PURPOSE: As a class of psychostimulant drugs, amphetamines are widely abused for their stimulant, euphoric, and hallucinogenic properties. Many of these effects result from acute increases in dopamine and serotonin neurotransmission. Following the onset of these effects, 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine produces persistent damage to dopamine and serotonin nerve terminals, resulting in long-lasting neurotoxicity. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects of treatment with low dose of methylenedioxymethamphetamine on retinal function of C57BL/6 mice and its underlying mechanisms.
METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were divided randomly into two groups (n=10): one group was treated with phosphate buffered saline by intraperitoneal injection daily; the other group was treated with 1 mg/kg methylenedioxymethamphetamine by intraperitoneal injection daily for three months. Electroretinography was used to test retinal function every month. H&E staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase assay were used to evaluate the retinal morphology and histology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay assays were used to measure markers of oxidative stress and inflammatory factors. Gene and protein expression was detected by real-time PCR and western blot.
RESULTS: Three-month treatment with methylenedioxymethamphetamine induced significant retinal dysfunction via photoreceptor cell apoptosis by oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that long-term treatment with methylenedioxymethamphetamine increases inflammatory responses in photoreceptor cells resulting in retinal dysfunction in C57BL/6 mice. Thus, this investigation provides preclinical rationale for the retina damage caused by the methylenedioxymethamphetamine abuse.

Keywords: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; Oxidative stress; Inflammatory response; Retina/injuries; Mice

Purpose: We evaluated the role of the conjunctival flap rotation technique using 5-fluorouracil and adjuvant therapy with topical cyclosporine A at 0.05% during short pre- and postoperative periods for the prevention of primary pterygium recurrence.
Methods: In this prospective study, 76 patients with primary pterygium (76 eyes) were categorized into two groups: the control group with 31 patients who did not receive cyclosporine treatment, and the cyclosporine group with 45 patients who received topical cyclosporine A (0.05%) twice a day, for 10 days before and 10 days after the pterygium excision operations. Patients were examined for disease recurrence, side effects, and complications at 10 and 21 days, and at 2 and 6 months after the operation. Data on demography, systemic diseases, and ophthalmologic histories were obtained from all patients, and these data were analyzed using descriptive statistics involving the absolute and relative percentages of frequency distribution. Goodman test was used for contrasts among multinomial populations to study the association between cyclosporine A and recurrence.
Results: Most patients were between 30 and 60 years of age, and 67.1% were women. We confirmed a higher recurrence in patients with occupational sunlight exposure. The cyclosporine A used topically 10 days before and 10 days after the pterygium removal did not significantly reduce the recurrence of the pterygium.
Conclusion: Topical 0.05% cyclosporine A when used for 10 days before and 10 days after the pterygium removal does not prevent or reduce the recurrence of primary pterygium.

Keywords: Cyclosporine/administration and dosage; Pterygium/ prevention and control; Recurrence

PURPOSE: To assess the frequency of corneal astigmatism before cataract surgery in a Brazilian sample.
METHODS: This clinic-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Bonsucesso Federal Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Charts of patients who underwent cataract surgery over a two-year period were retrospectively reviewed, and preoperative keratometric measurements were collected and analyzed.
RESULTS: A total of 1707 eyes of 1045 patients were enrolled. The corneal astigmatism was less than 1.0 D in 971 eyes (56.9%), 1.0-1.99 D in 496 eyes (29.1%), 2.0-2.99 D in 157 eyes (9.2%), and more than 3.0 D in 83 eyes (4.9%). The mean corneal astigmatism was 0.92 ± (SD) 0.96 D (range 0 - 10.25 D).
CONCLUSION: Over 40% of the patients undergoing cataract surgery enrolled in this study had more than 1.0 D of corneal astigmatism and may benefit from the use of toric intraocular lenses. These data can be useful for planning to make this technology available for patients.

Keywords: Astigmatism/epidemiology; Cataract extraction/ adverse effects; Lenses, intraocular; Cross-sectional study; Brazil

