESULTS:The three groups had significant differences in alpha diversity:the control group had the highest richness(Chao1,Faith’s phylogenetic diversity),the mild DE group showed the highest diversity(Shannon,Simpson),and the moderate-to-severe DE group had the lowest of the above-mentioned indices.DE severity was positively correlated with a reduction in beta diversity of the microbial community,with the moderate-to-severe DE group exhibiting the lowest beta diversity.Linear discriminant analysis effect size presented distinct dominant taxa that significantly differed between each.Furthermore,the exacerbation of DE corresponded with the enrichment of certain pathogenic bacteria,as determined by random forest analysis.CONCLUSION:As DE severity worsens,microbial community diversity tends to decrease.DE development corresponds with changes in microbial constituents,primarily characterized by reduced microbial diversity and a more homogenous species composition.

Effect of Optimization of Hemodialysis on Ophthalmological Variables in Patients with End Stage Renal Disease

Background: Conventional hemodialysis (HD) used in treating end stage renal disease (ESRD) can result in multiorgan insult including the eye-owing to the resultant reperfusion after the ischemic event. Optimization of HD can be done using a process called remote ischemia which includes applying cycles of brief, nonlethal ischemia followed by reperfusion to one limb. This method sends signal to the end organs to prepare themselves for the upcoming ischemia thus preventing their injury. Aim: To evaluate the effect of remote ischemia preconditioning in HD on ophthalmological variables. Patients and Methods: A pre-post interventional analytical study conducted on patients receiving hemodialysis. Remote ischemia preconditioning was done before each HD session incorporating 3 cycles of alternating ischemia and reperfusion (5 minutes each) performed in the upper limb using sphygmomanometer cuff. Ophthalmic examination was done at baseline and 3 months after HD optimization. Assessment was done half to one hour pre- and post-session for visual acuity, corneal, conjunctival deposits, tear break up time (TBUT), anterior chamber depth and central macular thickness. Results: The study included 50 eyes of 25 patients with almost equal gender distribution and mean age of 37.52 ± 9.824 years. They were maintained on hemodialysis for median 10 years (range 3-25 years). The commonest cause of ESRD was hypertension. The studied ocular parameters showed insignificant change after pre-conditioned HD except for TBUT that was statistically longer (p = 0.018). Conclusion: Optimization of hemodialysis using remote ischemia does not seem to have significant ocular effect apart from prolonged TBUT. .

Association between tear film break up time and blink interval in visual display terminal users

AIM：To investigate the association between tear film break up time（TBUT）and blinking interval in visual display terminal（VDT）users.METHODS：Nine hundred and thirty VDT users underwent dry eye testing,and functional visual acuity（FVA）test.The blinking interval during FVA was compared with TBUT.Subjects with longer blinking interval than TBUT were considered as unstable tear film.Logistic regression analysis revealed the risk factors for unstable tear group.RESULTS：Among 930 workers,858 subjects（92.3%）participated in this study.Almost 80% of the subjects were categorized into the unstable tear group.Unstable tear group has significantly lower Schirmer values and TBUT（17.5±11.6 vs 21.1±11.5 mm,3.7±2.6 vs 5.7±2.7s,both P〈0.001）.There were no significant differences in epithelial staining or severity of symptoms.Logistic regression showed that over 40y was a risk for being unstable tear group[odds ratio（OR）=1.53;95%confidence interval（CI）=1.06-2.20].Contact lens use was protective factor for being in the unstable tear group（OR=0.37;95%CI=0.26-0.53）.CONCLUSION：Subjects with shorter TBUT than blinking interval are prevalent among VDT users.Subjects over the age of 40 shows an increased risk for unstable tear film.

Prevalence of Dry Eye and Its Association with Various Risk Factors in Rural Setup of Western Uttar Pradesh in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Purpose: To study the prevalence of dry eye in a hospital based population of rural setup and to evaluate its association with various risk factors. Material and Methods: In this cross sectional study, patients above 20 years of age were screened randomly for dry eye. An 8 points questionnaires, slit lamp examination of meibomian glands, tear film breakup time, fluorescein staining of cornea, schirmer test were used to diagnose dry eye. The diagnosis was made when three of the five parameters were positive. The role of various occupations as well as role of different exposure factors like sunlight, excessive wind, smoking, drugs, and air pollution as dry eye risk factors was accessed. Result: Out of 445, 45.39% patients had dry eye. Dry eye prevalence was higher in those above 70 years of age (74%). It was higher in male population (51.82%) compare to female population (37.37%), nearly equal in rural (46.04%) and urban population (44.31%) and highest among factory workers (90%). Correlation of dry eye with drugs (P = 0.0002), sunlight/high temperature (P = 0.0003) and smoking (P = 0.03) were significant. Conclusion: This is a hospital based study which provides prevalence of dry eye in rural region of western Uttar Pradesh. It is more common in old age male population and significantly higher in factory workers. Out of different modifiable risk factors most important are drugs, sunlight/high temperature and smoking.

