Prolonged face mask use might worsen dry eye symptoms

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore whether prolonged and consistent face mask use might be associated with worsening of dry eye symptoms in patients with dry eye disease (DED). Methods: Subjects with a previous diagnosis of DED. Their OSDI scores were compared with those recorded in Fall 2019 using the Wilcoxon paired test. Participants were stratified by face mask use: heavy (Group A) or standard (Group B) face mask users. Heavy use was defined as wearing any type of face mask for at least 6 hours a day, at least 5 days per week in the last 2 months. Results: 67 subjects (mean age: 45.27 ± 10.06 SD years, 40% males and 60% females). Median OSDI score in Fall 2019: 18.75. Median OSDI in Spring 2020: 20.83. The Hodges‑Lehmann median difference was 2.09 (95% CI [1.05, 4.17]) (P < 0.0001). The population was then stratified into heavy and standard face mask users: Group A included heavy users (31 subjects; mean age: 42.81 ± 10.48 SD years; 35% males and 65% females), Group B included standard users (36 subjects; mean age: 47.39 ± 9.31 SD years; 44% males and 56% females). The Hodges‑Lehmann median difference was 5.21 (95% CI [3.13, 7.29]) in Group A (P < 0.0001), and 1.04 (95% [0, 2.08]) in Group B (P = 0.0177). Conclusion: Prolonged and consistent face mask use is associated with an increase in OSDI scores. Whether face mask use is responsible for the worsening of symptoms of DED remains to be elucidate

Micronutrient Deficiencies and Nutritional Pattens as Possible Risk Factors in the Onset of Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication in diabetes. Many studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between diet and the onset and progression of diabetes, but only few focused on possible link between nutritional patterns, micronutrient deficiency and DR. In this observational study, by using 10-day food diary recordings, we analyzed the eating habits of 34 patients affected by DR, 35 controls with a long history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but no retinopathy and 35 matched healthy subjects. Macro- and micronutrient intakes were calculated based on the Italian food composition database of the Center of Research for Food and Nutrition (CREA) by using a validated nutritional software. Moreover, the adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) was evaluated by using a widely adopted questionnaire. Respect to the type 2 diabetic group the average daily intake of vitamin A (total retinol activity equivalents) was strongly reduced in DR group (524 vs 1072 mg/d, P<0.01); those of vitamin C was also reduced in DR group (48.0 vs 85.2 mg/d, P<0.01) as well as vitamin D (3.73 vs 5.40 mg/d, P<0.01). Copper average daily intake was lower in DR group (0,50 vs 0,82 mg/d, P<0.01) and similarly potassium intake was lower in this group respect to the type 2 non retinopathic diabetic one (1271 vs 2180 mg/d, P<0.01). DR patients also showed a significatively lower adherence to the MD respect to the T2DM patients and to the healthy subjects. This study confirmed a possible role of unhealthy nutritional patterns and micronutrient deficiency in the development and progression of the diabetic retinopathy

Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor and cytochrome c peroxidase combination in transgenic mice corneal epithelial healing process after excimer laser photoablation

Purpose: To evaluate the role of prepared basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) combination eyedrops in corneal epithelial healing of transgenic mice (B6(A)-Rperd12/J ) after excimer laser photoablation. Materials and methods: In this prospective study, 216 eyes of 108 mice underwent bilateral photorefractive keratectomy. We considered 4 groups: A, B, C, and D. Group A received standard topical postoperative therapy with tobramycin, diclofenac, and dexamethasone eyedrops plus CCP at 3 drops per day for a week or until corneal re-epithelialization was achieved. Group B received standard topical postoperative therapy plus bFGF eyedrops and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) 3 drops per day for a week or until corneal re-epithelialization was complete. In group C, 1 eye received standard topical postoperative therapy plus CCP eyedrops, bFGF eyedrops, and PBS 3 drops per day for a week or until corneal re-epithelialization was complete. Control eyes (group D) received a standard topical postoperative therapy plus placebo eyedrops. Mice were followed-up for a week from the day after the surgery to evaluate the rate of corneal re-epithelialization. Results: Data were analyzed by ANOVA using the XLSTAT 2010 software. Eyes in group A, B, and C healed completely before the fifth postoperative day, achieving, respectively, a re-epithelialization time of 92 hours ± 10 SD, 90 hours ± 12 SD, and 86 hours ± 12 SD. Group D had a re-epithelialization time of 121 hours ± 8 SD (P < 0.05). No side effects or toxic effects were documented

Lezioni Elettivo orario 8.30 - 12.30 PAD 23 I° Piano Centro di Studio Universitario Ipovisione-Glaucoma TEL 051 6364595 Date 3 Marzo, 19 Marzo, 20 Marzo, 27 Marzo 2009

Per Registrarsi PAD 23 I° Piano Centro di Studio Universitario Ipovisione-Glaucoma TEL. 051 636459

Corso Elettivo

Le lezioni si terranno in Via Belmeloro n. 8 Aula Ruffin

Lezioni Elettivo orario 8.30 - 12.30 PAD 23 I° Piano Centro di Studio Universitario Ipovisione-Glaucoma TEL 051 6364595 Date 17 Aprile, 24 Aprile 2009

Per registrarsi PAD 23 I° Piano Centro di Studio Universitario Ipovisione-Glaucoma TEL 051 636459