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness in intraocular pressure reduction and safety of micropulse transscleral diode cyclophotocoagulation in refractory glaucoma.
Methods: We prospectively evaluated a case series of 21 eyes of 21 consecutive patients with refractory glaucoma treated with micropulse transscleral diode cyclophotocoagulation at 12-month follow-up. The total treatment time was at the discretion of the surgeon, considering baseline and target intraocular pressure and glaucoma diagnosis. Intraocular pressure, inflammation, visual acuity, and number of medications were monitored. Success was defined as intraocular pressure between 6 and 21 mmHg and/or 30% reduction from baseline intraocular pressure with or without the use of antiglaucoma medications. Visual acuity loss was defined as a loss of ≥2 lines of vision on the Snellen chart or a ≥2-level decrease in visual function in patients with nonmeasurable chart acuity.
Results: The mean age was 61.04 ± 12.99 years, and 11 (52.4%) patients were male, with most (95%) patients showing low visual acuity at baseline (count fingers or worse). The mean intraocular pressure was 33.38 ± 15.95 mmHg, and the mean number of medications was 3.5 ± 1.1 at baseline. After 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, 76.19%, 57.14%, 55.56%, and 66.67%, respectively, of the patients were classified as treatment successes. Seven (33.3%) patients required new laser treatment and were considered treatment failures. The mean intraocular pressure reduction was 44.72% ± 29.72% in the first week and 41.59% ± 18.93% at the end of follow-up (p=0.006). The mean number of medications significantly dropped to 2.00 ± 1.7 at the 12-month visit (p=0.044). Complications included hypotony (4.8%), intraocular inflammation after 1 month (19%), and visual acuity loss (4.8%).
Conclusions: Micropulse transscleral diode cyclophotocoagulation was safe and effective for reducing intraocular pressure in eyes with refractory and advanced glaucoma, with reduced need for ocular antihypertensive medication.

Keywords: Glaucoma; Laser therapy; Micropulse transscleral diode cyclophotocoagulation; Intraocular pressure; Laser, semiconductor

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the modified Yamane technique with sutureless transconjunctival intrascleral intraocular lens fixation.
METHODS: Sutureless transconjunctival intrascleral haptic fixated intraocular lens implantation was performed in patients with aphakia and dislocated intraocular lenses. A clear corneal incision (2.8 mm) was made into the temporal quadrant and a three-piece intraocular lens was implanted into the anterior chamber. The haptics of the intraocular lens were externalized with a 27 G needle via transconjunctival scleral tunnels at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions. The transconjunctival scleral tunnels were prepared to conform to the haptic position and curvature. The site of the scleral tunnels was 2mm from the limbus with a length of 2 mm in the sclera and was aimed at the end of the posterior chamber. The tips of the haptics were cauterized to create a terminal knob. The haptics were pushed back and the knobs were implanted into the scleral tunnels.
RESULTS: The study cohort included 21 patients with unilateral aphakia and dislocated intraocular lenses. All patients were examined postoperatively and at postoperative day 1, day 7, month 1, and month 3. All examinations revealed formation of the anterior chamber and well-centralized intraocular lenses. No haptic-related complications of exposure, foreign body sensation, or discomfort were observed.
CONCLUSION: Sutureless transconjunctival intrascleral haptic fixated intraocular lensimplantation is an effective, safe, and practical surgical alternative. This technique was superior to the Yamane method with regard to comfort and surgical duration. Further studies with longer follow-up evaluations are warranted to verify long-term complications.

Keywords: phakia; Intraocular lens implantation; Lens, intraocular; Sutureless surgical procedures/instrumentation; Ophthalmologic surgical procedures/methods

Purpose: Punctal stenosis can result in symptoms such as epiphora and can significantly reduce the quality of life of patients. Perforated punctal plug insertion is an easy procedure that is commonly used as the first step of treatment for punctal stenosis.
Methods: Clinical, demographic, and outcome data were retrospectively collected for 54 eyes of 21 males and 11 females who consecutively presented to our Oculoplastic Clinic and underwent silicone Micro Flow perforated punctal plug insertion. All patients had epiphora with punctal stenosis.
Results: Of the 54 plugs, 26 plugs (48.1%) were lost and 28 (51.8%) stayed in place. Of the latter, eight were explanted because of the occlusion of the plug with secretions and recurrent conjunctivitis; moreover, two plugs migrated deep into the vertical canaliculus. Of the 54 plugs, only 18 (33.3%) were well-tolerated with significant symptomatic improvement.
Conclusion: Plug loss is a prominent problem in patients implanted with perforated punctal plugs. Silicone punctal plugs failed in 66.7% of our patients over a mean follow-up of 14.2 months.

Keywords: Stenosis; Silicone, Lacrimal apparatus diseases; Punctal plugs

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of pseudoexfoliation syndrome on choroidal thickness as compared with healthy individuals and subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma.
METHODS: This prospective, randomized study included 30 primary open angle glaucoma patients and 30 pseudoexfoliation glaucoma patients with similar demographic characteristics and 30 eyes of 30 healthy individuals comprised the control group. Regular optic nerve and macular images were obtained using a Cirrus HD spectral domain optical coherence tomography instrument, along with macular choroidal thickness measurements with enhanced depth imaging mode.
RESULTS: Age, sex, and axial length values were similar among the three groups (p>0.05). The primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma groups had comparable levels of glaucomatous damage. The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness values in the primary open angle glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, and control groups were 271.80 ± 19.96 µm, 241.43 ± 32.47 µm, and 268.03 ± 24.50 µm, respectively. The pseudoexfoliation glaucoma group had the lowest choroidal thickness values of the three groups (p values: pseudoexfoliation-control: 0.001; pseudoexfoliation-primary open angle glaucoma: <0.001, primary open angle glaucoma-control: 0.516, independent samples t-test).
CONCLUSION: The macular choroid was thinner in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, as compared with both healthy individuals and open-angle glaucoma patients with similar degrees of glaucomatous damage.