Condition Judgement of Dry Eye in Sicca Syndrome

In this paper, we presented 32 dry eyes of 16 random patients with primary Sicca Syndrome graded with rose bengal(rb), Break up time of tear film (BUT) and Schirmer 1 test (S1T). Of them, the lip biopsy and tear β2-M level were examined and overall studied. The results showed that the grade of dry eye was closely related with both the degree of lymphocyte infiltration of lip glands and level of tear β2-M, and indicated that our grading methed for dry eye based on rb, BUT and SIT is dependable, and the l...

Changes in Tear-Film Status and Ocular Surface Disease Index Score Following Prolonged Use of Face Mask

Background: Dry eye is characterized by tear film instability, decreased tear volume and a high Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score. Face masks have been linked to dry eye complaints in recent studies. Purpose: To evaluate the changes in tear-film status and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score following prolonged use of face mask. Design: Cross-sectional study. Method: Patients between 18 to 70 years using masks regularly for at least 2 hours/day for at least 5 days/week from different eye-care centres in Dhaka were included. All subjects were divided into 4 groups. Mask use lasted approximately 2 hours/day in Group 1, 4 hours/day in Group 2, 6 hours/day in Group 3 and 8 hours or more/day in Group 4. Evaluation of symptoms, tear- film stability and tear volume was done by Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores, Tear-film Break-Up Time (TBUT) and Schirmer-1 test. Average of right & left eye’s Tear-film Break Up time (TBUT) and Schirmer-1 value were noted. Results: Total 100 patients were enrolled (n = 100). The TBUT (p < 0.001) and Schirmer-1 measurement (p = 0.01) were significantly lesser and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score were significantly higher in patients using face-masks for longer time (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients who wore masks for prolonged time had tear film instability, reduced tear volume and higher Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score.

＂Tritium Well Depth＂ and ＂Tritium Well Time＂

Somewhat similar to, but quite different from the xenon-135 poisoning effects resulted from fission produced iodine-135 via β-decay during restart-up process of a fission reactor, a complete new concept of ＂tritium well depth and tritium well time＂ is first time introduced in fusion research area by authors. It shows the least required amount of tritium storage is to start up a fusion reactor ,and the least operating time for achieving the ＂tritium break even＂ during the initial start-up phase due to the finite tritium breeding time. The tritium well depth and tritium well time depend on the tritium recovery scheme and extraction process, the tritium retention of reactor components,

A randomized,fellow eye,comparison of keratometry,aberrometry,tear film,axial length and the anterior chamber depth after eye rubbing in non-keratoconic eyes

Background:To investigate the effect of eye rubbing on keratometry(K),aberrometry,tear film break-up-time(TFBUT)and anterior chamber depth(ACD).Methods:Volunteers without any corneal pathology or dry eyes were randomised to rubbing in one eye and the fellow-eye was control.Eye rubbing was performed for 2 min.Primary outcomes studied were anterior and posterior K changes.Secondary outcomes were changes in TFBUT,axial length(AL)&ACD,K changes in various zones,asphericity and aberrometry.Pre and post rubbing K,aberrometry,ACD and TFBUT were assessed in a predetermined sequence.The relationship of the above parameters to axial length(AL)was also assessed.Astigmatism was analysed using vector analysis.Results:Pre versus post rubbing,anterior flatter K further flattened(42.51±1.52 D vs.42.36±1.53 D,p=0.003)and the changes to J0 vector in central cornea(−0.16±0.26 D vs.-0.27±0.33 D,p=0.038)suggested change to against-the-rule(ATR)astigmatism.There was significant change in Z^(+2)_(2) polynomial following rubbing.We found a positive correlation between axial length and change in posterior K(r=0.335,p=0.020).The TFBUT reduced following eye rubbing(15.3 s vs.13.9 s,p=0.0001).There was a positive correlation between AL and increase in ACD post rubbing(r=0.300,p=0.038).There was a positive correlation between ACD and change in mean posterior K(r=0.305,p=0.035).Conclusions:In healthy eyes,following eye rubbing,there is a significant change in TFBUT and central anterior K changes towards ATR astigmatism.Longer eyes had more changes in posterior K and ACD.Whereas,eyes with deeper ACD showed more steepness of posterior K.