Keywords: Exfoliation syndrome; Glaucoma, open-angle; Choroid; Tomography, optical coherence; Intraocular pressure

PURPOSE: To determine the expression profiles of the transcription factor specificity protein 1 and collagen I in primary pterygial and normal conjunctival tissues, and to explore the role of specificity protein 1 and collagen I in pterygial development.
METHODS: The pterygial tissues of 20 patients who underwent resection of primary pterygial tissue in our hospital from June 2016 to December 2017 and the conjunctival tissues of 10 patients with enucleation due to trauma were collected. Reverse transcription quantitative-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were used to detect the relative expression levels of specificity protein 1 and type I collagen at the mRNA and protein levels.
RESULTS: The content of specificity protein 1 and collagen I mRNA and protein was significantly greater in primary pterygial tissue than it was in conjunctival tissue (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the mRNA and protein levels of specificity protein 1 and collagen I in primary pterygial tissues (protein: r=1, p<0.05; mRNA: r=1, p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Specificity protein 1 and collagen I are expressed in normal conjunctival and pterygial tissues, but expression is significantly greater in the latter. Specificity protein 1 and collagen I may be involved in the regulation of the development of primary pterygium.

Keywords: Pterygium; Conjunctiva; Sp1 transcription factor; Collagen type I

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of fundus autofluorescence imaging of diabetic patients without retinopathy to investigate early retinal damage.
Methods: Fundus autofluorescence images of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without retinopathy (diabetic group) and age-sex matched healthy patients (control group) were recorded with a CX-1 digital mydriatic retinal camera after detailed ophthalmologic examinations. MATLAB 2013a software was used to measure the average pixel intensity and average curve width of the macula and fovea.
Results: Fifty-six eyes of 28 patients, as the diabetic group, and 54 eyes of 27 healthy patients, as the control group, were included in this study. The mean aggregation index was 168.32 ± 37.18 grayscale units (gsu) in the diabetic group and 152.27 ± 30.39 gsu in the control group (p=0.014). The mean average pixel intensity value of the fovea was 150.87 ± 35.83 gsu the in diabetic group and as 141.51 ± 31.10 gsu in the control group (p=0.060). The average curve width value was statistically higher in the diabetic group than in the control group (71.7 ± 9.2 vs. 59.4 ± 8.6 gsu, respectively, p=0.03).
Conclusion: Fundus autofluorescence imaging analysis revealed that diabetic patients without retinopathy have significant fluorescence alterations. Therefore, a noninvasive imaging technique, such as fundus autofluorescence, may be valuable for evaluation of the retina of diabetic patients without retinopathy.

Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy; Diabetes mellitus; Optical imaging; Fundus oculi

Purpose: To evaluate three superior oblique surgical weakening procedures for correcting A-pattern strabismus: tenectomy, superior oblique hang-back recession, and that involving the use of superior oblique suture spacers.
Methods: The inclusion criteria were A-pattern strabismus ≥10^Δ and horizontal deviation ≥10Δ, with no other ocular abnormality and a follow-up period of ≥6 months. The 24 patients (mean age, 16.3 ± 8.1 years; mean postoperative follow-up, 9.63 ± 3.11 months) were randomly divided into three groups of 8 patients each. Sigmascan^® Pro 5.0 software was used to measure the degree of torsion pre- and postoperatively.
Results: Preoperatively, the mean angles of A-pattern deviation were 19.33^Δ° ± 3.53^Δ° (tenectomy group), 15.71^Δ° ± 1.11^Δ° (hang-back recession group), and 14.62^Δ° ± 1.18^Δ° (suture spacers group); these values did not differ significantly. At the final follow-up examination, the mean angles of A-pattern deviation were 4.67^Δ° ± 0.67^Δ° (tenectomy group), 6.29^Δ° ± 1.48^Δ° (hang-back recession group), and 4.38^Δ° ± 1.03^Δ° (suture spacers group), with no statistically significant difference in the correction in A-pattern strabismus among the three groups. Preoperatively, the mean torsional angles were +5.4° ± 3.9° (tenectomy group), + 5.6° ± 4.9° (hang-back recession group), and +6.0° ± 3.3° (suture spacers group); these values did not differ significantly. At the final follow-up examination, the mean torsional angles were + 0.3° ± 5.6° (tenectomy group), +0.5° ± 4.6° (hang-back recession group), and +0.2° ± 5.2° (suture spacers group), with no statistically significant difference in the intorsion correction among the three groups.
Conclusion: All three superior oblique weakening procedures were effective for correcting A-pattern strabismus and fundus intorsion.

Keywords: Strabismus/surgery; Oculomotor muscles/physiopathology; Ophthalmologic surgical procedures/methods

Bilateral orbital metastases restricted to the extraocular muscles (EOMs) are exceedingly rare. We report a case of bilateral extraocular muscle metastases from a small cell lung carcinoma and provide a review of the relevant literature. A 56-year-old smoker presented with proptosis, motility changes, and a relative afferent pupillary defect of the left eye, with a previous history of a small cell lung carcinoma. An orbital computerized tomography scan revealed a mass restricted to the left medial rectus. An incisional biopsy confirmed metastasis. Visual acuity of the left eye decreased rapidly, and right globe proptosis became evident. Orbital magnetic resonance imaging at two months follow-up showed marked left orbital mass enlargement and a new right lateral rectus mass. The patient was maintained on palliative care and died from metastatic disease-related complications.

Keywords: Lung neoplasms; Carcinoma, small cell; Oculomotor muscles; Orbital neoplasms/secondary; Humans; Case reports

A rare case of bilateral congenital microcoria associated with antimetropia in a 47-year-old man is here described. The patient presented with a chief complaint of progressive vision loss in his right eye over the past five years. A slit-lamp examination and ultrasound biomicroscopy confirmed congenital microcoria and cataracts. Phacoemulsification was performed using an iris expansion device and the anterior capsule was stained using the “trypan down under” technique. Preoperative considerations, the surgical approach, and postoperative management are discussed.

Keywords: Pupil/abnormalities; Cataract; Phacoemulsification; Anisometropia; Atropine

Here, we present a case in which extensive bulbar conjunctival Kaposi’s sarcoma was the initial presentation of human immunodeficiency virus in a 36-year-old man. The patient had a 3-month history of recurrent self-limited inferior conjunctiva hyperemia in the right eye, and presented with a painless bullous lesion in the right inferior bulbar conjunctiva persisting for 15 days. Surgical incision biopsy was performed at five locations and revealed a pattern compatible with Kaposi’s sarcoma. Serologic testing was positive for human immunodeficiency virus; however, the patient had no other symptoms, or knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus infection. This case highlights the need to consider Kaposi’s sarcoma as an early presentation of human immunodeficiency virus even if the patient denies infection.

Keywords: Sarcoma, Kaposi; Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; HIV; Conjunctival neoplasms; Human; Case reports

A 27-year-old man presented with a complaint of decreased visual acuity in the right eye. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/60 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. Right eye fundoscopy revealed mild vitritis, multifocal yellowish lesions, and macular serous retinal detachment. Left eye evaluation was normal. Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy was diagnosed in the right eye. Complementary exams revealed a strong reaction to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis purified protein derivative test, thus treatment for tuberculosis was initiated. Baseline fluorescein angiography of the right eye revealed early hypofluorescence and late staining of the lesions. Optical coherence tomography of the right eye demonstrated the accumulation of subretinal and intraretinal fluid associated with cystoid macular edema. During follow-up, the retinal fluid and cysts disappeared, which was followed by disorganization of foveal interdigitation and ellipsoid zones. This is the second described case of unilateral acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy in a patient with a strong positive result to the M. tuberculosis purified protein derivative test.

Keywords: Tuberculin test; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Uveitis, posterior; Tuberculin; Tomography, optical coherence; Fluorescein Angiography; Retinal diseases; Humans; Case report

This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of using preservative-free artificial tears versus preserved lubricants for the treatment of dry eyes in Universidade Federal de Alagoas (PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018089933). Online databases were searched (LILACS, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CENTRAL) from inception to April 2018; references from included papers were also searched. The following keywords were used: lubricants OR artificial tears OR artificial tears, lubricants AND dry eye OR dry eye syndrome OR syndromes, dry eye OR dry eyes. Among the 2028 electronic search results, 29 full papers were retrieved and four were considered relevant. The number of participants from these studies ranged from 15 to 76. Meta-analysis was possible for the following outcomes: score of symptoms according to the Ocular Surface Disease Index - Allergan (OSDI), tear secretion rate using the Schirmer test, tear evaporation rate using the tear film breakup time test, burning, foreign body sensation, and photophobia. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups, and no side effects were attributed to the interventions. Evidence proving that preservative-free artificial tears are more effective than preserved artificial tears is lacking.

Keywords: Dry eye syndromes/drug therapy; Lubricant eye drops/therapeutic use; Tears; Systematic review